Bradford side Albion Sports win gripping FA Vase encounter

And in another eerie similarity, they won Saturday’s first-round at home to Boro Rangers on penalties after a 3-3 draw, 12 months on from beating visiting West Allotment Celtic at the same stage on spot-kicks.

Those two shootouts saw Albion score all five of their penalties, meaning one slip-up from their opposition on both occasions proved fatal.

Albion’s game against Boro Rangers was a madcap affair, with Nathan Cartman quickly equalising for the hosts after Callum Hickman had opened the scoring for the away side.

Ashley McCarthy put Rangers back in front, before Cartman’s spot-kick drew the Bradford men level on 35 minutes.

Hickman gave the visitors the lead for the third time just after the break and Albion looked to be heading out, only for Boro Rangers to concede a penalty in second-half stoppage-time.

Cartman stuck the spot kick in the back of the net to complete his hat-trick, sending the game to penalties.

Unsurprisingly, Cartman was entrusted to take the first penalty in the shootout, and he scored from 12 yards for the third time in the match.

Fortunately, his team-mates proved just as good at holding their nerve.

Captain Dom Staunton stepped up to put Albion 2-1 up on penalties, before Albion keeper Jordan Porter saved from Hickman.

Jordan Porter plunges to his right to make the decisive shootout save from Callum Hickman. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

Lewis Waddington and Paul Walker both found the net to put the Bradford side on the brink of victory, with Emmerson Cox having the honour of scoring Albion’s fifth and final penalty to send them through into a second round tie at home to Padiham on Saturday, November 9.

The thrilling win over Boro Rangers meant Albion were probably okay with dropping from first to fourth in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, with their rivals all in league action.

One of the sides who climbed above Sports was Silsden, who moved up to third with a 1-0 win over Hallam.

Jake Cassidy headed home the Cobbydalers’ winner from close range on 63 minutes.

Thackley are in the fifth and final play-off spot thanks to their 4-2 win at Tadcaster Albion, with Antony Brown’s brace sandwiched by goals from Finn Donovan and Ben Grech-Brooksbank.

Thackley won 4-2, but there was a crucial moment at 0-0, as Lewis Gardner (left) cleared this golden chance for Ethan Kachosa off the line. (Image: Keith Handley.)

Eccleshill United moved up to ninth after a 0-0 draw at home to lowly Winterton Rangers, both sides hitting the woodwork but not the back of the net in this stalemate.

That point took them above Campion, who were in FA Vase action.

But unlike Albion, the Red and Blacks did not make it through, losing 2-0 at Northallerton Town, with a late red card for dissent summing up their miserable afternoon.

Over in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, Route One Rovers did not play due to cup fixtures elsewhere, while Steeton’s six-pointer at Garstang was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Brighouse Town are beginning to move clear of danger in the Northern Premier League East Division, with Kyle Trenerry’s penalty save and Jack Dando’s winner ensuring they beat struggling Ashington 1-0 on Saturday.

Rhys Plater leaps on Jack Dando to celebrate after the latter poked home Brighouse's winner on Saturday. (Image: Jorge Horsted Photography.)

That result took them above Liversedge, who had a penalty saved and lost 3-1 at Pontefract Collieries, despite the evergreen Joe Walton finding the net once again.

In the NPL Premier Division, a tired Guiseley fought hard to secure a 1-1 draw at play-off rivals Ilkeston Town, John Lufudu netting for the visiting Lions.

Finally, Farsley Celtic lost 3-0 at Horsfall to Spennymoor Town in National League North on Friday night and slipped to 16th in the table as a result.