CENTRE forward Rod Thornley is claiming a place in the history books after playing his part in a sensational cup victory.

Thornley played for 78 minutes as Congleton Town's stand-in keeper after Mark Winstanley was sent off in a thrilling FA Cup first qualifying round clash.

However Thorney still managed to find the net, scoring twice from the penalty spot in the Bears stunning 5-3 victory over Bilston Town.

Congleton believe Thornley's double could have made history, and are checking to see whether any keeper has scored twice in the FA Cup.

The Bears felt they were harshly done to when Winstanley was judged to have fouled a Bilston player in the area after just 12 minutes.

He was shown the red card, Congleton were down to 10, and Bilston scored from the spot.

However the disastrous start inspired Congleton, and they fought back to draw level 10 minutes later.

A cross from winger Russell Payne was headed clear, only for Simon Rudge to hammer the ball in from 20 yards.

Thornley scored his first penalty in the 31st minute after Craig Murphy was brought down in the box by a defender, to make it 2-1.

Nine minutes later right back Craig Warrington narrowly failed to make it 3-1 when his 30-yard shot was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

Bilston drew level at 2-2 five minutes into the second half from a good headed goal from their player manager, only for Congleton to make it 3-2 on 65 minutes.

Payne again provided the cross, this time for Murphy to head home.

The Bilston player manager scored his second, a close in header, to level things at 3-3 in the 74th minute.

But Rudge put Congleton in front once more from the restart with a half volley from 25 yards.

And Thornley put the icing on the cake with his second penalty 11 minutes from time after Payne was brought down.

"Our performance was fabulous, especially after going down to 10 men so early on,'' said Bears' secretary Dave Wilcock.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked by the way we played. We ran our socks off, and the crowd really got behind the players, who were outstanding.''

The win earned Congleton a home game in the second qualifying round against Boston United in two weeks.

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