Non-leaguers Nuneaton were mobbed by hundreds of joyous fans after pulling off an historic result against Premiership side Middlesbrough.

The Conference North side made light of the 100 places between them and their lofty visitors with a sparkling performance that was as attractive as it was hard-working.

Only a world-class free-kick by the otherwise anonymous Gaizka Mendieta had spared Middlesbrough's blushes for from first whistle to last Nuneaton made light of the bumpy, muddy pitch to thrill their fans.

There was reward too for Roger Ashby's side when Gez Murphy slotted home a last-minute penalty to set up a lucrative and hugely-deserved replay back at the Riverside.

This was no second-string Middlesbrough side either. Apart from leaving Mark Schwarzer on the bench after his transfer request, Steve McClaren picked very much his first-choice side.

Never before in their 69 years had Nuneaton faced top-flight opposition in a competitive fixture and though stalwarts fondly remember 21,000 squeezing into Manor Park for the visit of Rotherham in the 1960s this was undoubtedly the club's biggest day in the club's history.

Completely against the run of play Mendieta gave the Premiership side a 14th-minute lead with a tremendous free-kick.  From 25 yards out, slightly to the right of goal, the Spaniard drove his kick high to Darren Acton's right and into the top corner and there was no shame on the Nuneaton stopper for the strike would have beaten most keepers, whatever league they played in.

Nuneaton may have feared their task would made even more difficult when David Staff limped off to be replaced by Stuart Whittaker but as it turned out the substitute put in a man-of-the-match performance.

Acton did excellently to beat out James Morrison's shot after a good Middlesbrough build-up before Nuneaton once more came close to inflicting embarrassment on their Premiership visitors.

Gary Fitzpatrick set Murphy running towards goal once again and he tried his luck with a dipping shot from 25 yards but Jones managed to flap a hand at it and the ball dropped agonisingly over the crossbar - fortunately for the Middlesbrough keeper who should have done rather better.

Nuneaton started the second half in tremendous fashion, carving out a series of opportunities.  Whittaker's free-kick picked out Terry Angus but the centre-back could only loop a header into Jones' arms then the substitute brought a scrambling save out of Jones himself with a low shot.

From the ensuing corner, the Nuneaton skipper Moore cursed himself after sending a diving header bouncing wide from a good position.

Middlesbrough finally managed an effort on goal of their own when Viduka flashed a header towards the near-post but Acton was able to turn it aside.

Nuneaton finally got their reward when substitute Michael Frew's cross was judged somewhat harshly to have been handled by Gareth Southgate - the referee perhaps making up for his earlier decision - and Murphy kept his nerve to spark pandemonium in the stadium.

The FA Cup magic had weaved it spells once more.