HIGHGATE United secured a 2-0 victory at higher-ranked Alvechurch to book their place in the next round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
There was a much changed line up for the visitors, including three U21 players, as Brad Catlow, Marco Adaggio, George Curry, Richard Batchelor and Nathan Pulisciano all missing from the starting XI.
Todd Yahiya was in at left back, James Wilcock and Aaron Brown fulfilled midfield roles and Connor Deards made a first full start up front alongside Lei Brown.
Following a goalless first half, Brown gave the visitors a 50th minute lead with a back post header off McCauley Manning’s cross.
Gate doubled the lead 18 minutes later, with Yahiya hitting the net from 25 yards with a crisp drive.
Goalkeeper Chris Jay kept the margin to two goals with an excellent 72nd minute penalty save as Gate went on to record a very good win which followed Saturday’s frustrating 4-4 draw at Loughborough University in the Midland League Premier Division.
The Scholars looked dead and buried at 3-0 down by the half-hour mark but they managed to come away with a share of spoils after a spirited second half display.
Brown hit a first half hat-trick for Gate, netting in the 16th, 32nd and 35 minutes respectively.
Ben Last reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time before Joe Boachie made it 3-2 in the 55th minute.
McCauley Manning put Gate 4-2 ahead four minutes but there was no respite for the visitors.
Jeremiah Dasaolu made it 4-3 in the 80th minute before Merlin Ferrinho equalised four minutes later.
Gate visit Brocton in the FA Vase on Saturday.
