Brocton 3 Ashby Ivanhoe 5

Eight goals, two red cards, a sin bin and a light failure preceded Ashby Ivanhoe's passage into the Third Round of the FA Vase, as they saw off Brocton in a thriller.

Ivanhoe arrived at the re-arranged game with a makeshift squad, consisting of just one of the back four playing in their preferred position.

Further up the pitch, there were returns to the side for Will Groocock and Josh Thomas, both of whom played a key role in the victory.

Ashby had to fight back from an early deficit due to Reggie Smith's early goal.

The striker found himself in the perfect position to block Sam Taylor's clearance, seeing the ball loop back over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Ashby had made a positive start and fought back well to equalise on 20 minutes. Thomas who had an excellent first half swung in a perfect cross which was met by Ash Garner who headed into the far corner.

The first half was very much end to end, with both sides having several clear sights of goal. After coming close to grabbing his second on numerous occasions, Smith found the net on 35 minutes as he tucked the ball through Taylor's legs following some good build up play.

Groocock had been a handful for Brocton's defence all half and had come close to breaking their resistance a couple of times when chasing down through balls and loose passes. And he would find Ashby the equaliser just three minutes after Brocton retook the lead.

Quick link up play with Sam Grouse meant that he found himself with his back to goal from outside the penalty area. A quick turn and shift onto this right foot gave him time to unleash a low drive goalwards, nestling into the far corner.

The goal was his first of the season in a campaign in which he has battled back from injury. It came as part of a performance which showed why manager Andy Gray can rely on him going forward.

There was less action in the opening phase of the second half as the game settled down after an end to end first 45. This was short lived however as Brocton full back Matt Bestall was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Chris Acott.

Moments later, the man advantage paid dividends for Ashby who won a penalty has Groocock was fouled while in on goal. Grouse fired the penalty low to the goalkeeper's left, clinically putting Ivanhoe into the lead for the first time.

The drama kept coming as Will Robson was also shown a second yellow five minutes later, levelling the match at 10 players apiece. On a booking after a first half collision with goalkeeper Tony Allsopp, Robson was sent off for handling the ball after what appeared to be a push in the back.

Possibly feeling a little sorry for themselves, Ivanhoe were caught napping almost instantly, as Morgan Payne beat the offside trap and volleyed home.

All momentum appeared to be with Brocton at this stage, however Ivanhoe would soon strike a decisive blow. Acott cut inside from the left and found Grouse, taking a couple of touches, the striker then set the ball onto his right foot and fired a bullet past Allsopp at his near post.

What followed was a nervous ten minutes as an issue with the floodlights put the game in jeopardy, however eventually the problem was fixed, and a third postponement was thankfully avoided.

Pressing for an equaliser, Brocton stung the palms of Taylor with two shots from distance, however it was Ivanhoe who scored the game's eighth goal with a man advantage as the hosts lost another player to a sin bin.

Tolani Omotola's power was the last thing a tired Brocton defence wanted to see at this stage of the game, shrugging off the centre back, he threaded through to Acott who slammed home into the roof of the net to put the tie beyond doubt.

It was a much-needed victory for Ivanhoe who haven't won on the road in any competition since the start of October. In the next round they will face Tividale of the Midland Premier League at home with a place in the last 32 at stake.