Sevenoaks Town crashed out of the FA Cup with a dramatic 4-3 loss to Redhill at The Bourne Stadium on Wednesday evening, having lead 3-0 at the break.
Louis Collins netted between goals for Bradley Schaffer and Jason Thompson as the Oaks overpowered their opponents in a frantic nine minute spell before Redhill turned the game completely on its head.
Redhill started well and it was only a superb Ben Bridle-Card save that kept the Oaks from falling behind inside three minutes, denying Nathan Hogan.
Sevenoaks should have taken the lead on the quarter hour when Collins was all of two yards out but could not find his feet after good work from Thompson.
The Isthmian South-East side were indebted to Bridle-Card again the stopper this time his superb reactions prevented Maxim Cabone from scoring an unfortunate own goal.
Just before the half hour the hosts went ahead, Collins setting up Schaffer who hit a low strike in off the upright.
Five minutes later from a Redhill throw Sevenoaks broke and Collins beat three Lobsters defenders before curling past Jack Minchin to double the lead.
On 35 minutes it was 3-0, Collins again too much for the Redhill defence to handle and he set up Thompson to tap home from a yard out.
The scoreline was harsh on Redhill who could have been handed a lifeline had Stefan Wright, booked for an early handball, seen red for a tackle on Hogan but only a warning was given and Micky Collins immediately subbed the winger.
The away team could easily have let heads drop but they got themselves on the scoresheet just before the hour when Aidan Brown reacted quickest to a loose ball and smashed home from six yards following a Lobsters corner.
Collins almost restored Sevenoaks’ three goal lead immediately as he latched on to substitute Ryan Fowler’s excellent pass and eased round Minchin only to hit the post from a tight angle.
Brown should have grabbed his and Redhill’s second midway through the half when Nathaniel Kenlock’s cross found the striker unmarked but he shot wide with the goal gaping.
The Lobsters second did come with 15 minutes left, Hogan teeing up Sam King to spark real belief amongst the visitors.
The hosts looked a shadow of themselves from the first half and allowed King in on goal and the Redhill man made no mistake in tucking home a deserved equaliser with six to play and extra-time was looming.
But in the third minute of stoppage time the incredible comeback was complete, from a Sevenoaks free kick Redhill broke and again Hogan was the provider setting up Brown who rounded Bridle-Card, composed himself and tucked home into the far corner to spark scenes of unbridled joy in the away dugout.
What had seemed unthinkable at half time had happened, Redhill had caused the upset and will travel to Phoenix Sports in the FA Cup Qualifying 2nd Round.
Man of the Match: Sam King
Sevenoaks Town: Ben Bridle-Card (Yellow 67) Charlie Holmes, Tony Cooney. Ben Davisson, Maxim Cabone, Danny Divine, Kyle De Silva (C) (Yellow 79), Bradley Schaffer, Jason Thompson, Louis Collins, Stefan Wright (Yellow 15) (Ryan Fowler 44).
Scorers: Bradley Schaffer (27), Louis Collins (32), Jason Thompson (35).
Redhill: Jack Minchin, Jaden Edwards, Nathaniel Kenlock, Arlie Talboys (Alfie Huckle 82) Tom Drinkwater (Yellow 90), Joe Dyett (C) (Yellow 6), Noe Vendrells (Yellow 19), Joe Jarrett (Danyaal Iqbal 70) Aidan Brown, Sam King, Nathan Hogan.
Scorers: Aidan Brown (57, 90+3), Sam King (75, 84).
Referee: Peter Conn
Attendance: 183