It was a tense affair at Crilly Park on Saturday with a shootout needed to send Atherton LR past Ashton Town in the third round of the FA Vase.

The game started quickly with Ashton’s Taylor Prescott making a mistake that gave Tom Romano the opportunity to steal and launch a risky counter-attack down the left wing, putting LR ahead early.

Despite the pressure, Romano lifted the ball over Sean Draper, and the subsequent cross to Brandon Dawson, who gave LR the lead.

Chris Lomax made life difficult for LR as Town continued their unrelenting push. Adam Morris floated in a corner, and Lomax took a clean shot, but Joe Bickerstaffe’s outstanding stop denied the visitors.

Town gained momentum as the game approached the final 15 minutes, and a quick counter by Sam Adetiloye allowed him to slip a cross in to the box, finding Joshua Brown, whose shot was intercepted by Bickerstaffe. Lomax then scored the rebound, tying the score in the closing minutes.

For the first time of the season, LR faced a penalty shootout and after both teams scored their first penalties, Adetiloye tried to put it in the bottom corner, but Bickerstaffe made an incredible stop to give LR a significant lead.

Dan Lenehan stepped up after this and despite a coolly placed kick, Draper managed to get to it and push it away, with the next penalty by Lomax levelling the scores.

For the first time in more than three decades, LR advanced to the fourth round, as Connor Brown stepped up and shot his penalty over for Ashton after Lewis Adams had fired a magnificent penalty away for the hosts.

LR boss Dave Jones, fresh from extending his stay at the club, said the match was difficult adding: “That’s why my hair is the way it is, I’m the oldest looking 25-year-old ever, and not looking any younger after that! It was two proper local sides going at it and today was no different.”

“I’m a bit disappointed in our performance at moments but was delighted with the players after the goal because usually teams sit in their shells after they score, but we went straight at it looking for a second.”

LR host Ashton Athletic on Boxing Day (3pm).