Substitute Ben Mackey was the hero as Leamington took 120 minutes to edge past Rushall Olympic and into the third round qualifying of the FA Trophy, after a five-goal thriller ended 3-2 at Dales Lane.
Four goals were scored in a frenetic second half after a scrappy first – with Alex Reid wasting the best chance before the interval for the hosts, somehow missing with an open goal at his mercy on 25 minutes.
But Jamie Hood got the second period off to a flying start with a 46th-minute header, slamming the ball home after Lee Moore flicked on Ross Oulton’s corner.
Rushall Olympic 2-3 Leamington
FA Trophy
Second round qualifying
Tuesday 24 November
Reid’s bad luck continued when he put a spot-kick wide on 57 minutes, but he finally found the mark and drew his side level with just a quarter of an hour to play with a fine effort.
Jack Edwards then saw his header deflected against the bar as Leamington went in search of a winner, before Moore thought he had won it for the visitors when he curled one into the top corner with seven minutes remaining.
But Nick Wright hit back just two minutes later with a header to send the game into extra time, with Joe Magunda denied superbly by Dean Coleman as the clock ticked into the red.
But up popped Mackey in the 103rd minute to win it for the Brakes, turning home a free-kick he had won himself to send his side into a clash with Hednesford Town.
Meanwhile, in the evening’s other fixture Kidsgrove Athletic's rescheduled FA Trophy replay with Marine was again postponed due to the weather and will now be played on Saturday.
