A STUNNING goal from inside his own half by Harry McHugh was the highlight as Warrington Town were knocked out of the Cheshire Senior Cup on penalties at Altrincham.
Despite Harry Roper saving two penalties in the shootout, he was trumped by opposite number Michael Acquah as Alty triumphed 3-2 on spotkicks after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.
Acquah atoned from being caught out within seconds of the start of the second half, when straight from the kick-off, McHugh launched a shot from 55 yards that found the top corner for a memorable first ever goal for the Yellows.
Roper was one of three starting debutants for Paul Carden, with Freddie Sellers from the Under 21s and youngster Eugen Irabor also featuring.
The lively Remi Raymond and Kahrel Reddin were threats for Alty though neither side forced a save out of the ‘keeper, with Sellers saving a goal with a crucial block from Eddy Jones.
But the hosts took the lead in first half injury time, Pharrell Brown cutting in from the left and shooting from the edge of the box, and it appeared to take a deflection to wrong foot Roper on its way in to the middle of the goal.
That was perhaps a little cruel on the Yellows, but they responded in some style through McHugh within five seconds of the second half.
The Yellows enjoyed the better of the second half, Reuben Denton shooting wide and then being denied by a full-stretch Acquah from a header.
Ultimately the game ended in a draw and went to penalties, and the Yellows looked to have got the initiative leading 2-1 after three kicks each.
But Bobby Bjork was denied by Acquah and that proved the turning point, with Joel Bailey and Josh Dempsey scoring either side of Acquah saving from Scott Butler to fire Alty through to a second round meeting with Runcorn Town.
Altrincham: Acquah, Jones (Neville), Hinchy (Mensah), Mattison, Dempsey, Dennis (Obamwonyi), Breckin (McNamara), Raymond, Brown, Reddin (Herreaman), Bailey.
Warrington Town: Roper, Irabor, Doherty, Morgan (Rodwell-Grant (Williamson)), Gumbs (Butler), Sellers, Hawkins (Bjork), Edwards, Elliott (Carden), McHugh, Denton.
