Windscale snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in this Shipowners Cup 2nd round tie at Hartlepool Youths Seniors.
Two goals by Hartlepool in eight minutes of added time cancelled out the Atoms 2-0 lead taking the tie into the penalty shootout.
It was the home side who emerged victorious from the shoot-out, winning it 5-4.
The tie was switched to Seaton Carew’s Hornby Park where Windscale controlled the majority of the game in the first 30 minutes.
Matt Sempill, Lewis Jolly, Ben Graham ably supported by Matt Metcalf and Reece Fretwell from midfield held court.
Hartlepool relied on counter attacks which were well marshalled by the Atoms back four led by Man of the Match, Stevie Walker.
Neither team were able to make a breakthrough resulting in a blank score line at the interval.
It took Windscale three minutes to break the deadlock after the resumption of play. Walker launched a free kick into the Hartlepool penalty area which found Jolly. His shot was parried by the Hartlepool keeper with the loose ball headed home by Graham.
Play became a little scrappy in the next 20 minutes with both teams having players cautioned by the referee.
However, the Atoms were still in the ascendancy and Fretwell cracked the bar with a volley minutes before the visitors’ lead was increased.
It was Graham again scoring his, and the Atoms’ second. in the 76th minute.
A free kick from Walker was flicked on by Kieran Fraser to Jolly who squared the ball back across the face of goal to be slotted under the keeper by Graham.
The result looked in the bag as play entered added time by the referee, but Hartlepool should be congratulated for their approach in what appeared to be a lost cause.
Atoms keeper, Ian Studholme made a great stop in the 91st minute to keep the lead intact.
There was then two minutes of madness as it was 90 + 3 when the tide turned.
Hartlepool were awarded a penalty which was hammered home by centre back Andrew Hetherington.
Jay McLean brought the scores level on 90 + 5 and the referee brought the game to a conclusion after 90 + 8 to take the game to penalties.
After the Atoms missed their first effort, Hartlepool ensured they progressed to the next round successfully converting all their allocation to take the tie 5-4.
