Bexhill United knocked out Erith and Belvedere in a thrilling FA Vase penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Despite a home draw, the final few weeks of the ground share with the cricket club at the Polegrove meant that United had no choice but to switch the tie to the Sunday at Erith’s Park View ground in Welling.
With players and fans travelling together on a coach up from the south coast, the Pirates were in good spirits and only a couple of players down due to availability.
Jay Skinner-Swain was able to welcome Theo Coombs back into his squad and new-signing, the experienced Luke Donaldson, was slotted straight into the starting line-up – adding some serious weight to the Bexhill attacking options.
It always makes a nice change to pitch yourself against opposition from outside your normal league pool and South East Combination side Erith and Belvedere, a famous name from the old amateur game, have had a decent start to the season. It would be a tough contest but Bexhill started right on the front foot.
Last week, the Pirates conceded on five minutes in their FA Cup game. On Sunday the boot was on the other foot with Jack Shonk picking the ball up out wide on the edge of the box and somehow managing to lob the keeper from the tightest of angles.
It was a cracking start for Bexhill and was the catalyst for what would prove to be a highly entertaining game.
With the play shifting from end to end, on 15 minutes Finn Holter in the Bexhill goal was called upon to make a crucial save to protect the lead, somehow managing to get a finger tip to a curling shot that looked bound for the top corner.
Bexhill had to weather a barrage of corners and on 23 minutes it was Kyle Holden who cleared the ball from the line when an equaliser looked inevitable.
Just moments later the play switched again and Charlie Playford was denied the goal that his sweet strike richly deserved by the width of the post.
Bexhill were playing some lovely stuff in the period before half-time with new man Donaldson looking sharp. But it was Shonk again who came closest to doubling the lead with an effort that ran along the length of the goal line before being cleared.
Second half and the Deres must have had a bit of roasting as they came out with renewed urgency. But in truth Bexhill looked pretty comfortable until a loss of possession in the middle of the park on the hour opened the door to Jack Low and he finished sharply to level things up. It was anyone’s game now.
Minutes after the equaliser, Erith and Belvedere hit the bar but as the play surged back to the other end Max Hollobone saw his effort clip the inside of the post and dribble along the line when it looked for all the world that it was going in.
This was a proper cup tie played in an old-fashioned, no-nonsense spirit and if Bexhill needed a hero to keep them in the contest they found their man just before the final whistle when Holter got down to his right to scoop away a Deres effort that looked nailed on to settle the tie. Now it was a penalty shootout and it would be an epic.
Both Bexhill and Erith and Belvedere missed about half way through the showdown but, just when it looked like the keepers would have to take their own spot-kicks, Holter had other ideas and guessed right to deny Joe Wilson and leave the Pirates as 9-8 victors.
Cue wild scenes as the players celebrated with the travelling fans. Centre-backs Josh Tuck and Callum Brand were justly awarded a joint MOTM award.
Bexhill now look forward to a trip to Tooting Bec in the next round, and another Vase challenge against unfamiliar opponents, as they keep their Wembley dreams alive.
