Cleator Moor Celtic produced an outstanding performance to beat Harrogate Railway 3-2 in the FA Vase.
It avenged last year’s defeat in the same competition when the Harrogate side won on a penalty shoot-out.
Manager Martin Mahone said: “I would have preferred them to be League points but it’s a feather in our caps to make it through to the next round of the competition.
“It was a very good win because we had some key players missing with illness or injury and the lads who came in gave it everything.
“We gave a debut to the experienced Matthew Reid at the back and he had a very impressive debut alongside Jamie Glover, while our left back Jake Smith was absolutely outstanding.”
Jay Weatherill had given Celtic the lead on 17 minutes in a scramble after Tom Mahone had seen a penalty saved.
Harrogate pulled level on 39 minutes to make it all-square at the break and little between the sides.
Celtic made a powerful start to the second half and within eight minutes they had regained the lead. Again it was a penalty but this time an ice-cool Mahone made no mistake.
Two minutes later Celtic got a third with a bullet header from Callum Birdsall finding the back of the Harrogate net.
Harrogate gradually forced their way back into the game and on 73 minutes the ball was headed home, virtually out of the hands of home keeper Craig Devine.
There had to be some resolute defending in the closing stages as Harrogate piled in looking for the equaliser and Celtic bodies were put on the line making some brave blocks.
In the end they saw it through to reach the first round proper for the first time in 29 years with the draw on Monday.
