CITY were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup after an epic penalty shoot-out.

The young Bantams were beaten 9-8 by Blyth Spartans at Brighouse last night after both sides took 12 spot-kicks.

It was a marathon finale to an extraordinary first-round tie.

City thought they had gone through when they won on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Blyth.

But they were found to have made too many substitutes – shades of the infamous Exeter FA Cup tie under Derek Adams in 2021 – and the FA ordered a rematch.

Max Murray put City four minutes before half-time when he converted from Leon Brooks’ flicked header but Jack Daley levelled just after the hour.

The game once again went to extra-time which failed to separate the two teams.

Blyth celebrate their dramatic win on penaltiesBlyth celebrate their dramatic win on penalties (Image: @Blyth_Spartans)

But City were reduced to 10 men when Oli Thompson was sent off after two bookings. Bizarrely, he had also been dismissed in the original meeting.

With 120 minutes finishing in another 1-1 stalemate, the contest went to the penalty spot for yet more drama.

Franklin Denison’s opening effort for City was saved and Blyth were successful with their first four – only for Robbie Kinniburgh to drag wide his attempt to win it.

Jack Robinson then saved from Rhys Brunton to give George Goodman the opportunity to send the Bantams through.

But the centre half, who was on the first-team bench at Fleetwood last Saturday, was also denied by Max Campbell.

The sudden-death scenario continued to swing back and forth with Robinson making another save while Jacob Hall missed another chance to settle the night in City’s favour.

Both goalkeepers were successful with their spot-kicks as the penalties went round the entire teams.

Denison scored his second attempt before Campbell saved from Kieran Mboma to send Blyth into a second-round trip to Accrington.