TEENAGE goalkeeper Paul Nicholls pulled off a dramatic last-minute penalty save to steer Havant & Waterlooville into the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in their short but sweet history at Gloucester City last night.

H&W were edging a tense fourth qualifying round replay 3-2 with just seconds of normal time remaining when a handball by skipper Gary MacDonald threw Gloucester a last-gasp penalty lifeline.

The tension was almost unbearable on the Havant bench as Will Steadman stepped up to take the kick. But though the defender struck the ball hard and true, 19-year-old former Chelsea trainee Nicholls miraculously managed to get a hand to it and beat it away.

"I've aged about two years after that!" confessed relieved H&W co-manager Mick Jenkins who, with partner Liam Daish, can now prepare his troops for a first round home clash against ex-Saint Mark Wright's Southport on Saturday week (November 18).

Jenkins added: "I'm chuffed to bits for young Paul Nicholls. He's covered himself in glory tonight."

Two-goal James Taylor was another of the night's heroes. The Bitterne-based striker, who had been dropped to the bench in recent games, was called back into the side in place of Dave Leworthy.

He took just 16 minutes to repay that faith by heading H&W into the lead after the keeper had only managed to parry Timmy Hambley's fierce shot upwards.

Gloucester dangerman Jimmy Cox ran through to level five minutes later and there was controversy on the stroke of half-time when Steadman, who had already been booked, brought down Taylor on a run at goal.

The referee waved play on and the action immediately switched to the other end where H&W defender Shaun Gale brought down Matt Rawlins and Casey Johnson stepped up to fire the Dr Martens Western Division underdogs ahead from the spot.

It took the Premier thoroughbreds less than a minute to equalise at the start of the second half with an audacious strike from Paul Wood. Ben Price looped in a cross and Wood, back to goal, unleashed a stonking overhead kick into the top corner.

H&W might have had more before Taylor bagged the winner on 69 minutes. Gary Connolly was the architect, magically weaving his way past four defenders and setting up the hungry hitman to fire in off the post.

Nicholls' coolness in a crisis crowned a memorable evening for H&W who are only in their third season as an amalgamated club. As proud secretary Trevor Brock summed up: "Reaching the first round proper is a real milestone for us."