Star Match: Avon Athletic B reached the third round of the Avon Youth Under-13 Cup after beating Division II rivals Nicholas Wanderers in a game that improved as it went along.

First-half goals from Avon's Rory Langdon and Dan Davison were cancelled out at the beginning of the second period by Joe Scully and Will Burnett, but it was not enough as Wanderers were undone during a goalmouth scramble and a lucky bounce late in the tie.

Wanderers had the first effort on five minutes when Mitch Wise laid off Joe Scully's cross to Harry Francis on the edge of the penalty area, but he could not keep his shot down.

Five minutes later at the other end, Langdon attempted 25- yard shot but sliced it harmlessly wide.

Wise fired over for Wanderers before Avon struck the opening goal. Hugo Burton cleverly slid in Langdon, who held off a defender before poking the ball around the advancing keeper.

The breakthrough sparked Avon into life and good play from Lewis Thompson-Quance enabled Langdon to cross into the box, but Wanderers keeper Mitch Norman dealt with it confidently.

Avon almost doubled their lead in a swift counter-attack. Burton's ball over the top was chased down by Langdon, who tackled a back-tracking defender. The ball fell loose and bounced towards Wanderers' goal but Norman came quickly off his line and just beat the striker to it.

Norman was stranded outside his area and could only head clear as far as Thompson-Quance, but the winger's first-time effort went wide.

Five minutes from half-time a towering free-kick from Norman sent Wise clear behind the Avon defence, but again his aim was too high.

Avon threatend again when skipper Connor Matthews picked up a Burton flick, weaved around two defenders and burst into the box where he was denied by an excellent reaction save by Norman.

But the home side did double their lead on the stroke of half-time following a cracking move. Burton found Isaac Smith, who turned inside his man before slipping in Davison to score.

Avon started the second half on the offensive but the visitors struck back when Liam Checketts took control of the ball in the middle of the park before sliding in Scully, who finished coolly from 14 yards.

Avon were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the area when the keeper picked up a backpass. Burton rolled the ball to Matthews, who released a rocket of a shot which Liam Reeves blocked bravely.

Moments later, Smith won the ball before putting Davison clean through but he failed to hit the target from eight yards with only the keeper to beat.

Another good chance went begging when Matthews and Langdon combined to set up the unmarked Davison at the back post, but he opted to cross instead of shoot and Wanderers managed to clear.

And the visitors made Avon pay for their missed opportunities by equalising. A cross from the right sailed over the keeper's head and found Will Burnett at the back post. Burnett headed the ball at goal but it struck the inside of the post before ricocheting on to a defender and bouncing across the line to make it 2-2.

Their joy was short-lived, however, as Avon regained the lead three minutes later. A deep corner from the left was misjudged by the keeper and Langdon managed to bundle the ball over the line.

The home team sealed victory with a freak fourth goal a minute before the end. The Wanderers keeper came rushing out to gather a long ball into the box from Burton but misjudged the bounce and watched in horror as it drifted into the net.

Avon Athletic B: Matthew Wiltshire, Adam Cockburn, Gabriel Jackson, Josh Evans, Ciaran Furzland, Alex Miners, Connor Matthews, Isaac Smith, Hugo Burton, Dan Davison, Lewis Thompson-Quance, Rory Langdon, Nick Sibanda, Alfie Lewis.

Nicholas Wanderers: Mitch Norman, Ryan Lloyd, Andy Clifford, Liam Reeves, Will Burnett, Mitch Wise, Joe Scully, Ashley Cox, Liam Checketts, Jacob O'Keefe, Harry Francis.