Aston Villa's Under-21s progressed to the Birmingham Senior Cup quarter-finals with a penalty shoot-out victory over Tividale on Thursday night.
Malcolm Melvin opened the scoring for the hosts with a stunning free-kick just before the half-time interval, with Chisom Afoka equalising just after the hour-mark to ensure a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
Declan Frith, Afoka, Charlie Lutz and Finley Munroe all converted from the spot, with James Wright saving Tividale's second penalty magnificently as Villa won the shoot-out 4-2.
Tividale started the game well and Wright had to be alert to keep out Jack Fletcher's effort in the 10th minute, with Josh Feeney's reactions proving crucial as he cleared before the home side could connect with the rebound.
Arman Khoshkhoo struck the post midway through the half, while Villa's front-three of Afoka, Frith and Lutz were working hard at the other end to stretch Tividale's back-line.
The hosts took the lead on 44 minutes, with Melvin curling an unstoppable free-kick beyond Wright from long range.
Villa pressed hard for an equaliser after the break and they were rewarded when Afoka's strike from the edge of the penalty area was deflected into the corner of the net.
Wright displayed his reflexes once again to keep out a point-blank header from a set-piece just six minutes later, but both sides then cancelled eachother out for the remainder of the 90 minutes.
Villa's place in the quarter-finals was sealed as Frith, Afoka, Lutz and Munroe all took excellent penalties, with Wright's save from Tividale's second spot-kick also proving decisive.
Tividale: Conner, Fletcher, Solademi, Jacob Burroughs, Joe Burroughs, Kourouyianni, Snape, Wood, Smith (C), Melvin, Khoshkhoo.
Substitutes: Lewis, Hawk, Blake, Campbell, Higgs.
Aston Villa: Wright, Ealing, Smith, Feeney, Munroe; Alcock, Lindley (C), Pierre (Raikhy 46'); Afoka, Frith, Lutz.
Substitutes: Barnes, Hammond, Onuchukwu, McDowell.
