The visitors took the lead within five minutes after a counter-attack, with Lowey converting a penalty in the 58th minute to make things level, before Boldon won the shootout 5-3.

The opening goal was one which the visitors could have had more of in a similar fashion, as a ball in behind on a counter-attack caught the Stripes in transition and saw Liam Thear slot home his chance one-on-one.

Looking to equalise quickly, Luke Byron nearly fired home the hosts’ opener in the 15th minute, but his attempt from outside the area was narrowly clawed wide of the post by Daniel Gladstone – who was in the same vein of form all game.

Just one minute later, some pressure mounted in a goal for FC St Helens as Josh Briggs nodded home at the far post; however, Joe Barker was adjudged to have interfered with the ball by the linesman as it crossed the line.

Boldon nearly doubled their scoreline in the 25th minute as a quick play down the right flank saw them with a shooting chance from a central area, but the strike was up and over the bar.

Uproar from the FC St Helens bench could be heard not long after as Nathan Corness was brought to ground in a very tricky spot for the referee, as he eventually awarded a free kick to the hosts on the line of the 18-yard box despite penalty appeals.

Two minutes later, the Stripes equalised again as a thunderous volley from Ethan Jones was well saved but only as far as Dom Hoppe, who ran to beat his man to the header, but was ruled offside.

It was head in hands again just seconds before half-time, as Corness was up highest to redirect the ball goalward, but Gladstone made a tremendous save.

In the 58th minute, Byron had been pulled to ground in the area resulting in Lowey stepping up and lifting the ball to the goalkeeper’s left.

Joe Bickerstaffe made a tremendous save down the other end just one minute later to keep the game at 1-1, as David Ball replaced Barker and Tom McNamara for Byron.

The game fell into a bit of a lull as both teams searched for a winner, and the aforementioned substitute nearly did just that in the 89th minute.

The ball had been worked well down the right flank before being cut back into McNamara, but his low shot was expertly turned away by the goalkeeper.

Another substitute, Ball, nearly sealed it for the Stripes also in injury time, as he raced round the left shoulder and in on goal before firing across the goal line.

The full-time whistle confirmed that it was time for penalties, as Boldon progressed after scoring five, with the Stripes scoring three and missing one.

FC St Helens return to league action next week in a trip to Prestwich Heys on November 7.