Integro League Cup: Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Stafford Rangers 1 (Stafford win 6-5 after penalties)
Stafford Rangers needed a penalty shootout to earn their place in the next round of the league cup following a 1-1 draw at Sutton Coldfield Town.
Bradley Caswell saved two spot-kicks in only his second Rangers appearance this season to earn his side the victory.
Sutton had the best chance of the early exchanges after eight minutes when Lee Knight flicked on a free-kick at the front post into the side-netting.
Rangers replied with Niall Flint crossing perfectly for Louis Briscoe, but the marksman fired wide from close range.
Neil Kitching’s side had another chance within two minutes of the second half when a neat Briscoe dummy allowed Flint through on goal, but he failed to get his shot away and was denied by a last-ditch tackle.
However, it was Town who opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with striker Kris Taylor taking advantage when the visitors failed to clear their lines.
Knight should have put the hosts out of sight after Rangers fell asleep at the back allowing him to stroll through on goal, but his shot was easily saved.
On the 76th minute Jack Langston put his side level latching onto a Matthew Bailey header before lobbing the goalkeeper. Despite the midfielder’s later efforts the game went straight to penalties.
Substitute Izak Reid crashed his effort against the post while Rangers goalkeeper Bradley Caswell saved Jorge Blemings’ effort to take it to sudden death.
Caswell again saved from Francino Francis allowing Mathew Bailey to score the winning spot-kick.
Sutton Coldfield Town: Draper, Lyttle (Sinton 67), Probert, Beresford, Cleet, Francis, Smikle (Blemings 83), Webb, Knight, Taylor, Aleksandrov (Barnes 45)
Unused replacements: Morris, Birch
Stafford Rangers: Caswell, Davis, Sherratt, Morris, Brown, Langston, Flint (Bailey 70), Fletcher, Briscoe (I Reid 67), Thomas, Abadaki (Allen 62)
Unused replacements: Craddock, Griffiths,
