James Graham put them ahead after just five minutes at Sheepy Road and another superb defensive performance kept the Adders at bay until the closing stages. They finally won the tie with a pair of goals right at the end of extra time.

Graham gave Saints the best possible start, opening the scoring with a powerful shot after a fast forward foray. His side battled as well as they had on Saturday, winning lots in the air and occasionally looking dangerous on the break.

Atherstone again didn't much resemble the in-form Southern League side they are, but they were very unlucky not to equalise just before the break. Luke Barlone celebrated after out-jumping keeper Ollie Manuel, only to see his header inadvertantly cleared off the line by team-mate Luke Edwards.

The hosts were much better in the second half, but kept their increasingly vocal support waiting. Corner after corner came to nothing against a brick wall of a defence.

All that hard work at the back meant Southam had little chance to attack. Tom Friend had a rare chance, only to volley wide under pressure.

Saints' task got even harder when Rich Kay was sent off for handball. He appeared to have grabbed the ball in the expectation of a free kick for a foul.

Barry Shearsby's side held out with ten men on Saturday, but doing so again proved too much. Lee Greenway forced home the equaliser from yet another corner with just three minutes left.

Atherstone piled on the pressure in extra time, only to find Southam's will was unbroken. It looked as if only penalties would separate the sides - sadly for Southam one was enough.

The referee had no choice but to point to the spot when the unfortunate Si Proctor brought down Edwards. Kyle Storer spent an age composing himself before striking the killer blow after 116 minutes of football.

Greenway added a cruel third two minutes later, racing into a rare gap left by a defence that had given its all.
That - or something said in response to it - sparked a mass touchline brawl in the dying moments.