After another weekend off, Atherstone Town entered the League Cup tie with Nuneaton Griff looking to carry on their recent form. Hosting Nuneaton Griff, former club to Mitch Thomson and the majority of his coaching staff, was no guarantee of continuing that run. 

The fans of both sides that braved the cold were treated to a fantastic cup tie and local derby. The match was hardly two minutes old when Ryan Harkin found himself through on goal, before cutting back onto his left foot and slotting home under the keeper. 

The lead did not last long however, as the visitors were awarded a penalty just five minutes later. Finn Osborn was given no chance with the spot kick which was fired into the top corner. 

Atherstone went straight back onto the front foot and found themselves in the lead once again, when Mitch Woakes got in down the left and delivered a low cross that Harkin poked home for his second. Eager to maintain the lead this time around, the Adders continued to push, with Toby Nicoll striking the post with a shot from range. 

Just as it looked like Atherstone would have the advantage at the break, Griffin levelled again when a cross was turned home at the back post. The away side would have felt better about their first half performance, and carried into a fast start in the second half. 

Griff claimed their first lead of the game from a cross yet again, just over five minutes into the half, yet again testing the Adders powers of recovery. This recovery was aided by a red card for the visitors number nine, after picking up a second yellow for a hefty challenge on Jacob Shilton. 

That was the moment that swung the game in Atherstones favour, and they were quick to capitalise on that advantage. A long throw into the box was flicked on by Connor Gudger to Chris Cowley, who chested the ball down before turning home a languid half volley to make the score three all. 

Only a minute later the Adders retook the lead, as a cross from the left hand side was dropped by the Griff keeper allowing Lewis Collins to force the ball home at close range. Collins would go on to add a second, turning home at close range following an excellent run and delivery from Woakes. 

The hectic second half goal scoring was completed in the games final minute, as a Cowley corner was met by the head of Shilton for the sixth Adders goal of the evening. As well as progression into the next round, the fixture saw many players get minutes and others return from injury going into a key period of the season.