ANTONI Pecora was the hero for North Ferriby United as the Villagers retained the Doodson Cup after extra time and penalties.
Pecora saved four of Curzon's five penalties before substitute Rhuanduca Ombeni stroked home the winning penalty to give Ferriby a 2-1 win in a thrilling shoot-out.
The first six penalties were all excellently saved by Pecora and Joshua Ollerenshaw as takers from both sides failed to hold their nerve.
Ryan Williams and Ombeni converted their penalties to secure a dramatic win for Billy Heath's men on a night when they failed to find their best form.
The Villagers will have little concern about that though, having come through a sensational spot-kick drama to ensure the first leg of a possible treble this season was completed.
Ferriby had started the game slowly and were caught by a sucker punch from the very first corner as Samuel Walker's perfect delivery from the right hand side was dispatched powerfully by Kristian Dennis before goalkeeper Pecora could react.
It wasn't the start Ferriby had hoped for, especially as manager Heath had opted to keep faith with the younger members of his squad who had taken the Villagers to their second successive Doodson Cup final.
In fact, Heath made seven changes to the side that had started the 3-1 win at Marine on Saturday to keep their place at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
Another Walker corner caused further mayhem in the Ferriby defence, with Chris McDonagh's header almost dipping under the bar at the back post.
It took Ferriby 20 minutes to assert themselves in the game, and it came as no surprise that it was their all-time leading goalscorer who dug them out of the hole they had found themselves in.
Gary Bradshaw collected a low pass from Ryan Williams and with nothing else on and with his back to the Curzon goal, he flicked the ball up for an overhead kick that left keeper Ollerenshaw rooted on his line.
It was another moment of brilliance from Bradshaw for his side, and just what Ferriby needed.
If the Villagers thought the tide would turn there though, they were to be shocked as Curzon again troubled their defence with Dennis setting up McDonagh for a shooting opportunity, which he blazed over the bar.
It was a let off for the Villagers, who then lost Paul Foot a minute before the interval with a hamstring injury.
Curzon also had the better of the opening exchanges after half-time with McDonagh going close before Mark Gray glanced a header narrowly wide.
Danny Clarke should have done better for Ferriby instead of firing high over the bar from six metres out, and then Ryan Williams tried his luck from outside the box only to see Ollerenshaw save well.
With extra time looming, Dennis missed the best chance to end the game in regulation time but he curled his shot wide of Pecora.
Tiring legs ensured a scrappy extra 30 minutes of football, with a decisive goal rarely looking likely.
For Ferriby, Bradshaw had a chance to give his side the lead in the first-half, but he fired over.
Then, Dennis missed the final chance of the game, and an opportunity to be a real hero for Curzon, as he fired wide when through on goal in the 119th minute.
It left both sides having to compose themselves for the lottery of the penalty shoot-out, with Pecora taking all the plaudits. Ferriby hope this will be the first of three pieces of silverware this season with the East Riding FA Senior Cup and the Evo-Stik Premier League title still up for grabs.
