Wow, wow, wow, the large crowd at The Paycare Stadium witnessed a superb Birmingham Senior Cup tie that was enthralling, exhilarating, tense, pulsating, full of class quality and action, culminating in a superb penalty shoot out.

Under the management of Richard Beale, the Albion team were mainly under 21 and 18 professional players, who play for the Albion's Premier League 2 side and in Reyes Cleary a striker who has made two first team appearances.

Albion made the better start as Darlaston sought to cope with their pace and quality, eventually finding their feet as they came to terms with their professional opposition.

It was Darlaston who took the lead on 19 minutes when Aaron Bishop was felled in the penalty area. Bishop's spot kick was parried by keeper Ronnie Hollingshead, but the striker was first to react eventually squeezing the ball home from 2 yards.

Cleary was showing his class and pace whist England Under 17 International Kevin Mfuamba also impressed. Despite the obvious class of the opposition, the game was evenly contested, Darlaston giving as good as they got, showing their own quality, Bishop and Louis Baker prompting and probing against a well marshalled Albion defence. Narel Phillips and Aaron Harper Bailey impressing.

Darlaston doubled their lead on 38 minutes, Ben Podmore headed on a Ryan Winwood free kick, into the path of skipper Alex Foreshaw who prodded home from 6 yards.

After half time Albion started at an electric pace and within a minute of the re-start Akeel Higgins flat footing keeper Tom Carter from 16 yards.

Darlaston missed a glorious opportunity to restore their two-goal lead on 53 minutes when Bishop was felled in the box for a second time. Hollingshead on hand to keep his side in the game saving Winwood's spot kick, low to his left. Darlaston did not touch the ball again before Albion equalised, from keeper Hollingshead's save Albion broke and a four man move eventually saw Mandey score from 10 yards.

The penalty miss and goal rocked Darlaston who lost their shape and control for a while as Albion raced into a two goal lead with further goals on 61 and 65 minutes. Firstly, keeper Hollingshead's long goal kick evaded the home defence Sule nipping in to score from 12 yards. Albion made it four goals in 19 minutes when the pace of Fenton Heard saw him cut through the home defence to set up Mandey for his second goal and give the visitors a two goal advantage.

Darlaston were not to be out done, their grit, determination and will to win shining through as they shrugged off the set backs and hauled themselves back into the game. They were rewarded on 71 minutes, substitute James Rowland's free kick from wide right eventually falling to teenager Charlie Manners who volleyed home from a difficult angle to make the score 4-3.

Unbelievably, Darlaston's never say die attitude was again at the fore as they were awarded their third penalty of the game for another foul on Bishop. This time, regular penalty taker Rowland stepped up to convert easily.

Darlaston manager pulled a master stroke minutes before the final whistle, changing goalkeepers with Tom Allsopp replacing Tom Carter in goal. Neither side created any further clear chances and for the fourth time this season Darlaston were to enter a penalty shoot out to decide a cup tie.

The shoot out was as dramatic as the game. The first five penalties were converted with Rowland and Mardenborough on target for the home side, Albion converting their first three spot kicks. Bishop stepped up to take the third penalty but hit the underside of the crossbar the Assistant Referee ruling it had not crossed the line.

Both teams converted the next two spot kicks, Downing scoring for Darlaston and with the shoot out score at 4-3 the Albion had the chance to progress with their fifth spot kick but Darlaston keeper Jack Allsop saved to keep the home side in the tie, Ryan Winwood stepped up to make the score 4-4 on penalties. With every kick now sudden death, keeper Allsopp saved the next two spot kicks but Darlaston could not capitalise as firstly, teenager Leo Gill had his spot kick saved by Hollingshead and then Liam Wilkinson skied his effort over the bar. Albion then had their 8th spot kick saved again by Allsopp, Tom Hurdman now having Darlaston's third opportunity to win the die. He duly obliged to send the Darlaston contingent into ecstasy and his side into the Third Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.