MIKE Fowler praised ‘hero’ Matty Warburton after 10-man Redditch United claimed a remarkable penalty shootout victory against Solihull Moors in the Birmingham Senior Cup.
Midfielder Warburton played in goal for 80 minutes after goalkeeper Tyrese Warmington saw red early on at Damson Park.
However, the Reds triumphed 3-1 on penalties after Warburton saved two spot kicks to send Redditch through to the quarter-finals where West Bromwich Albion await.
And Fowler, who spent five years as Solihull’s academy manager before becoming Reds boss last summer, lauded his side’s desire to find a way to win.
Fowler said: “It’s a great night for the club.
“They went strong, they showed us respect and they showed the competition respect.
“It was a great start followed by a moment of madness and we let them back into the game and go down to 10-men.
“I had no idea who was going in goal. I turn around to my bench and they all turn around to look at the stands.
“Low and behold the hero steps up and takes the gloves and the shirt and I’m like ‘no!’.
“I love the lads to the bits. We’re winning in so many different ways and they show so much desire.
“We were colossus, we defended incredibly well. To go penalties is a lottery and I can’t even describe what happened.”
The Reds made the perfect start against the National League side when Jack Loughran turned home Liam Loughlan’s cross from the left from close range after just three minutes.
However, the game turned on 10 minutes as a mix-up between Luke Ward and Warmington presented the ball to Bradley Stevenson.
Stevenson pounced on the misplaced backpass only for Warmington to instinctively bring down the Moors attacker with the goal at his mercy.
This left the referee with no choice but to send off the young goalkeeper as Stevenson duly converted the resulting spot kick past midfielder Warburton who took the gloves.
However, despite playing with a man less for the majority of the fixture, the Reds defended heroically as Ward produced a fine block to turn Stevenson’s goalbound effort behind.
Warburton had little to do between the sticks as he made a handful of routine saves to take the game to a shootout.
Former Moors midfielder Warburton took the first spot kick in the shootout and confidently rolled the ball into the net.
However, Warburton then denied Ben Worman, diving to his right, to stun the home side.
Moors stopper Laurie Walker then saved from Liam Loughlan before Emmanuel Sonupe levelled the shootout.
The Reds went back in front courtesy of Aram Soleman’s spot kick before Warburton produced more heroics to save Jacob Wakeling’s penalty diving to his left.
Another former Moors player Morgan Owen scored for Redditch with Darius Lipsiuc only able to hit the crossbar with Solihull’s fourth penalty which sent United through.
