By Freddie Owers
USW 4ths overcame USW 6ths 3-2 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw in a hotly-contested internal battle at Sport Park.
A late Adam Caswell equaliser spared the 4ths blushes after a brave 6ths second half fight back, sending the friendly game to a penalty shootout.
George Lynch opened the scoring for the 4ths on 34 minutes with a free kick from the edge of the box which crept in with the help of the wall and a post.
The 4ths kept control of the game for the rest of the first half, allowing the 6ths no opening and sending them into the break 1-0 ahead.
The beginning of the second half was littered with chances for the 4ths, who failed to capitalise on a lot of space in behind the 6ths defence.
The 6ths began to find their feet as the half went on, and found the equaliser in the 64th minute after Ollie Sharpe was gifted an open net following an error by 4ths goalkeeper James Dobson, who failed to claim a tame ball into the box.
The 6ths turnaround was complete by the 73rd minute after a corner which was bundled in by Charlie Franklin.
And the 4ths evening got worse five minutes later as Dobson misplaced a ball in his area which Ollie Sharpe intercepted and slotted into an empty net, extending the 6ths lead to 3-1.
A frantic final five minutes began with Sam Nesbitt arriving at the back post for the 4ths to reduce the deficit to one and set up a nervy finale for the 6ths.
The 4ths were given a golden opportunity from the penalty spot to level the game up a minute later when Ehab Hassan was tripped in the box by goalkeeper Friday Kingsley Mbode, but Sam Nesbitt failed to convert.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
The 4ths capitalised on their relentless pressure with a minute to go when Caswell bundled the ball in to level the game up at 3-3.
At full time, the teams agreed to decide the match on penalties, and Dobson redeemed himself with an impressive save as the 4ths won the shootout 3-2.
The 4ths travel to local rivals Cardiff University next week, where they will be hoping to extend their winning run.