Trailing at half time at the Anchor Ground to an injury-time strike by Jon Stephenson, Kirkham piled on the pressure in the second 45 minutes.

They were rewarded 20 minutes from time, when James Sheppard clipped in a loose ball after a quick throw in on the right by Nick Horne.

It proved to be the turning point in a match in which Kirkham strikers Andy Taylor and Mark Wane both squandered a series of chances.

But when Mike Clark side stepped three defenders five minutes from time to fire in the winner, Kirkham were on course for a quarter-final tie at home to Ashton Town at Kellamergh Park on Saturday February 2.

Boss MickFuller said later: "Considering the changes l made from Saturday's win in the Vase l thought we did well in the circumstances.

"It's a competition l feel we can win. Like Saturday, cup runs give the players something to look forward to."
The match saw the debut in defence of former Arsenal junior Paul Paynter,and with skipper Phil Thompson out with a heavy cold, long serving full-back Tony Keefe took over the captain's role - and with some gusto too in a man

of the match performance.
Rested after Saturday's two goal salvo on Tyneside, leading scorer, 16 goal Sean Paterson came on as a late substitute, while Matt Walwyn another of Saturday's goalscoring heroes, hit a post late on as Kirkham finished in fine style.

Kirkham travel to Norton United (3pm) in the Potteries on Saturday for a vital Vodkat League Division Two game.
Victory for Fuller's side could see them move back into the promotions places.