FARNWORTH Town clinched a dream semi-final tie at Maine Road after clinching a penalty shootout victory over Middleton in the Manchester County Amateur Cup.

The match finished 1-1 after normal time before Jason Tyldesley’s men sealed their place in the last four, winning 5-4 on penalties.

The Lancashire Amateur League Division Two side looked to be going through courtesy of a fifth-minute goal from loan striker Ian Teasdale, who fired past the keeper after latching on to a long ball from Stuart Parkinson.

But Middleton, of the Manchester Saturday Morning League, levelled in controversial fashion four minutes from time.

There were calls for offside in the build-up before the ball was crossed in and Farnworth claimed goalkeeper Paul Bentley had been barged before the ball was tapped in.

Kieran Ward, Lee Wolstenholme, Ryan Flanagan, Grant Dean and Teasdale all converted their spot kicks in the shootout while Gary Grewcock hit the post. But the hero was Bentley who saved two penalties including a brilliant stop for the winning save.

The semi-final test could hardly be tougher against a Maine Road side who are top of the NWCL Premier Division.