Pinchbeck United beat Heacham in the Thurlow Nunn League Cup

Pinchbeck United claimed a higher level scalp to progress to the fourth round of the Thurlow Nunn League Cup on Tuesday night.

The Knights defeated Premier Division hosts Heacham 6-5 on penalties after the match had finished all square at 2-2.

It secured a third successive victory in all competitions for the Knights following league wins over FC Peterborough and Dussindale & Hellesdon.

Manager Lewis Thorogood said: "There were lots of positives to be had from the game again.

"The objective was to give a good account of ourselves, come through the game unscathed and anything else would be a bonus.

"We got what we wanted out of the game and we've got that little bit of momentum on our side at the moment."

Heacham had started the brighter of the two teams in a fast-paced game before Pinchbeck broke the deadlock against the run of play.

A back pass fell short of the home goalkeeper and JJ Ward nipped in to round the custodian and put the visitors ahead.

Pinchbeck played the better football after the break and Taylor Jaine - who has returned to the Knights after a spell with Hucknall Town - teed up Luke Cullen to double the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

The Knights then rang the changes to give every player minutes and it took their dominance out of their game.

Heacham halved the deficit when a shot took two deflections before nestling in the Pinchbeck net.

A back post scramble following a free-kick into the penalty area then saw Heacham equalise to send the tie to penalties.

Jaine, Nathan Stevens, recent recruit Tommy Hoyle and Harry Cranfield were all successful from the spot with Avi Vieira spurning the chance to clinch the win after Heacham had missed their first penalty.

Josh Panton and Charlie Brooks then converted in sudden death with Ben Martin saving the final Heacham spot kick to send Pinchbeck through.

They return to Division One North action on Saturday with a home match against Framlingham at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.

Pinchbeck are in ninth spot but are only three points adrift of their sixth-placed visitors while also having a game in hand.