Yeovil Town were involved in an enthralling FA Cup tie at Huish Park drawing 3-3 with Dover in normal time.
The Glovers were able to triumph from the spot after Adam Smith made the decisive stop following thirteen penalties between the two sides.
Prior to the shootout, the 90 minutes beforehand were just as hectic with Rhys Murphy netting a double in the first half and Joe Quigley heading home his first Yeovil goal in the second.
Darren Sarll opted to continue with his 3-5-2 system which produced improved performances in the National League.
With Luke Wilkinson suspended and Lee Collins injured, Albi Skendi, Josh Staunton and Carl Dickinson lined up as a back three.
After a number of bright performances, Gabby Rogers began at left wing back, Dan Leadbitter began on the right.
Returning from injury, Lawson D’Ath began in the middle of the park alongside Charlie Lee and Matt Warburton.
Yeovil Town’s goalscorers combined up top as Murphy and Quigley led the line.
The manic cup tie began with Town on top pressing the Whites shaky defence deep. As Yeovil enjoyed a lot of the ball, Dover began sitting more and more deep.
Finding space to run in abundance, Murphy capitalised, driving to the edge of the box and firing home on his left foot claiming an early lead for Town on nine minutes.
With the wind in their sails, Town were relentless, with Quigley and D’Ath both testing Tom Smith between the sticks for Dover as the half progressed.
Yeovil claimed a thoroughly deserved second for Yeovil on 31 minutes, after a corner caused chaos in the Dover box, Murphy pounced and tucked home his second of the afternoon.
Despite Yeovil dominance, cracks began to show in the backline with Dover finding space on the flanks. Ultimately, the visitors would find a way back into the game, with two goals in quick succession.
Summer signing Louis Collins struck twice for the East Kent side, both in similar fashion. Drifting towards the backpost Collins tucked home Josh Passley’s cross on 40 minutes to make a game of it.
Not learning from their earlier mistake, Collins stung the green and whites again, turning the ball home and delivering a sucker punch for Town with the half time whistle looming.
After a disappointing end to the first half, Yeovil began the second with real intent, carving Dover open with Quigley being once again denied by Arsenal loanee T.Smith.
It didn’t take long for Quigley to put that chance behind him as he was able to get the better of the Dover shotstopper on 48 minutes. A sublime cross from Leadbitter was met by Quigley to head home his first goal for the Glovers on his home debut.
The goal did little to put out Dover’s fire, as the visitors bounced back with a number of chances on the break, Collins who would’ve been hopeful for a hat-trick had an effort saved by A.Smith at the near post.
Dover’s counter-attack game plan worked to perfecting on 63 minutes, as T.J. Bramble poked home to level the tie once again.
Set-pieces became an increasing threat for Sarll’s side as the game entered its closing stages, with Staunton going close twice in the space of a minute, heading onto the bar and dragging an effort just wide of the mark.
Rogers, who stretched Dover on a number of occasions, had his best effort from around 25-yards saved by T.Smith.
In the closing stages, Dover were more adventurous creating an end to end affair, but clear-cut chances failed to fall for Yeovil and Dover in the final moments.
The referee’s whistle was not a welcome sound to either side, as the lottery of penalty shootout was to decide the FA Cup tie.
Despite T.Smith being the star of the show for the visitors, it was his namesake in the Yeovil goal who was the match-winner. The former Leicester City man denied Wratten from the spot and secured Yeovil’s name would be in Monday’s draw.
Yeovil Town: A.Smith; Dickinson, Skendi, Staunton; Rogers (Burke), Leadbitter, Lee (J.Smith), D’Ath (Worthington), Warbuton; Murphy, Quigley
Subs not used: Clarke, Palmer, Lloyd
