PAYING THE PENALTY

Late, late goals and penalty shoot-outs were the common theme running through several matches in Round 2 of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Five ties had to be settled by spot-kicks on Tuesday night and in the Northern Section Bradford City and Chesterfield were two of the teams that needed penalties to progress to the regional Quarter-Finals. The latter doing so in arguably the pick of the Round 2 matches.

In an incredible finale to normal time at Saltergate Chesterfield drew 3-3 with Huddersfield Town before progressing on penalties. Anyone who left early would have missed all the fun as the Spireites stood firm to beat a valiant Terriers side. Leading 2-1 thanks to two goals from Drew Talbot, as the game approached the end of the 90 minutes, Jordan Bowery made it three for the home side with forty seconds left but first Anthony Pilkington, with his second of the game, pulled a goal back three minutes into time added on and then two minutes later, with virtually the last kick of the game, Nathan Clarke netted to send the tie to a shoot-out. As it turns out Chesterfield got the win they thought they already had under their belts when they saw off their League 1 opponents 4-2 on spot-kicks.

In the Southern section Hereford United, Swindon Town and Southampton all needed penalties to secure their place in the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Anthony McNamee gave Swindon a 17th minute lead at St James Park, a lead which they held until the final stages of the match when Stuart Fleetwood netted for Exeter City two minutes into injury time. As had been the case though at Chesterfield, the side that lead for most of the match were able to progress as the Robins ran out 4-3 winners on penalties.

Hereford thought that they had won through in normal time when Mathieu Manset netted with a minute to go to give them a 2-1 lead at home to Aldershot Town but the Shots fought back moments later to level through Louis Soares and take the game to penalties at Edgar Street. With little to choose between the sides in spot-kicks either the Bulls held their nerve to squeeze through 4-3 on penalties - Mathieu netting the deciding kick.

SICK OF THE SITE OF SIXFIELDS

Bournemouth may well be flying high at the top of Coca-Cola League 2 but they'll be hoping they don't have to make any more trips to Sixfields Stadium this season. One of only two blemishes on their league form occurred at the hands of Northampton Town in August and despite taking a 33rd minute lead against the Cobblers in their Round 2 tie, Ian Sampson's side fought back to win 2-1; Steve Guinan equalised just after an hour and Ryan Gilligan scored the winning goal from the penalty spot, after Lee Bradbury's foul on Courtney Herbert in the third minute of time added on.

HAPPY TRIP HOME

Grimsby Town put their disappointing league form to one side to pick up a 2-0 victory over League 1's Hartlepool United to become one of only two sides to win away on Tuesday night without the need of penalties. Goals from Peter Sweeney     and Adam Proudlock proved the difference as the Mariners booked their place in the next round.

Norwich City were the only other away team to register victory inside the normal time as they beat Gillingham, Cody McDonald scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute

For a full list of results click here