Debut goalkeeper Luke Avenell was the AFC Sudbury hero as Jamie Godbold’s team defeated Witham Town, 4-3 on penalties, in the Robert Dyas Cup last night.

With the game tied at 1-1 going into stoppage time, thanks to goals from Sudbury’s Kris Newby and Witham’s Vinnie Durrant, manager Jamie Godbold elected to replace goalkeepers with 19-year-old debutant Avenell replacing Louis Johnson.

The final whistle came before Avenell had the chance to touch the ball at Spa Road, but that all changed in the shoot-out, the teenager saving the Essex side’s first penalty.

AFC will now host Grays Athletic in the last-eight of the competition.