A last-minute penalty from Sean Pye saw Murray United progress to round five of the Victorian phase of the FFA Cup on Saturday.
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The Border side escaped with a 2-1 win against State League 3 outfit Sebastopol Vikings at Ballarat's Morshead Park after squandering several chances throughout the contest.
Murray took the lead in the 23rd minute another classy finish from star striker Tom Youngs, but scores were level again 13 minutes later.
It remained 1-1 at the break before Youngs was brought down in the box and won a penalty seven minutes into the second half.
However, the Englishman was unsuccessful with his spot kick.
The Vikings played the majority of the second half with 10 men behind the ball, which limited Murray's scoring opportunities.
But just as it looked destined to head to extra time, 16-year-old Jordan Hore won a penalty and Pye converted.
Murray United coach Elliot Jones admitted his side made hard work of it.
"Even though they're a couple of leagues below us, they played for each other and ran hard, which always makes it hard to break down," he said.
"After a bit of a poor start, it can be hard to play better as the game wears on.
"We certainly had more than enough chances to have the game killed off before half-time, but they manged to peg one back.
"The final goal, Archie Thompson put Jordy Hore through one-on-one with the keeper and was brought down and won a penalty.
"Sean Pye stepped up and tucked it away bottom left.
"By our standards, we can play a hell of a lot better, but it was good to get through unscathed."
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Jones said the biggest positive was getting quality minutes under the belt of his younger players, as well as veteran Thompson.
"We didn't play well in the first half, so it was hard for them to get into the game," Jones said.
"In the second half we had a lot of the ball, Josh Perry came on at wing back and worked really hard, Ben Smith also and Seb Dalitz as well.
"They'll gain a lot from the experience, which is what we wanted.
"Dunny (captain Ashley Dunn) only played 45 and I would have liked to have taken Tommy (Youngs) off, but when the game was still there to be won, he needs to stay on the park."
Murray's next opponent is yet to be determined.
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