Town through on penalties

A game brought forward from Saturday and played under floodlights at Hove Edge finished 4-4 after 90 minutes and there was no addition to the scoreline in extra time.

Halifax AFL side Northowram so nearly made it through, Will Tolley’s sweetly-struck left foot shot on 88 minutes throwing Brighouse a lifeline after they had looked set to go out.

The unmarked Lamin Jennah stooped to head Brighouse in front but Mark Eade equalised with a firm finish and then gave Northowram the lead from Danny King’s long pass after 25 minutes.

A well-placed Tom Haigh free kick brought the home side level but a minute later Chris Conroy raced on to King’s ball over the top and scored with Brighouse appealing in vain for offside.

After soaking up more pressure, King’s angled curling free kick which floated into the top corner sent the Rams in at half-time two goals to the good.

Brighouse made it 3-4 four minutes into the second period when ‘keeper James Bunn misjudged a cross which drifted over him and the hosts then had the lion’s share of possession.

However, Northowram worked extremely hard to keep the young home side at bay and substitute Shaun Popek almost made the game safe, the keeper tipping his effort on to the bar.

Tolley proved Brighouse’s saviour and the young hosts suddenly looked favourites but play was even in extra time with the Rams’ Matthew Rushworth sliding in to meet a free kick at the far post and striking the woodwork.

In the penalty shoot-out, Brighouse scored their first two but Conroy and Ross Risdon levelled matters. Northowram substitute Gaz Hunter saw his penalty saved after the home side had made it three in a row but Brighouse’s fourth struck the bar.

However, Popek blazed his attempt over and a successful fifth penalty gave Brighouse the win.