Harvey Rodgers celebrated a double as Accrington Stanley reached the last eight of the Papa Johns Trophy.
The Reds came from behind twice against fellow League One side Burton Albion but Stanley took a 3-2 lead into the break and seized control in the second half.
John Coleman’s men started well with Tommy Leigh testing keeper Ben Garratt early on at the Pirelli Stadium.
However it was Burton who took the lead on seven minutes when a cross from the left found the head of defender Deji Oshilaja to power past Lukas Jensen.
The Reds kept pressing with Leigh placing a dangerous ball across the face of goal while Joe Pritchard’s curling effort from the wing had to be turned away by Garratt.
Stanley equalised on 20 minutes when Pritchard’s free kick bounced around the area with defender Rodgers, with his back to goal, able to hook the ball into the roof of the net.
Burton once again went ahead three minutes later when the Brewers broke quickly and a cross from Tyler Onyango was turned beyond Jensen at the near post by Stanley defender Doug Tharme.
A minute later, Albion had the chance to make it three when Davis Keillor-Dunn got the ball in the box and only had Jensen to beat but fired across the goal and wide.
Stanley thought they had levelled again on 33 minutes when Mitch Clark’s ball in was fired home by Ethan Hamilton but it was ruled out by the assistant for off-side after a lengthy delay.
The Reds did equalise on 41 minutes when a Pritchard free kick took a slight nick off the wall and tucked into the top of the net.
In the fifth minute of added time in the first half, Pritchard’s ball to the far post found Leigh who headed it down to give the Reds a 3-2 lead at the break.
Burton looked to get back in it early after the restart when Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s ball found Bobby Kamwa in the six yard box but he fired just wide.
However, Stanley made it four on 68 minutes when Garratt came out to block Pritchard’s shot after a short back pass and, with the keeper stranded, Rodgers celebrated his second of the game.
Whalley almost made it five as Burton chased the game.
The Reds saw the game out comfortably to celebrate a first win for Stanley at Burton since 2012 – but more importantly a step closer to Wembley.
Stanley: Jensen, Clark, Astley, Tharme, Rodgers, Pritchard, Conneely, Coyle, Hamilton, Whalley, Leigh (Adedoyin)
Subs:Savin, Longelo, Nolan, Perritt, Martin, Fernandes