JOE Davies saved from Aaron Dineen in the penalty shoot-out as hosts Adderbury Park began the defence of their Oxfordshire FA Charity Cup title with a dramatic victory against Cropredy.

The visitors had twice come from behind to level inside 90 minutes, which also saw both sides reduced to ten men in the second half.

The scoreline remained 2-2 after extra time, before Adderbury edged the shoot-out 3-2 and progressed to the second round.

Davies impressed early on as Cropredy, beaten 6-1 by their hosts on the opening day of the Oxfordshire Senior League season last month, started brightly.

But Adderbury opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, when Josh Gibbins pounced on a defensive mix-up and set up Henry Rose to score.

Chay Buckingham bagged the equaliser seven minutes later, latching on to Dan Watkin’s pass and lashing a shot past Davies.

Cropredy had a glorious opportunity to lead in the 60th minute, when Dan Reeves was fouled in the area.

But Davies kept out Jacob Goddard’s effort and Adderbury cashed in, going in front again when Rose struck his second, powering in a header from Jack Welch’s free-kick.

Tensions boiled over in the latter stages, when Watkin was dismissed for a late challenge on Welch.

Adderbury’s Niall Higgins was sent off in the ensuing fracas and Cropredy had the better of the ten-a-side contest, with James Kite making it 2-2 in the 82nd minute.

Davies and opposite number Kurt Fox starred in a tense extra time, but it was the former who came up trumps in the shoot-out.

Marston Saints also went through, winning 4-2 at OUP, while Eynsham Association knocked out hosts Carterton Town A 3-1.

In the Oxfordshire Senior League Division 2, Cropredy Res almost blew a four-goal lead, but won 4-3 at home to Eynsham Res.

Damien Gourley fired them ahead in the first half, before Chris England, Ryan Carter and Craig Kingham made it 4-0.

A lapse in concentration allowed the visitors back into the game, forcing Cropredy to dig in late on during a nervy finish.