EMERGENCY goalkeeper Nick West was the hero of the day as Droitwich Spa beat Tipton Town Reserves 5-3 on penalties to reach the Midland Combination Challenge Vase semi-final.
West, brought in at the last minute due to regular stopper Simon Williams' work commitments, made a vital save in the shoot-out as well as an excellent block in the final seconds of normal time with the match at 1-1.
Spa manager Kevin Blaber said: "He was excellent. It was a funny old game really. We could have gone in three or four down at half time but in the second half we had enough chances to win it had we been three or four down.
"We are looking stronger where we weren't before."
Tipton had the better of the first half and led 1-0 at the break thanks to Adam Pearson's strike.
Droitwich controlled the second half with Dean Wise and Andrew Pheasant both going close before Spa went level. Defender Gary McGrillen beat a couple of Tipton players, exchanged a one-two with Robert Dufty and slotted the ball home.
Alex Colb later forced the Tipton goalkeeper into a point blank save while West pulled off a reflex save to keep the scores level.
No further score in extra time led to penalties. Dean Wise, Pheasant, Dave Knight and McGrillen all converted their spot kicks before West saved Tipton's fourth. Tom Goss then stepped up to win it for Droitwich.
Spa travel to Newhall United this Saturday.
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