West Ham United Ladies won through to the London Capital Cup second round with a thrilling penalty shootout victory at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Hammers led on no fewer than four occasions during normal and extra time, only for their opponents to strike back on each occasion to make the final score 4-4, forcing the game to a spot-kick showdown.
Goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles (pictured) then took centre-stage at Ware FC, saving Tottenham's third penalty from Alex Keown and paving the way for Danica Revell to clinch victory from 12 yards.
West Ham took the lead as early as the fourth minute when April Bowers was on hand to convert from a corner.
Spurs levelled for the first time on 15 minutes through Wendy Martin before Lily Mellors appeaered to be brought down by former Hammer Toni-Anne Wayne inside the penalty area, but the appeals were waved away.
Captain Stacey Little saw her effort headed off the line and Vicky Kinsman hit the crossbar as West Ham were frustrated in the final minutes of the first half.
Ten minutes after the break, that frustration abated as McCrea latched onto Revell's long free-kick into the Spurs box to put her side in front for a second time.
However, that lead would again be relatively short-lived as Avilla Bergin equalised for a second time with 20 minutes remaining.
Both sides pressed for a winner in normal time, but could not find one, despite seven minutes being added on by the referee for a variety of earlier stoppages.
Into extra-time and, moments after Kelley Blanchflower had curled a free-kick inches wide, McCrea bagged her second goal of the game with a stupendous 35-yard lobbed volley in the 97th minute.
Spurs equalised for a third time on 109 minutes when Martin netted her second of the game, scrambling home despite the best efforts of Runnacles and defender Vicky King.
With just two minutes of extra-time remaining, West Ham thought they had finally seen off their rivals when summer signing Vicky Kinsman clipped the ball past Wayne to make it 4-3.
Amazingly, there was still time for Tottenham to equalise a fourth time, with Leah Rawle finishing past Runnacles in the final minute and sending the tie to penalties.
McCrea, Kinsman, Katie Bottom, Mellors and Revell all kept their nerve for West Ham, while Runnacles guessed right to save Keown's kick and send the Hammers through to the second round.
Ladies: Runnacles, King, Little (c), Revell, Bottom, McCrea, Lipley-Hinton, Mellors, Kinsman, Blanchflower, Bowers (Masters 111)
Subs not used: Donohoe, Locke, Humphreys, Baxter