Carl Hoefkens held his nerve to score the winning penalty for relieved Stoke after a tense FA Cup third round replay at Tamworth.

Plucky non-Leaguers Tamworth had led for most of the second half after a Nathan Jackson strike but Coca-cola Championship Stoke hit back through Paul Gallagher 10 minutes from time.

The game went down to a penalty shoot-out and it was Stoke who prevailed 5-4 after goalkeeper Steve Simonsen saved spot-kicks from Eddie Anaclet and Michael Touhy.

Jackson's 42nd-minute strike had come against the run of play after Stoke dominated the first half but the Conference side battled well thereafter and caused their visitors some problems.

Stoke had failed to make the most of their opportunities in the goalless draw in the sides' first meeting and again they lacked a killer touch, squandering a host of chances in the first half.

Dave Brammer twice got in early shots but first fired over and then found the hands of Bevan with another effort.

Another chance came as Gallagher sent Kevin Harper clear but Mamady Sidibe could not make contact as the ball was drilled across the box.

A poor clearance from Steve Simonsen gave Tamworth their first opening but Jackson shot over after quickly played in by Carl Heggs.

Play soon switched back to the other end and Gallagher should have done better when he headed over from a Harper cross.

Stoke gradually increased the tempo and Adie Smith earned a booking for bringing down Harper with a rash challenge.

Gallagher headed over again from a Brammer cross and Luke Chadwick was unlucky not to give the visitors the lead in the 41st minute when Bevan tipped his shot over.

Stoke then paid for their profligacy as Bevan caught the resulting corner and launched the attack that led to Tamworth's goal.

The home side broke quickly and Heggs raced into the box before squaring perfectly for Jackson to finish from close range.

The goal upset Stoke's rhythm and they mustered little in the early stages of the second half other than a long-range Brammer shot which Bevan dealt with easily.

It was not until just before the hour mark that they managed to muster some serious pressure but Tamworth escaped as Smith blocked and Bevan punched clear in a goalmouth scramble.

Sidibe then hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box but chances remained few and far between for the Potters.

They laboured for long periods but the breakthrough finally came from a corner with 10 minutes remaining.

Adam Rooney, who had just come off the bench, saw his header from Peter Kopteff's cross blocked but the ball fell Gallagher's way and he levelled with his superb acrobatic effort.

Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages of normal time, Matthew Redmile going the closest for the hosts, but the game went into extra time.

The pace dropped as both sides tired in the additional 30 minutes and there was little by means of goalmouth action.

Penalties became inevitable and it was Stoke who prevailed when Hoefkens struck in sudden death after both sides scored four of their first five kicks.

Teams

Tamworth Bevan, Touhy, Smith, Redmile, Anaclet,

Wright (Turner 66), Melton (Storer 83), Ward (Stamps 116),

Bampton, Heggs, Jackson.

Subs Not Used: Cooper, Gayle.

Booked: Smith, Heggs.

Goals: Jackson 42.

Stoke Simonsen, Henry, Hoefkens, Duberry, Broomes (Rooney 80),

Chadwick (Kopteff 45), Brammer (Junior 45), Harper, Buxton,

Gallagher, Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Sweeney, Duggan.

Booked: Harper, Junior.

Goals: Gallagher 80.

Stoke win 5-4 on penalties

Att: 3,812

Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).