JUBLIANT John Fisher hailed Highworth Town’s “fantastic achievement” as they earned a place in the FA Vase fifth round for the first time in their history with a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout success in their reply at Tunbridge Wells.

Ryan King's strike midway through the first period of extra time looked to have wrapped up the game for Highworth in Kent after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, only for Brendan Cass to break their hearts with a late leveller.

But Highworth are made of strong stuff and quickly picked themselves up to convert all four of their efforts from the spot, while keeper Gary Stevens pulled off two superb stops to deny Tunbridge and keep them on the road to Wembley.

Stevens actually made three penalty saves on the day, keeping out Paul Booth’s effort in the first half of the original 90 minutes, although the Tunbridge striker swiftly converted the rebound to put his side ahead at the break.

But TJ Bohane restored parity early in the second half to ensure there was nothing between the sides over the regulation time, just as there had been in last week’s original tie which also finished 1-1 at the Elms.

Highworth boss Fisher said: “I thought we were the better side but there are so many emotions as when it goes to penalties you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“It was four quality penalties and Gary made two great saves. I told him to just stay in the middle and save the bad ones, but he didn’t listen and saved them anyway.

“When they scored to make it 2-2 with four minutes to go you think they could go on and win it in normal time because you could see our lads fell to the floor devastated.

“All their fans were saying we’ve got no chance coming back down here but what they don’t realise is that our boys have got some resilience.

“When they’re told their not good enough they turn around and do the job.

“I’m pleased for everyone at the club. The players are over the moon and it’s great to Swindon too.”

Highworth now face an all-Wiltshire affair in the next round and are away at Toolstation Premier Division side Bradford Town in the last 16.

Having seen his troops battle back from the brink and with just three wins separating them from a dream Wembley final, Fisher believes anything is now possible.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and the good thing about it is we’ve now got Bradford away and that’s a winnable one as well,” said Fisher.

“You just don’t know now. It’s everyone’s dream to get there and you think it can’t happen but dreams come true sometimes.

“Even for us to achieve what we have done now is fantastic.”