Hampton & Richmond Borough were held to a 3-3 draw in their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie against Step 4 side Crowborough Athletic at Beveree Stadium, in what can only be described as one of the most entertaining matches of this young season.
Positive results in the previous week fostered an optimistic mood at Beveree Stadium for the Beavers going into Saturday's game.
Crowborough were going into this game 19th in the Isthmian South East, losing three in a row, and their only win in their last five coming in the previous FA Cup Round against AFC Whyteleafe.
Hampton & Richmond Borough started the game in the fine fashion, with Jasper Mather scoring the first goal inside 3 minutes, extending his brilliant goalscoring form by making it 3 goals in his last 3.
Despite the fast start, the East Sussex side held their own against the National League South side, being defensively compact whilst creating lots of attacking opportunities, including a Samuel-Smike header which was easily caught by Underwood.
The second 45 brought plenty of action for crowd, with the constant end to end sequences continuing from the first half and both teams having ample opportunity to add a second goal to the tie. In the 63rd minute, Crowborough's Elliot Duncan grabbed the equaliser after a throw in which led to a defensive flick-on finding the feet of the no.11, who was able to slot it home.
Momentum for the away side continued to build, and in the 71st minute, a throw-in from the Crows' no.3 Mvongo was headed back out to the defender, whose cross was met by George Hutcheon, a his glanced effort looped over Underwood, making it 1-2 to the away side.
The embers of the first 80 minutes fully ignited, as Crowborough no.10 Harry Forster's fiery mistimed tackled through the back of HRBFC's Hayden Barrett prompted a red card, only after Ben Jackson received his own after a retaliatory push on the Crowborough man. It was ten men apiece for the final ten minutes.
In the very next phase the drama continued with Jasper Mather scythed down in the Crowoborough box and earning a penalty for his side. Substitute Reece Grego-Cox stepped up in an attempt to get off the mark for the season, but his effort was saved by Martin Grant.
The Beavers continued to search for the equaliser and in the 87ht minute it came. Ashley Akpan put in a devastating ball which found Mather for his second of the match, heading home from close range to bring his side level.
Before the six minutes of added time kicked in, Underwood was caught way off his line whilst getting involved in the build up, and Elliot Duncan was able to slot it into an unguarded net from approximately 35 yards out in the 89th minute to make it 2-3 to the away side, sending the small but mighty away support into rapture.
An constant swarm of HRBFC crosses into the box eventually succeeded as substitute Reece Grego-Cox managed to grab another equalizer in the 94th minute of the game, grabbing his first of the season in this goal-fest of an FA Cup tie.
The Beavers will now travel to East Sussex on Tuesday night for an enticing FA Cup replay.
COME ON YOU BEAVERS
By Diego Effuso