Conference part-timers Tamworth will be in the hat for the FA Cup fourth round after stifling Championship outfit Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

The Lambs, second bottom of the Conference and with just four league wins all season, rarely looked troubled against Johan Boskamp's multi-national side.

Despite 83 league places separating the two teams Tamworth, who have already accounted for League One Bournemouth and Hartlepool on their run, only had to call on goalkeeper Scott Bevan on a few occasions.

But the 6ft 7ins stopper pulled off a string of fine saves to keep his side in it and they have a replay a week on Tuesday to look forward to.

Backed by raucous away support, Tamworth battled gamely from the off but the hosts were afforded bags of possession and Potters winger Luke Chadwick was a constant threat.

The first real opportunity came after nine minutes when Dave Brammer sprayed a pass out to the left and Finland international Peter Kopteff cut inside Jimmy Turner but shot straight at Lambs goalkeeper Bevan.

Although top-scorer Sambegou Bangoura was at the Britannia Stadium, Guinea ruled he could not play ahead of the African Nations Cup. The 23-year-old has posed most of City's goal threat this term and without him, despite all their slick passing, Bevan was largely untroubled.

The Lambs were restricted to the odd venture into Potters' territory, although Jake Edwards saw a 30-yard effort held by City goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Just before the half-hour mark, Paul Gallagher spun past a couple of defenders and rifled a shot straight at Bevan.

Bevan, who has joined on a permanent basis from MK Dons, pulled off another good stop when Gallagher latched on to a Karl Henry pass and hit a powerful effort towards the far corner.

In a rare attack Carl Hoefkens headed clear only as far as Eddie Anaclet, whose strike caused Simonsen few problems.

Darel Russell, who had earlier lashed well over the bar, went much closer with a hooked shot that looped just over from Karl Henry's cross.

City were booed at the break but the pattern continued after the interval as the frustration of the home support grew and grew.

If anything, the hosts were even less threatening after half-time, although Lambs defender Adie Smith rescued his side with a good block after Chadwick got in behind the visitors' rearguard.

Tamworth even went close from a couple of free-kicks, Matt Redmile getting his head to Steve Melton's lofted ball into the box.

Bevan pulled off another great stop when Smith and Michael Touhy collided when they both went for a long Henry clearance, only for Mamady Sidibe to fire straight at the Tamworth keeper.

With 17 minutes remaining the hosts had a penalty appeal for Redmile's challenge on Sidibe turned down and Chadwick also dragged a long-range shot wide shortly after.

When Russell drilled a low effort from 25 yards with nine minutes remaining, Bevan was again on hand to get down low and push the ball around the post.

Cooper brought himself on with eight minutes left and his side could even have nicked a winner when Anaclet got in behind the City defence and fired across goal.

Edwards also spurned a late chance, finding himself clean through, only to be helped up by the Potters defence.

Teams:

Stoke Simonsen, Broomes, Hoefkens, Henry, Buxton, Chadwick (Harper 79), Russell, Brammer, Kopteff (Sweeney 54), Gallagher (Sigurdsson 76), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Junior, de Goey.

Booked: Henry, Simonsen.

Tamworth Bevan, Ward, Smith, Redmile, Turner, Touhy, Bampton (Cooper 83), Melton, Anaclet, Edwards, Wright (Storer 64).

Subs Not Used: Stamps, Heggs, Gayle.

Booked: Bampton.

Att: 9,366

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).