BALA Town held their nerve to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Nathaniel MG League Cup in a tense penalty shoot-out against JD Cymru North outfit Bangor City on Tuesday night.

Bangor, watched by new manager Pedro Pasculli - a former World Cup winner for Argentina alongside Diego Maradonna in 1986 - had equalised through Francesco Serafino, to cancel out Louis Robles' opener for the Lakesiders.

It was Colin Caton’s Cymru Premier outfit who prevailed, however, in fixture that had a real international flavour to it, with Andy Burns finally converting the winning spot kick to win a thrilling shoot-out 7-6.

Lassana Mendes’ low drive from the edge of the box had tested former Wrexham youngster Jack Atkinson early on, but at the other end, Aldair Neto got free of the home defence to shoot on target, but keeper Ashley Morris saved comfortably.

Winger Louis Robles fired wide from a free kick and Lee Molyneux’s effort also missed the target, before the home side broke the deadlock. Robles latched onto Molyneux’s deflected effort, and beat the debutant Atkinson for the opening goal.

Bangor looked to hit back, with Yalany Baio latching onto Aldair Neto’s pass, before firing too high. Mendes, however, thought he had doubled the lead after the interval, but the effort was ruled out for offside.Nathan Burke and Chris Venables came on for Steven Leslie and Louis Robles, but on the hour Bangor drew level. Francesco Serafino’s strike from 18 yards beat the experienced Morris all ends up, after Piero Cauterucci’s assist, to stun Caton's men.

Serafino then had a half chance on the edge of the box, but he sliced his effort well wide of the Bala goal.

As the game opened up, Bangor keeper Jack Atkinson did well to deny Nathan Burke at the other end. Then, in the final minutes, Simone Rea headed over from a free-kick, before it went straight to penalties.

Massimo Sammartimo and Serafino’s spot kicks were in turn cancelled out Chris Venables and Burke. Former Lakesider Dave Thompson then saw his effort saved, but Atkinson also saved from Henry Jones.

Yalany Baio and Pavel Vieira both converted for Bangor, as did Molyneux and Evan Horwood for Bala.

Into sudden death, Aldair Neto netted, before defender Johnny Spittle levelled matters again. Sub Francesco Leghissa stepped up to slot home for Bangor, and Mendes equalised again for Bala.

Finally, however, Piero Cauterucci saw his spot kick saved, and defender Andy Burns stepped up and rocketed the ball home on his 50th appearance for the Lakesiders to book an away trip to Prestatyn Town in the last eight of the competition.