Town's U18s beat Portsmouth 3-2 in extra time on Monday night to progress to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. Goals from James Krause, Billy Clarke and Danny Haynes ensured an away tie at either Manchester United or Stoke City.
In a dull first half hour, the ball came out to Aidan Collins, who hit a left-foot shot from 20 yards, which forced Portsmouth keeper Dean Harris into a save.
On 37 minutes, Fraser Beveridge put in a free-kick which Chris Casement met, but his glancing header was straight at the keeper.
Three minutes later, the ball broke through to Portsmouth's Joe Carter-Harris, who shot over Shane Supple's bar.
Town were playing the better football and having more attacks on goal; Cathal Lordan's deflected shot went straight into the arms of Dean Harris.
On 44 Irish striker Billy Clarke shot just wide from 25 yards after a good break from Town.
Three minutes after the re-start, Portsmouth took the lead. A free-kick was whipped in and captain Matthew Day rose to head home.
Town recovered and two minutes later were back on level terms. Billy Clarke started and finished the move. After playing the ball out to James Krause, Clarke got himself into a good position for the cross, but the ball came off a Pompey defender back into Krause's path and he finished from eight yards.
On 52 minutes, good work from Michael Synnott on the right released Liam Craig who shot from 25 yards, but Dean Harris was able to gather. Two minutes later, Pompey scorer and captain Matthew Day was booked for dissent.
Soon after, Harry Donaghy hit a shot which Shane Supple had to tip round his post for a corner.
In the 58th minute, Billy Clarke put a lovely ball into Town captain Liam Craig, who from six yards couldn't quite get enough lift on his shot and Dean Harris was able to smother the ball.
Four minutes later, Darryl Knights produced a fine save from the Pompey keeper, but Town broke again and this time scored. Billy Clarke was this time put through and he fired the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
After the celebrations had finished, Town replaced Fraser Beveridge with Liam Trotter.
Two minutes later, Town needed Aidan Collins to be at his best to block a shot from Joe Carter-Harris after the number nine had got himself into a goalscoring position.
Town broke, and a free-kick was given away by Portsmouth. The free-kick managed to find Aidan Collins at the back post, who side-footed the ball against the post, and substitute Trotter blazed the follow-up over. Not long after, Portsmouth replaced Joe Bye with James Eyles.
Four minutes later Town hit the bar again. Knights somehow managed to control the ball that was coming over his right shoulder and he had all the time in the world to pick his spot, but instead he clipped the bar from three yards out. Town then replaced the hard-working Billy Clarke with Danny Haynes.
Liam Craig then produced a fine cross, which Pompey defender Matthew Day headed onto his own crossbar and Dean Harris was able to gather.
On 76 Portsmouth equalised. Daryl Fordyce had a go from 25 yards and his shot received a big deflection which eluded Shane Supple and the ball bounced into the Town goal.
Five minutes later, captain Day shot a free-kick from 25 yards which Supple had to get his weight behind, but thankfully for Town, he did. With six minutes remaining, Mr Howes booked Town substitute Danny Haynes for a high tackle.
The 90 minutes finished 2-2 and the game went into extra-time. On 96 a Town corner was cleared, but a cross came back in and Aidan Collins side-footed the ball into the Portsmouth net, only for the offside flag to go up.
Three minutes later, James Krause had to cover to deny Carter-Harris an opportunity at goal. Soon after, Liam Craig shot wide after good work from Owen Garvan.
Garvan then had a penalty appeal rejected after a good run into the Pompey box. Craig forced a save from Harris, who tipped the ball round the post, and the corner itself was close to going in, until it was headed off the line.
At the start of the second period, Tom Roberts replaced Jason Pearce for Pompey, and Charlie Sheringham took over from Darryl Knights.
It was a dull second period, neither team wanting to make a mistake, but Town won the game in the 109th minute when a through-ball released Danny Haynes who took it round the keeper to score.
The Blues kept their concentration, and can now look forward to the next round where they will play away against wither Manchester United or Stoke, who meet on Thursday.
Town: Shane Supple, Michael Synnott, James Krause, Fraser Beveridge (Liam Trotter, 63), Aidan Collins, Chris Casement, Cathal Lordan, Owen Garvan, Billy Clarke (Danny Haynes, 74), Darryl Knights (Charlie Sheringham, 105) and Liam Craig (c). Unused: Sammy Moore and Stuart Ainsley.
Portsmouth: Dean Harris, Michael Vongas, Harry Donaghy, Phil Cousins (Unlisted, 87), Matthew Day (c), Jason Pearce (Tom Roberts, 105), Tom Settle, Marc Wilson, Joe Carter-Harris, Daryl Fordyce and Joe Bye (James Eyles, 69). Unused: Luke Douglas, Matthew Hartmann and Jack Compton.