Two years ago virtually to the day Wulfs progressed past Chasetown after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory to mark a new high point in the club’s history.
This year, another 5-4 penalty shoot-out win, this time against Castle Vale of the Midland Combination, may have lacked the glamour and hysteria of that unforgettable night but the outcome is equally as important.
It all started in the worst possible fashion as the visitors went ahead after just 9 seconds. From the kick off the ball was played backwards and then fired forward for Ahmet Bilgimer to spin past his marker and finish low in to the bottom corner.
To their credit, Wulfs hit back straight away with Nathan Rose-Laing having a goal chalked off for a marginal offside and Ricky Anslow, Rose-Laing and Danny Crudgington all having decent chances.
The equaliser finally came in the 23rd minute. Tony Collins received the ball back from a throw on left and curled a good ball over the defence for Rose-Laing to control, turn and roll home from 7 yards out.
The game settled down a bit and the teams went into the break level.
The second half started with Wulfs on top but it was the visitors who regained their lead in the 58th minute. Substitute Ryan Nash broke down the right before cutting the ball back to the edge of the area for Christian Crisp to fire home with the aid of a big deflection.
Nash then fired a 25 yard free kick against the top of the bar before Wulfs grabbed a second equaliser in the 68th minute. Ade Bandele drove at the Vale defence and was half stopped but Ian Boswell followed up with 25 yard low drive into bottom corner of the net.
Wulfs keeper Raajan Gill then tipped a Joe Halsall volley over the bar while, at the other end, Peter Maguire made a point-blank save from a Mick Eagles volley.
Seven minutes from time Vale took the lead for a third time. A throw on left half cleared out to Brett Larkins and he crossed back in for Josh McPherson to glance a header in at the far post.
Even that wasn’t the end of the action as Wulfs levelled again a minute from time. Danny Crudgington did well down the left before whipping in a low cross that Dave Arrowsmith inadvertently diverted into his own net under pressure from Rose-Laing.
Just seconds later Bilgimer had the chance to wrap up the tie but Gill pulled off a smart save with an outstretched foot when the striker was through one-on-one.
Thirty minutes of extra time couldn’t separate the two sides so the game went to a penalty shoot out. Both sides missed their opening efforts but converted the next four apiece. Sudden death saw Robin Sheffield keep his nerve but the unlucky Arrowsmith struck the base of the post to send Wulfs through to a home tie against Stafford Rangers.
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