Jason Taylor’s extra-time brace saw Eastbourne Town progress to the fourth round of the Buildbase FA Vase for the second season in a row.
The Southern Combination League Premier Division outfit were forced to come from behind to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory at Beckenham Town in Kent, and Taylor’s last-gasp heroics proved decisive after Harry Ottoway had put the hosts 2-1 up inside the first added period.
Richard Atkins spot-kick put Beckenham, of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division, a goal to the good and they remained in front right until the 76th minute when Aaron Capon restored parity.
The scores remained level for the remainder of regulation time and after Ottoway had struck to hand Beckenham the advantage with 98 minutes gone, Taylor converted form the penalty spot in added time at the end of the first half of extra-time.
That set up a grandstand finish and with six minutes to go, Taylor came to the fore again to send his team into Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Elsewhere, Nathan George’s last-gasp penalty saw Biggleswade run out 2-1 winners at Welwyn Garden City after extra time.
Danny Payne had given the hosts an early lead but Alex Marsh’s volley on the stroke of half-time went on to force an added 30 minutes of play before George stepped up to win it at the death.
The highest scoring tie of the day saw West Auckland Town overcome Whitley Bay 4-3, with the former bagging a winner in the seventh added minute of added time after trailing 3-1 just past the hour mark.
Alex Kempster hit a hat-trick to put Whitley Bay in control, with Nathan Fisher on target for West Auckland after Adam Mitchell had hit the post from the penalty spot.
But back came the hosts – Darren Richardson found the net from two Mitchell deliveries before Arran Wearmouth kept his composure to fired high into the net with one of the final kicks of the game.
Desborough Town, of the United Counties League Premier Division, were taken to extra-time by Eastwood Community but scored three times during the additional half-hour to run out 4-1 winners.
There were also victories for the likes of Westfields, who made the first round of the Emirates FA Cup last season, at Plymouth Parkway, and Wolverhampton Sporting.
Westfields won 3-2 in Devon while West Midlands League outfit Wolverhampton upset Shepshed Dynamo, who play a tier higher in the Midland League, 5-0.
