Aston Villa's Under-21s secured a place in the next round of the Birmingham Senior Cup with a thrilling 3-2 win over Nuneaton Borough.
Tommi O'Reilly's two first-half strikes were met with equalisers from Revarnelle James and Kane Richards, before Ruben Shakpoke won and converted from the spot inside the final 20 minutes to earn the win.
It took just two minutes for Villa to assert themselves, as O'Reilly beautifully volleyed home inside two minutes, with the strike hitting the post before finding the net.
The visitors were dominant but James cut inside and curled into the far post just eight minutes later, before Teddy Rowe fired over the crossbar.
O'Reilly struck then struck the crossbar before firing into the top corner from outside the box to restore the visitors' lead on the half-hour mark.
Finley Munroe side-footed an effort just wide moments before the half-time interval, and Boro made the most of that repreive by equalising eight minutes into the second half, with Richards finding the bottom corner.
Chances were few and far between in the second half but Shakpoke injected life into the game following his introduction and he was brought down inside the box after a weaving run, with Andre Marriner pointing to the spot.
Shakpoke converted clincally by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and the hosts didn't come close to equalising for a third time in the minutes that remained.
Rowe curled just over the crossbar as the clock wound down and Villa kept possession well to secure the win and a place in the next round.
Aston Villa: Wright, Revan (C), Munroe, A. O'Reilly, Feeney, Alcock (Pierre 62'), Afoka, Rowe, Wilson (Shakpoke 66'), T. O'Reilly, Young.
Substitutes not used: Hammond, Katsukunya, Moore.
