DROITWICH Spa progressed to the Presidents Cup second round by beating Knowle 4-2 on penalties after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Walshes Meadow.

After Spa’s 1-0 win over the same opponents in the league two weeks before, the visitors were intent on gaining revenge.

Despite a decent start from Spa the Robins went ahead after just seven minutes.

A break down the left by Kieran Day saw his cross find an unmarked Torryn Connolly to head Knowle in front from close range.

Despite the game being low on efforts on goal both sides played good football.

Spa levelled on 21 minute after good work from Brad Burgess sent Dan Cottrill away.

The youngster, in his first start for the first team, cut inside but was hacked down in the area and Max Crisp stepped up to powerfully despatch the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

The Saltmen started the second half brightly and James Lemon's close-range header went narrowly wide.

But they were on the back foot again when Nathan Corry took advantage of lacklustre defending to put Knowle back in front on the hour.

Spa left it late but the introduction of Jack Allerton for the final 10 minutes proved instrumental.

In injury-time the midfielder picked up the ball 25 yards out, held off his man and calmly stroked home a last-gasp equaliser from the edge of the box.

The tie went straight to penalties and Matt Oliver made an excellent save before Crisp gave Spa the lead.

Corry fired wide while Allerton converted before Knowle captain Steve Rook and Lemon scored from the spot.

The visitors' Callum Ingram also netted but Spa's Joe Mayo-Braiden, with his only touch of the game, notched the decisive spot-kick to send Droitwich into the next round.

Ninth-placed Spa visit West Midlands League Premier Division side Shifnal Town in Shropshire in the FA Vase second qualifying round on Saturday (3pm).