LAST year’s finalists Holsworthy progressed into the second round of the Devon St Luke’s Bowl with a penalty shootout success at Newton Abbot Spurs on Tuesday night.

The Magpies made the long trip over to South Devon looking to bounce back from their 5-0 hammering at St Austell on Saturday in South West Peninsula League Premier West.

Full-back Jeff Anglia, winger Owen Lauderdale and striker Chris Wildern all came into the starting 11 in place of unavailable duo Luke Potter and Aaron Hart, plus Gabe Rutter.

Determined to right the wrongs of their Poltair horror show, Holsworthy flew out of the traps on a tough surface, creating four or five half chances in the opening 15 minutes, however failed to seriously test teenage home stopper Harry Meadon.

Newton Abbot – mid-table in the equivalent SWPL Premier East division – gradually worked their way back into the contest, but fell behind on the half-hour as Wildern seized on an underhit backpass from Will Hancox before rounding Meadon and slotting home from a tight angle.

But just as it looked like the hosts would go in behind, they levelled in first half injury-time. A corner, which Gavin Carter felt had gone out, was headed back across goal by Tyler Yendle where Jordan Hogan tapped in from close-range.

It could have been worse for the visitors before the break as Hancox fired in, however the referee awarded a handball in the build-up, much to the hosts’ fury.

The second half was a scrappy affair although the Spurs often found themselves in good positions without taking advantage. However, they also put in plenty of strong challenges, one of which saw Yendle sent-off with 15 to go.

In the remaining time, the visitors missed three good chances as Ben Sharpe twice failed to hit the target when well-placed, while Wildern hit the side-netting from a tight angle.

Straight to penalties it went which the Magpies won 5-4, keeper Ryan Chadwick saving the third from Saul Vanes, as Sharpe, Rutter, Carter, skipper Jedd Peschke and Jay Thomas kept their cool.

On the victory, boss Kevin Squire admitted a far betting showing was of most importance, saying: “The main objective was recovering from Saturday and putting in a performance which I wanted to see which was full of endeavour, work-rate and a bit of quality, which thankfully I got.

“The result was a bit of a side issue. But we had a good feeling going into the competition after last year and it seems like we’re rather good at penalty shootouts again, so hopefully that continues.”

Attention quickly turns to Saturday’s home clash with much-fancied Penzance in the league (3pm), but Squire won’t be setting his fifth-placed side up to sit back.

He said: “I’m still trying to work out what we are, so this weekend will be a good test for us against a very good team.

“But generally we’ve been playing well and will go into it with confidence and try to get a good result. Our pitch is better than most we’ll play on this season and nobody likes coming to Holsworthy which we like, so we’re looking forward to it and certainly won’t be putting 10 men behind the ball.”

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Jeff Anglia, Jedd Peschke (capt), Callum Martyn, George Plumb; Rory Simmons, Jay Thomas, Gavin Carter; Ben Sharpe, Chris Wildern, Owen Lauderdale. Subs: Josh Down, Gabe Rutter.

Magpies’ man-of-the-match: Ryan Chadwick.