GOALKEEPER Paul Hathaway brought to an end Littleton’s plucky League Cup run by saving three out of four in a penalty shootout.

The custodian’s heroics ensured Midland Football League top-flight title chasers Coleshill Town progressed to the semi-finals 3-1 following a gritty 0-0 draw after 90 minutes at Five Acres.

Littleton had benefited from an early advantage in the battle from 12 yards with Brendon Bunn saving from Town’s Matt Gardner and Joe Adams lashing high into the net.

However, Hathaway saved soft efforts from Matt Chambers and Steve Roche either side of stopping dead Shay Palmer’s firmly-struck shot towards the bottom right corner. For good measure, he also blasted in Coleshill’s third spot-kick.

In the match itself, chances were few and far between. The visitors applied most of the pressure without testing Bunn.

Joe Smith hit the top of the crossbar directly from a corner with 20 minutes to go, while Joe Halsall somehow missed the target with a header from six yards late on.

The result meant Division One Littleton exited the competition despite remaining unbeaten against the current top three from the level above.

“That is pleasing but to come so close is disappointing," said Ton Boys boss John Edwards.

"We needed to take one of our chances in the first half. The wind picked up in the second and they pinned us back.

“I thought we were going to concede in the last five minutes. They whizzed balls across the box and put on a lot of pressure.

“I am proud of the lads, though. Coleshill have a very good side and they adapted in the second half, went more direct and played the conditions.

“We had to defend very well and I could have asked for no more. Penalties are always a lottery, we had a bit of luck earlier in the competition and these things tend to even themselves out.

“You cannot legislate for it. Their penalties were pretty confidently taken and to be honest, I had no complaints because they probably edged it over the 90 minutes."

Littleton: B Bunn, Palmer, M Edwards, Fitter, L Clarke, Dave Edwards (Chambers, 80), Adams, Roche, J Clarke (Hylton, 73), Carter, Dale Edwards (Agar, 73). Unused subs: Ingram, Westwood.