In front of a crowd of 209, Skelmersdale United completed a superb second-half turnaround from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Penistone Church and set up an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie away at Congleton Town.

Paul McNally named newly returned Danny Mitchley in an starting 11 full of last seasons's squad while fellow new signings Harry Molyneux, Alex O'Neill and Gabriel Ellis were included on the bench.The visitors looked to gain revenge for a 5-2 defeat to United at this stage last season and started the brighter of the two sides as Sam Scrivens drew a point-blank save from Ben Barnes inside two minutes after beating the United defensive line.

United replied on five minutes with a clever counter seeing Joe Herbert and Jason Carey combine with Carey sweeping a cross to the far post where Emini Adegbenro came achingly close to connecting. At the other end, a low cross from Cameron Simpson saw Barnes parry with strong defence preventing a shot on goal. The best chance of the evening so far came on 15 minutes as a lofted ball from Carey put Adegbenro in on goal but on the volley he could only flick past the post and within a minute, Peni tried their luck with Scrivens testing Barnes who saved low. Church opened the scoring on 24 minutes as a Sam Scrivens shot was parried by Barnes into the path of Simpson who slotted in for 1-0.

United looked to level instantly with Danny Mitchley sweeping a shot narrowly past the post. Simpson looked for his second goal at the other end with a shot past the post before doubling his tally on 39 minutes, collecting the ball on the edge of the area, he advanced on goal to slot past Barnes for 2-0.

The Church forward came close to a first-half hat-trick as he forced a save from Barnes with an angled shot and as the whistle went, United needed a huge turnaround to avoid exiting at this stage for the first time since 1925. The turnaround began almost instantly as Emini Adgebenro made it 2-1 within a minute of the restart, Josh Peet slipped Mitchley in on goal who crossed and as Jack Shephard looked to clear he almost slotted in an own goal but saw 'Mini' tap over the line to the joy of the home crowd.

United looked to draw level with Mike Grogan firing over before he drew a stop from Chris Snaith with a close-range header after connecting to a corner. At the other end, Scrivens looked to regain the two-goal lead but could only curl and effort past the post. On 54 minutes, United were gifted a chance to equalise as having won the ball outside the area, Adegbenro travelled into the area before being upended by the chasing Shephard with the referee awarding a penalty, 'Mini' stepped up and slotted past Snaith to level at 2-2.

Penistone's pursuit to regain the lead began with a long-range free-kick from Scrivens comfortably collected by Barnes while at the other end a cross from Adegbenro forced Danny Howes to fire past the post. Church went close to going ahead on 64 minutes with Brett Lovell heading narrowly past the post after connecting to a corner. Another corner from the opposite side caused a scramble with Ryan Johnson clipping a shot off the crossbar before Barnes saved the rebound from an almost laying position. Peni's threat continued with a Scrivens effort from range firing over the bar before United completed the turnaround on 83 minutes.

A free-kick awarded for handball by a Church player saw Preston loft the ball forward for Carey to flick on and his header found Joe Herbert at the far post who headed over Snaith into the net for 3-2. Penistone pushed to draw level but to no avail and as the final whistle sounded, United led by young 'Standbangers' celebrated a superb comeback and passage into the next round.

Skelmersdale United - BARNES, HERBERT,PRESTON, MURPHY, GROGAN, PEET (BRODIE 80), J.GRIMSHAW, CAREY, MITCHLEY, GRIFFITHS, ADEGBENRO. Subs not used- GLENNON, DAVIES, MOLYNEUX,CROUGHAN,ELLIS,O'NEILL.

Penistone Church- SNAITH, JOHNSON, YOUNG, ELLIS, SHEPHARD (O'KEEFE 88), LOVELL, HOWES, CODURI, RYAN, SCRIVENS, SIMPSON (FIRTH 69). Subs not used- BAIRD, WRAITH,BRENNAN, RING, RHODES.

Referee - j.Chadwick
Att-209.