Stamford progress in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup after defeating Cleethorpes on penalties

Stamford finally ended their penalty shoot-out hoodoo as they knocked holders Cleethorpes out of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup after a dramatic finish to Saturday's clash.

The Daniels looked to be heading out of the competition when Harry Middleton put Cleethorpes ahead from the penalty spot with just seven minutes remaining.

But, after hitting the crossbar in the dying stages, Stamford levelled in the final throes through Tendai Chitiza to send the tie to penalties.

The Daniels had been beaten in the 2019 final on penalties by Cleethorpes and had also lost a midweek shoot-out against Harrowby United for the Pete Down Memorial Cup which was in addition to bowing out of the last season's FA Cup on spot kicks to Royston Town and suffering the same fate in the League Cup the previous campaign to Lincoln United.

But Graham Drury's side held their nerve to score all five of their penalties with Cleethorpes' Alex Flett - who had scored the winning shoot-out spot kick against Stamford in 2019 - missing for the Owls who had been aiming to win the cup for the third successive season.

Stamford will now host the winners of the clash between Lincoln United and Boston United in the quarter-finals.

The Daniels are back in action again on Tuesday night when Championship side Peterborough United visit the Zeeco Stadium (kick-off 7pm).

Tickets are £10 for adults, £7 concessions and £3 for 12-17-year-olds. Eleven years and under go free if accompanied by a paying adult/concession. Link to purchase tickets is below.

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/stamfordafc/news/stamford-afc-vs-peterborough-utd-2629575.html

Many thanks to James Bedford for this report - james.bedford@iliffepublishing.co.uk