Binfield suffer FA Vase penalty heartbreak against Deal Town

They twice led in the replay against Deal Town, which ended 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, and then went behind in extra time, only to equalise late on to take this fourth-round tie to penalties.

The Moles briefly held a 3-1 advantage before losing 7-6 with the visitors' goalkeeper, Jamie Tomkin, smacking the winner which earned his side a place in the last 16.

Like a week earlier, last Saturday's game could have gone either way with the two sides generally evenly matched throughout.

In front of a crowd of 346, Binfield got off to a flying start by taking a seventh-minute lead. Asa Povey saw his initial effort parried by Tomkin, but the striker stuck out his leg to get to the loose ball first and he poked it home.

The Southern Counties East League visitors gradually worked their way into the game and equalised after 34 minutes. Jack Paxman, a constant threat to the home defence, set-up the chance which was finished off by a thumping finish from Ben Chapman.

The second half was less than three minutes old when Binfield regained the lead with midfielder George Short heading home unchallenged following good work by Jamie McClurg.

And the Moles nearly extended the lead when right-back Jack Thompson-Wheeler struck the top of the crossbar and Josh Helmore had an effort blocked by Tomkin's outstretched leg.

When Deal returned to the attack, Chris Grace was forced to make two excellent saves before Chapman blasted home his and Town's second in the 68th minute.

In the second half, in particular, the Hoops caused Binfield more problems than they had the previous week and they had certainly upped their game.

They squandered a couple of chances, but openings were also coming at the other end with Josh Helmore being superbly denied by Tomkin and substitute Jemel Johnson firing over the bar from a good position.

Moving into extra time, there were some tiring legs in the Binfield side and they fell behind for the first time when Paxman got the goal he deserved four minutes into the second period.

But, somehow, the men in red managed to find some reserves of energy and four minutes later they were back on level terms when, after a goalmouth scramble, the ball was thumped home by centre-back Liam Gavin.

Helmore, who had grabbed a late equaliser at Deal, nearly won it for Binfield two minutes from time, but again was denied by Tomkin and so the tie went to the dreaded penalties.

Josh Howell missed the first, but Short, Jamie McClurg and Thompson-Wheeler all found the net and it was 3-1 in Binfield's favour.

But with Johnson missing, it became 3-3. Gavin and Calam Gallimore added two more to the total and it was 5-5. Kennie Chamberlain missed before Grace made a save. The home keeper then took one himself and scored.

Will Shaw failed from the spot, but Deal missed their next one, so it was 6-6 with the tension cranking up another notch.

After Helmore skied his 12-yarder high over the bar, the cool Tomkin stepped up to take the 22nd spot-kick of the afternoon and the goalie made no mistake to spark off wild celebrations for the visitors, who now visit County Durham club Consett in the fifth round.