Atherton LR defied the odds on Saturday to exact revenge on Hallam and progress to the last 16 of the FA Vase.

LR earned the dream start as a floated corner by Harvey Brookes in the 12th minute found a returning Lance Houghton in the box who turned the ball past Hugo Warhurst to edge them into an early lead.

Hallam returned the pressure with a great chance to equalise as the visitors built up on the wing, resulting in a delivery by Adam Blakeley that found Greg Smith but his effort was denied by a quick-thinking Joe Bickerstaffe.

Closing into the last five minutes of the half, LR lined up at the edge of the box where Tom Romano broke through but was taken down by Danny South and the referee pointed to the spot.

Ryan Talbot stepped up and slotted away the second, giving Hallam a bigger hill to climb for the second half.

However, coming out after the interval, Hallam were able to capitalise off of LR’s slow start, with a cross by Blakeley in the 46th minute again finding Smith at the far post, but this time he nodded home.

It only took four minutes after that for Hallam to level the game, when a throw-in found Brandon Bradbury and he took a clean volley from 25 yards out which flew past everyone and straight into the net - a terrible second half start for LR and the ideal one for the visitors.

Tension filled the stadium as the tie entered its closing stages, but a late drive by Christian Mukoko in the 93rd minute was halted when he was taken down in the box, resulting in another penalty to LR.

Talbot stepped up once again, later recalling to LRTV that being prompted by a Hallam player to strike it in the top right, did exactly that and sealed the deal for LR to enter the last 16 for the first time in 31 years and exacting revenge on Hallam for their defeat in 2002.

Delighted boss Dave Jones said: “It was brilliant, because that’s a really difficult game.

“We knew how difficult of a tie it was going to be, they’re (Hallam) are a big side, they ask questions, put ball after ball in the box so you’ve got to stand up and have the answers.

“The football club’s just got to the last 16 of a national competition - a Step Six side who six years ago almost went out of existence.

“So that today for me is for all those people that made sure this is still a football club, it’s for them that today.”

LR will now host Bourne Town in the fifth round on February 1 as they look to make the quarter-finals.