SELBY Town will return to their Northern Counties East League promotion battle on Saturday with confidence hugely boosted thanks to their shock midweek cup win.

The Robins, sixth in division one prior to the weekend trip to Swallownest, beat National League North outfit Bradford Park Avenue in a dramatic West Riding FA County Cup second round penalty shoot-out, after nicking an equaliser in the penultimate minute of normal time.

It was an excellent riposte to last Saturday's poor league defeat to East Yorkshire Carnegie, and it gave them a slice of historic revenge, too, with Bradford PA being the side that knocked Selby out of the FA Cup - in front of the Robins' biggest-ever crowd of 7,000 - when they reached the first round proper way back in 1953.

Bradley Oliver gave the West Yorkshire side the lead after 10 minutes as he tapped in from close range.

But the home team got back into the game with hard defence and some purposeful play when in possession.

Liam Flanagan saw a header blocked on the line by Bradford keeper Ed Hall and, while Ben Lock's timely goalline clearance at the other end kept it to 1-0 at the break, Selby could have won the game in the second half but for Hall's heroics, saves from Sam Cable and Liam Flanagan being particularly notable.

The Robins got their reward late on after sustained pressure. The ball was half-cleared to Andrew Metcalfe on the edge of the area and he hit a sweet left-foot shot which finally beat Hall low down to his left.

The tie went straight to penalties - with Selby fighting back in the shoot-out too, during which 16-year-old substitute Harry Bissett held his nerve to put his spot-kick home.

Both teams scored their first three penalties but Selby missed their fourth to put Bradford on the verge of victory. But Sam Cable scored Selby’s fifth and Bradford hit the bar with theirs. 

The Robins then won it 7-6 in sudden death as Bradford hit the bar again, Christian Fox's men rewarded with a plum tie against Halifax in the quarter-finals.

Penalties were also required at Wetherby Road where National League North high-fliers Harrogate Town, fielding a youthful line-up, scraped through 4-3 in a shoot-out after a 2-2 draw at home to Goole.

A late brace from Morgan Smith had sent the tie to spot-kicks after Goole built a 2-0 lead.

Town will have a stronger team out when they return to their promotion challenge on Saturday at home to fellow high-riders Spennymoor, who have enjoyed a fine start to life at this level.

New signing Mark Beck is not quite ready for action, but, having served his suspension in midweek, Joe Leesley will be available for selection following his red card at Alfreton.

Meanwhile, Josh Greening and Tom Corner netted in the opening 20 minutes as Tadcaster Albion beat Barnoldswick Town 2-0 in their delayed West Riding County Cup first round tie.

Greening was given a gift to turn in from a couple of yards out after Barnoldswick skipper Shaun Airey fluffed a clearance from a corner, and then Corner tapped in an Aiden Savory cross for number two.

The North West Counties side fought back into the tie and had long spells in the ascendency, with Taddy having goalkeeper Greg Hartley - in for the unavailable Michael Ingham - to thank for keeping the lead intact, especially in the second half, when the Albion defence also earned their spurs.

Nevertheless, Brewers boss Michael Morton had said he wanted his side to do the “ugly stuff” at times and this is what they did to see off hard-working opponents.

Taddy will meet another North West Counties side, Silsden, in round two later this month, with the winners hosting National League outfit Guiseley in the quarter-finals.

Next up for Tad is Saturday's home Evo-Stik League game with Clitheroe, who sit on the same number of points in lower mid-table of division one north.