Tom Wyatt held his nerve to send Chester Under 15s into the English Schools’ FA Inter Association Trophy quarter finals for the first time.
Christleton High School pupil Wyatt slotted home the decisive spot kick as Chester defeated Sefton on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the fourth round.
Sefton made a red hot start at Mannings Lane and raced into a three goal lead inside 22 minutes to leave the hosts teetering on the brink.
Chester regrouped and pulled two back before half time, captain Brandon Burrows converting a penalty after Max Carter had been felled in the area and Brandon Dickenson benefiting from a slice of fortune when an attempted clearance ricocheted off him and in to the net.
Sefton conceded an equaliser midway through the second period when man of the match Dickenson steered home a brilliant head Chester almost took the lead when Kyle John struck the post but extra time beckoned.
There were no further goals so that meant penalties and after Chester goalkeeper Jay Loyden had saved three Sefton attempts, Wyatt slotted home to send his side into the next round.
Chester manager Dave Sabri praised his team for having the resolve to come back after such a disastrous opening 22 minutes.
Sabri said: “It was a fantastic game and we believe this is the furthest a Chester side has ever been in the competition.
“We just did not out of the blocks and were 3-0 down after 20 minutes or so. It was a very slow start, but I’m delighted with the character shown by the lads.
“It was a great mix of quality of football and passion. We’re pleased to have scraped through when we were under massive pressure trailing 3-0.
“We showed great determination and came through in the end.”
Chester will face either Sheffield or South Northumberland in the quarter finals with tie scheduled to take place on or before January 17.
