Windscale made progress in the Monkwearmouth Cup at the Falcon Complex but it needed a late penalty to see off South Moor for a 2-1 win.
The visitors are currently undefeated in Division 2 of the Wearside League and are strong favourites to achieve promotion to the top flight at the end of the season.
South Moor have players with Wearside Division 1 experience in their side and they demonstrated their calibre from the outset of the tie.
The teams settled early despite the heavy rain producing scoring opportunities at both ends of the pitch.
However, it was South Moor who took the lead in the 11th minute. Cameron Metcalfe, the muscular South Moor front man collected the ball on his chest, held off a challenge by Ryan Byrne before turning and volleying the ball into the top corner of the net.
Windscale drew level in the 31st minute. A low ball across the six-yard box evaded the South Moor defence and was directed into the bottom corner of the net by Matty Pierce, giving the goalkeeper little chance to save.
Both teams returned to the sanctuary of the dressing rooms at halftime to dry out from the ravages of the West Cumbrian weather with the score remaining all square.
The clouds lifted slightly after the interval but the intensity of the play from both teams never diminished.
Windscale were making the better of the scoring opportunities but were unable to capitalise due to some wayward use of the ball.
The Windscale management team of Stephen Fawcett and Mike McDonald decided to freshen up things by making a few substitution. The introduction of Reece Fretwell and Dean Fox particularly started to edge the game in the home team’s favour.
Fretwell gave a more attacking edge to the midfield and Fox caused the South Moor back four problems with his pace.
It was 10 minutes from the end, when the dreaded penalty shoot-out was looming, that the tie was decided – by a penalty.
Fox made a marauding run down the right into the South Moor penalty box when he was brought down unfairly, leaving the referee with no option other than to award the spot kick.
Lewis Jolly stepped up to calmly send the keeper the wrong way and stroke the ball into the back of net for the winner.
