CUP TIES are renowned for producing heroes and last night belonged to Darlington new boy Glen Robson after his winning penalty sent First Division Bradford City crashing out of the Carling Cup.

After a goalless 120 minutes of football, penalties were needed to separate the teams - and it was Robson, newly signed from Blyth Spartans, who booked Quakers' place in the Second Round with the all-important fifth spotkick.

It was a miss from Bradford's Tom Kearney which turned proceedings Quakers' way when he sent his penalty wide of Michael Price's goal as Darlington managed to convert all five of their spot kicks, winning 5-3.

Quakers gave a confident account of themselves in the opening stages with defender Ryan Valentine testing Bantams keeper Mark Paston with a low drive.

And Robson almost caught Paston by surprise when he let fly from a tight angle which the stopper could only parry.

At the other end a sloppy back pass by Matt Clarke almost let in Michael Branch, but Price was quick off his line to hack clear.

With 13 minutes played Quakers came agonisingly close to taking the lead when skipper Craig Liddle rattled the crossbar with a firm header from Valentine's pin-point free-kick from the left. Robson pounced on the rebound and should have done better when he headed tamely over the bar.

Referee Lee Mason almost turned provider for Quakers when a fortunate rebound off the official fell kindly to the feet of Ashley Nicholls, who curled a brilliant left-foot effort just wide of Paston's goal from 25 yards out.

And Nicholls was unlucky not to break the deadlock on the half hour mark when he latched on to a clever ball over the top of the defence from Barry Conlon only for Paston to save with his legs.

After being under the cosh for most of the first half the home side finished the opening 45 minutes with their own spell of pressure but Quakers, and in particular Clarke, held firm.

Quakers began the second half in similar vein to the first and only the outstretched boot of Bantams defender Simon Francis prevented the visitors from taking a 49th minute lead when he blocked Robson's goalbound effort.

And the home side, relegated from the Premiership two years ago, were lucky not to concede an indirect free-kick in their own box when Paston collected Francis' sliding back-pass.

At the other end Clarke timed his challenge to perfection to deny Branch in the box amid half hearted appeals for a penalty from the home crowd.

And with extra time looming Robson wasted a glorious opprtunity to steal it at the death when he ballooned over after turning his marker superbly.

Minutes into extra time former Manchester United trainee Muirhead almost broke the deadlock when he fired straight at Price after a neat interchange of passes with Andy Gray down the right.

With 100 minutes on the clock and both sides clearly tiring from a humid night in West Yorkshire, Quakers hit the woodwork for the second time when Robson scraped the upright with a glancing header from Valentine's cross.

And just as if Quakers couldn't come any closer to scoring Conlon saw an effort cleared off the line by Gareth Edds before Paston saved at the feet of Robson.

And as the game went to a nail-biting shoot-out, the best was yet to come for Robson who stepped up to convert the all-important spot-kick in front of the jubilant travelling fans