Kent still has two representatives in this season’s Emirates FA Cup after Gillingham staged a remarkable comeback to earn a tie at National League South side Slough Town after coming back from two goals down at National League Hartlepool United to win.
The home side who parked the bus at Priestfield in the original tie jumped into a 2-0 half time lead and despite Max Ehmer pulling one back almost immediately after half time, it took a penalty from top scorer Tom Eaves in the fourth minute of stoppage time to keep Steve Lovell’s side in the competition.
The Gills finally got their noses in front after 103 minutes when Luke O’Neill scored with a stunning free-kick, before substitute Elliott List drove home a fourth two minutes into the second period of extra time.
Hartlepool then grabbed a third and tried to force a grandstand finish, but the Gills held on to book the trip to Slough on Sunday week…
In the BOSTIK South East, Herne Bay endured heart-break in the Channel Islands as they went down 2-1 to Guernsey courtesy of a stoppage time winner.
Bradley Schafer gave the Bay the lead after only six minutes before the home side levelled midway through the first half.
Just as it looked like that the Bay might get a crucial point, they succumbed right at the death and will head home Thursday morning pointless.
In the FA Youth Cup, sadly it wont be the Cray Wanderers youngsters who head to Anfield in Round Three as Portsmouth ran out 4-0 winners at Hayes Lane thus booking their trip to Merseyside.
In SCEFL, Fisher will stay top after Cray Valley and Beckenham Town drew 2-2 at Badgers – Edgar, Hickey with the Cray goals and Bennett and Deen replying for Beckenham.
Hollands and Blair and Tunbridge Wells swapped places (17th and 18th) as Wells won 2-0 at Star Meadow courtesy of goals from Bryce-Borthwick and Spackman.
And in the night’s final game, Croydon remain rooted to the foot of the table after losing 3-1 at home to Erith Town – Stone, Springett, Hooper with Sentemu pulling a goal back for the home side late on.