BEING drawn to use the home dressing room at Liverpool FC's Anfield proved to be a lucky omen for Atherton (Town) Cricket Club as they went on to a penalty shoot out Carlsberg Pub Cup semi-final triumph over Redcar Working Mens Club.

This was the tenth tie played in a fantastic cup run for manager Shaun Lynch and his team but it was a real nailbiter against the team which won it last season.

Redcar had the better of the opening half with Atherton 'keeper Gary Osborne kept constantly busy. There was little he could do on 44 minutes to stop the defending champions taking the lead with a beautifully worked goal.

A tactical change at the interval worked wonders with Daniel Christie heading in a superb equaliser from Scott Hodson's cross and shortly after Clinton McLoughlin rounded the keeper to make it 2-1.

With two minutes remaining Redcar levelled and, with the score at 2-2 at full time, the game went straight to penalties.

Atherton's heroes proved to be keeper Osborne, with two spot kick saves and Ryan Willetts, who put home the decisive penalty kick.

The reward for Atherton is a June 1 trip to the Millennium Stadium Cardiff for the national final against either Wishing Well of Sheffield or Handsworth Old Crown of London and their incredible journey may not end there.

The eventual winners go on to represent Carlsberg in a European competition.