The Bucks are through to the First Round of the FA Trophy, after beating Cleethorpes Town in a dramatic penalty shootout.

After a lively start from both teams, the Bucks took the lead in the 14th minute thanks to Dior Angus‘ fourth goal of the season. Angus got in behind the Owls’ defence, and from the inside left channel fired a rising, left-footed shot past Oliver Battersby.

The Bucks had a fair bit of possession but few chances in the rest of the half, with the Owls going closest when Curtis Bateson did well down the left before curling a shot onto the top of the crossbar.

Wilkin’s men headed into half time 1-0 up, but that lead was wiped out shortly after the break when Adam Haw hit a fine free kick from 25 yards around the wall, past Hall and into the net. That goal came in the 52nd minute, and the visitors nearly took the lead five minutes later when a glancing headed struck the post from a dangerous corner.

The Bucks weathered a decent spell of pressure from Cleethorpes and then looked the more likely side as the game wore on. In the 70th minute, Remi Walker smashed a shot of the crossbar before Kyle Storer’s effort from the rebound was deflected up and off the bar again just a matter of seconds later. But the Bucks couldn’t find a winner, and the game finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

It was then straight to penalties, and the scores were level at 3-3 after eight kicks. Hall then saved Bateson’s effort to give Jordan Piggott the chance to win it for the Bucks, but his shot flew over the bar thereby sending the shootout to sudden death. Mekhi Haughton-Parris missed his kick for Town, but again the Bucks couldn’t put the tie to bed. This time Ellis Brown’s strike cannoned down off the bar but didn’t cross the line. Dan Gallimore and Alex Gudger converted their respective kicks, but when Paul Walker missed the next penalty for the Owls, Ricardo Dinanga made no mistake with his effort and sent the Bucks through 5-4 on penalties.

The Bucks pick up £2,450 in prize money and are in the hat for Monday’s First Round draw. The First Round will take place on 26 October.