For 65 minutes, Hednesford seemed to be. However, they blew a three-goal lead inside half-an-hour, alongside an extra-time advantage, to send the tie to spot-kicks.
There were fireworks on and off the pitch as the rollercoaster tie was well worthy of the occasion with nearly 4,000 supporters packed inside Keys Park. It was even temporarily halted. after Hednesford supporters ran onto the surface following Will Lancaster's thunderstrike in additional time.
Of the 18 penalties taken after a remarkable 120-minutes of football, only nine were scored. It's fair to say neither side deserved the heartbreak, but it ended with Jordan Helliwell wheeling away in celebration after crashing his penalty into the back of the net as hundreds of away fans piled onto the pitch in jubilation.
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WHITES GO FOLLOWING
WIDNES moved six points clear at the top of the league following a gutsy draw at play-off-chasing Hednes ford.
SILKMEN ALMOST UP WITH BIG WIN
WINNING 3-1 at Warrington Rylands, and with their nearest rivals dropping points, Macclesfield tightened their grip on the league, extending their lead at the top to 22 points with just 10 games to play.
RESURGENT REYNOLDS REBELLING AT RYLANDS
NEIL Reynolds is relishing being back in control at Warrington Rylands - and says getting sacked by FC United was the best thing that could have happened to him.
KEV MUST SETTLE FOR A POINT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher felt his deserved at least a share of the spoils from this hard-fought draw with Rochdale at Roots Hall.
BORO IN HEAVEN COURTESY OF MATT
MATT SARGENT scored late on to seal the points for Radcliffe after Kieran Burton was sent off for Buxton in the second half.
FIVE STAR TIGERS COOK-ING ON GAS
LOUCESTER put on a fivestar performance in front of a bumper crowd at the TigerTurf Stadium.
IT'S ALL CHANGE FOR CRISIS CELTS
...but board say 3G pitch plans shelved
BIRTHDAY BOY TAYLOR SEALS THE DEAL FOR SOLID ROBINS
GATESHEAD and Altrincham produced a trademark game between the two sides of thrills and spills, an entertaining match somehow producing just one goal.
PENALTY HEROICS INSPIRE WOOD!
A PENALTY save from Boreham Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore and three quickfire goals in what Eastbourne Borough boss Adam Murray described as \"five minutes of madness\" turned this game on its head.
LET US PLAY IF WE WANT
AFC FYLDE chairman David Haythornthwaite believes introducing a waiver form to exonerate officials when both clubs are happy to play a game in doubt, will see fewer matches postponed.
