Bradford City Youth 1, Southampton Youth 1

(after extra-time, 0-0 90min)

City won 9-8 on penalties

Keeper Chris Cheetham was the penalty shoot-out hero as City claimed a memorable FA Youth Cup shock in the most dramatic fashion at Valley Parade tonight.

Cheetham saved from Conor O'Sullivan - the 20th spot-kick of a marathon decider - to topple fancied Southampton.

It was no more than David Wetherall's young braves deserved from a gutsy display against an academy side unbeaten since September.

City thought they had won it in extra-time when Dominic Rowe fired home his fifth goal in three rounds of the competition.

But they were cruelly denied deep in stoppage time by James Ward-Prowse's equaliser.

City, though, dusted themselves off and recovered from the shock of Elliott Holmes missing the opening penalty to reel off nine in a row. Cheetham saved from Ward-Prowse and then eventually denied substitute O'Sullivan.

Don't underestimate the size of City's achievement. Southampton had won nine of their previous ten games, including victories over Chelsea and Arsenal, and were tipped as potential cup winners.

The visitors wasted two good chances to grab a 15th-minute lead as first centre half Lloyd Foot and then striker Jordace Holder-Spooner miskicked in front of goal.

City's best early effort came from Joe Mitchell's half-volley, while Rowe, playing just behind the front two, twice took a touch too many to spoil promising forward runs.

City enjoyed a let-off after 37 minutes when Robinson's shot cannoned off Declan McGivern and straight into the path of Joe Curtis. With the whole goal to aim at, the left winger dragged wide from 12 yards.

Southampton threw on top scorer Sam Hoskins for the second half and he immediately shot wide from a corner.

The home side tried to break out but were denied by a couple of offside calls against centre forward Darren Stephenson, the second looking very marginal as he burst clear.

Foot nodded wide from another corner and Hoskins tested Cheetham from 20 yards. But City continued to defend manfully, with centre halves Adam Robinson and first-year Declan McGivern working overtime.

Rowe nearly fired City in front with 20 minutes left. His shot proved too hot for David Wooton to handle but Oliver Forsyth was muscled out for the rebound.

City were sensing a winner, and Stephenson almost found one in the last minute of normal time, holding off Foot before hammering the ball into the side-netting.

The deadlock was finally broken right at the end of the first period - and it was worth the wait for the home crowd. Thomas Marshall's through ball was misjudged by Jordan Turnbull, allowing Rowe in behind to crash a quality finish beyond Wooton.

Cheetham's point-blank save denied Hoskins but Southampton equalised right at the death when Ward-Prowse crashed home from 15 yards.

CITY YOUTH: Cheetham, Holmes, Robinson, McGivern, Lawless, Green, Flett, Mitchell (Marshall 104), Rowe, Stephenson (Harrop 117), Forsyth (Baker 73). Subs (not used): Singh, Tongue.

SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH: Wooton, Young, Foot, Turnbull, Shaw (O'Sullivan 101), Chambers, Robinson (Hoskins 46), Ward-Prowse, Curtis, Holder-Spooner (Sinclair 82), Moore. Subs (not used): Reed, Mowthorpe.