Simon Tracey's save in a dramatic penalty shoot-our allowed first division Sheffield United to defeat plucky and unlucky conference side Rushden and Diamonds.

With the tie level at 1-1 after extra time, United won the shoot out 6-5 with Marcus Bent scoring the decisive spot kick after Tracey had saved well from the unfortunate John Brady.

It was extremely harsh on the Conference side who had matched and at times outplayed their first division opponents throughout the 210 minutes of this enthralling Cup-tie.

Marcus Bent sent Diamonds goalkeeper Billy Turley the wrong way to send United through to the ecstatic delight of their travelling fans.

Before the drama of penalties there was the action-packed and equally dramatic extra time.

Rushden were on top early on when Andy Burgess brought a smart save out of Tracey, but United replied moments later when Katchouro's header from Woodhouse's free-kick was turned over the bar by Turley.

After 98 minutes, it was Derry who finally broke the deadlock when he latched on to Devlin's pass and slipped the ball past the advancing Turley to give United the lead. But just three minutes later the battling non-leaguers were deservedly back on level terms.

Tracey came out to claim Brady's corner but he misjudged it and could only get one hand on the ball to the delight of Diamonds captain Ray Warburton, who crashed his header high into the net.

Rushden & D'monds: Turley, Wooding, Rodwell, Warburton, Underwood, Burgess (Hamsher 119), McElhatton, Butterworth, Brady, Town (De Souza 65), Collins. Subs not used: Smith, Heggs, Mison. Booked: Brady. Goal: Warburton 105.

Sheffield Utd: Tracey, Kozluk, Murphy, Sandford, Quinn, Devlin, Derry, Woodhouse, Hunt (Katchouro 79), Bent, Smith (Hamilton 104). Subs not used: Duke, Gybreches, Doane. Booked: Derry, Woodhouse, Murphy, Kozluk. Goal: Derry 103.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).