FORTY-EIGHT hours after the first game ended with the last-kick-of-the-game equaliser for Curzon, this replay also went down to the wire with Curzon keeper David Carnell proving the hero.
After taking a lot of pressure in the second period of the first game, Curzon began confidently as Mike Norton saw his effort deflected behind for a corner in only the second minute.
At the other end, Carnell claimed a cross intended for Andy Webster, while Stuart Giddings saw a shot blocked before Curzon opened the scoring in the 24th minute.
Carnell drove the ball upfield, Norton flicked it onto Glyn Barker who, with defenders in pursuit and Chris MacKenzie coming off his line, kept his cool to slot the ball home.
Moments later, Barker cut in from the left and ignored Norton to fire in a shot which lacked power and accuracy.
MacKenzie had to be alert to foil Norton as Curzon led at the break, after which Carnell head to save Richard Lavery’s header and cut out Andy Hall’s cross.
However, the visitors were back in the game on the hour when Connor Franklin’s shot appeared to take a deflection on its way past Carnell.
The game threatened to be marred by an unsavoury incident when Norton appeared to be felled by a knee in the back during an off-the-ball incident, only for the referee to deem a yellow card as sufficient punishment.
Norton had to leave the game minutes later with the injury, just after Chris Worsley spurned a chance to win the game by shooting too close to MacKenzie.
Extra time came and went as both teams unsuccessfully sought to avoid penalties.
Both sides scored their opening penalties before Curzon converted a second to go 2-1 up.
Hinckley then struck the post before both sides failed to score their third spot kick.
They were more successful with penalty number four, leaving Curzon 3-2 ahead with one to come.
Knowing a goal would put them through, Curzon saw MacKenzie save their last penalty, only for Carnell to do likewise and send his team through to a home game against Exeter City.
Attendance: 519
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