The contest resumes again this evening (Tuesday) on the Kent coast, and on balance both teams deserve a second shot at a place in the next round, and a visit to the winners of the Molesey-Folkestone Invicta replay. All four goals came in the final quarter of the game, but there had been much to entertain from the start.

The Oval scrubs up really well these days, with everything smart and shipshape, and the club were rewarded with a healthy attendance. Ironically, the Herne Bay team bus had mistakenly found its way to Priory Lane before reverting to the Oval, and with United’s blistering start to the game, the visitors must have felt they were playing the whole town of Eastbourne.

Certainly United boss Simon Rowland, in a few short weeks, has instilled a passion and will to win in his men which makes them a force to be reckoned with. Their terrific early season record speaks for itself, and they look a couple of notches above County League Division Two.

It was almost fifteen minutes before home keeper Grant Young touched the ball other than for a goal kick, as United imposed a strong physical presence. But with a hard surface and unpredictable bounce, clear chances were few. “Like watching a pinball table but with real people!” was the slightly harsh judgement of one player’s mum in the Oval’s fine new stand, and certainly the teams were giving a new meaning to the concept of one-touch football.

Weathering the early onslaught, Herne Bay gradually found their shape and rhythm, and their lively front players – twins James and Michael Turner – prompted several slick pass-and-move attacks. Just on the half-hour their neat interplay drew an excellent stop from Young, diving bravely at James Turner’s feet.

At the other end Jack Divall struck a good chance straight at Bay keeper Jack Delo, who then produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Ryan McBride. We reached the break scoreless, but the fuse was fizzing, and the half-time tea-bar wisdom agreed that goals would surely follow in the second half.

Once again United opened strongly, several times threatening to get in behind a fragile-looking Bay defence. But the first keeper in action was Young, flinging himself into two wonderful saves in a minute, both from Dean Grant.

Finally on 63 minutes the deadlock was broken. In a goalmouth clatter of legs, referee Shaun Scott – who was handling a volatile game with skill and assurance – gave a penalty to Herne Bay, crisply converted by Danny Walder for 1-0.

Shaken and in need, United turned to their talisman McBride, and on 72 minutes the big striker did not fail them. Taking a ball with his back to goal, he swivelled superbly and cracked in an equaliser from 18 yards. All square, and all to play for.

And six minutes later the home side were ahead. From a corner, Shaun Loft rose to glance a perfect header inside the far post. With the next round now within their grasp, United needed just to play out the final minutes. But given the option of finishing the game off with another goal, or of running it down, the home side did neither.

Herne Bay found the legs for a final push, and in the fourth minute of injury time substitute Kane Phillip won a free-kick just outside the box, which was drilled in and flicked just inside the near post by Jordan Casey. Elation and despair, in just about equal measure – and back to Kent to start again.

Match report courtesy of Kevin Anderson (BBC Sussex)