A Steve Lutz goal in the second period of extra time settled last night's Dr Martens Cup First Round tie in favour of Evesham United when they beat rivals Redditch United 5-4 at a rain swept Valley Stadium.
Lutz pounced to prod home the winner after a Matt Lewis shot was bloc-ked on the line by Reds defender Russell Dodds.
The man to do the damage for Evesham was 18- year-old Lewis, signed on a month's loan from Kidderminster Harriers. The striker capped an impressive debut with a smartly taken hat-trick and showed what a great asset he will be to Phil Mullen's side.
Evesham got off to a flier, scoring twice in two minutes. Darren Bullock put them in front from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Dodds on 16 minutes and then Lewis opened his account by curling in a shot past Richard Anstiss for number two.
Poor defending allowed Naveed Arshad to pull one back for Redditch on 25 minutes, but three minutes later, Lewis restored United's two goal advantage with another cool finish.
The home side were determined not to lie down and Richard Field's fierce drive past Chris Taylor pegged it back to 3-2.
The second half was only three minutes old when Lewis completed his hat-trick. He received a pass from Nathan Jukes and stroked the ball home from 12 yards.
Reds then hit back with two quick goals to send the game into extra time. Substitute Chris Hill made 4-3 with a clinical strike past Taylor and Bullock headed a Field cross into his own net.
With the prospect of penalties looming, Lutz had the final say with the late winner and put United in the hat for the second round.
Evesham: Taylor 6, Smith 7, Pendleton 5, Khela 6 (Mullen 51, 5), Gardiner 6 (West 40, 6), Jukes 7 (Pinkney 117), Lutz 7, Bullock 7, Joyce 7, H Lewis 8, Hunter 6. Subs not used: Wolsey, Ladek.
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