Aiden Jeynes helps Atherstone Town 'keep one hand' on the BCFA Midweek Challenge Cup

Black Country Rangers 3 Athersone Town CFC 3

(Atherstone win 7-6 on penalties) Teenage keeper Aiden Jeynes stepped up to the plate for his second penalty shootout in a row to ease Atherstone Town to within one game of retaining their Birmingham County FA Midweek Challenge Cup. The 18-year-old made a crucial save during a nailbiting comeback for the Adders against Black Country Rangers at Sporting Khalsa's Aspray Arena ground – in front of the club's new management pairing of Russell Innes and Adam Davies. And it was two crucial saves when Adders' FA Vase last-16 game went to penalties at Worcester City that saw them through to last Saturday's 3-1 defeat against Consett. Adders were heading out of their second successive quarter-final cup tie when they went in at half time 2-0 down, the home side scoring in the fourth and 40th minutes. An injury to first choice keeper Carl O'Neill just before the interval saw Jeynes taking the number one jersey after the break. Then two Adam Goodby headers within 10 minutes of the restart brought Adders back into contention before Rangers took the lead 3-2 on the hour. But the visitors weren't to be outdone in a second successive quarter final and Josh Ruff levelled with seven minutes remaining. Penalties saw nerves shredded on both sides with the score 3-3 in the shootout after each side missed two of the first five attempts. But at 7-6 to Atherstone, Jeynes pulled off a smart save to leave them the victors on the night. Atherstone's fixture backlog saw them play this game five weeks after Studley triumphed 2-0 at Dudley Town and two weeks further back to the other two quarter-final ties. Next Tuesday Studley will face Darlaston Town in the first semi-final while Atherstone have yet to confirm when they will play their opponents – Cadbury Athletic.