Rochdale needed a late penalty to see off non-league outfit Boston and earn an FA Cup third-round tie at home to Premier League side Newcastle United.
Aaron Morley’s 79th-minute spot-kick saw the League One side through after Boston’s Jay Rollins had clumsily fouled Stephen Dooley.
Dale led after just four minutes when Boston keeper Peter Crook palmed Ian Henderson’s cross into his own net.
Jordan Thewlis nodded sixth-tier Boston level before Morley broke their hearts.
Boston, seventh in National League North, have not been beaten at home in the league all season and they looked set to at least take the game to extra time after a stirring second-half fightback.
However, they paid the price for two costly errors – Crook’s early howler and Rollins’ rash challenge that allowed Morley to win it for Rochdale from the spot.
There appeared no danger from Henderson’s floated centre but Crook erred in trying to paw it away and it looped into his top corner.
Henderson, Rochdale’s top scorer, went off injured soon after but the visitors dominated and Rekeil Pyke struck the post just before the interval.
Boston were buoyed by leading marksman Thewlis nodding them level from close range early in the second half, moments after Jonathan Wafula’s 25-yard strike crashed off the bar.
But the visitors weathered the storm and Morley’s winner made it eight straight FA Cup wins against non-league opposition for Rochdale as the 60 league positions between the sides ultimately told.
Boston United manager Craig Elliott told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
“I’m really proud of the players and of everybody at the club. It’s been a good journey. It’s fine margins and over two matches there wasn’t much in the games.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the goals but I’m really proud of the players and how they took it right to the end.
“I thought we were excellent in the second half and I thought we did enough to take it to extra time.
“We were knocking on the door and we can be proud of how we’ve done in both matches against a League One team.”
