CURZON Ashton were in dreamland last night as they booked a home FA Cup first-round date with League Two high-fliers Exeter a week on Saturday
with a dramatic 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Hinckley United at the Tameside Stadium.

Keeper David Carnell was Curzon’s hero in the spot-kick decider, producing two stunning saves to send the UniBond League minnows through
to round-one for the first time in their 45-year history.

Glyn Barker had earlier given Curzon a 25th minute lead when he raced onto Mike Norton’s headed flick before coolly converting.But Hinckley’s Connor Franklin then stunned the home fans in a crowd of 519 by snatching a 61st minute equaliser to send a tense fourth
qualifying-round replay into extra-time.

 Neither side was`able to break the deadlock, paving the way for Carnell to take centre-stage.
 
Curzon trio Alex Elliott, Chris Curley and Michael O’Connor all held their nerve to score in the shoot-out and, though team-mate Jamie Byrne
missed from the spot, Carnell’s heroics ensured a happy ending for the triumphant Tamesiders.
 
Proud Curzon boss Gary Lowe, whose side have battled through five rounds to reach round-one, helping the club bank a cool £29,000 in Cup
prizemoney in the process, said: “This has to be the highlight of my managerial career and one of the best nights of my life.

 “What these lads have achieved is unbelievable. We can’t wait to get stuck into Exeter.”