Eastbourne Borough are in the hat for the Third Round of the FA Trophy after a penalty shoot-out win at Dorking Wanderers.

Moussa Diarra came off the bench to head in a late equaliser after Charlie Carter had given Dorking a first half lead at Meadowbank.

And Sports keeper Max Metcalfe proved to be the hero – saving two spot kicks as Borough prevailed 4-2 in the shoot-out.

Boss Adam Murray made two changes to the team that started last weekend’s National South loss at Chippenham, with Dan Quick and Jayden Davis coming into the side. There was a place on the bench for Kai Woollard-Innocent, who joined the Sports for a fourth spell in the build up to the tie.

Dorking had the first effort on goal inside the first four minutes when Josh Brooking drove into the area, but saw his shot tipped over the bar by Metcalfe.

Borough responded by working the ball in good areas, forcing a corner and looking to get forwards, but without testing former keeper Harrison Foulkes.

And it was the hosts who broke the deadlock before the 15 minutes mark. A good ball forwards found Alfie Rutherford in space, and he threaded the ball through to Charlie Carter who slotted past Metcalfe.

The Sports looked to get back into the game, and played some good football moving forwards but without really breaking through a deep Dorking defence. Yahya Bamba had a low drive blocked, before Jayden Davis’ low cross found the feet of George Alexander, but on the turn his effort was deflected over by Tony Craig.

Adam Murray’s side then went within a whisker of drawing level just before half time. A corner from the left was headed away at the far post, but only as far as Courtney Clarke who hit it first time – only to see the ball crash back off the bar.

Borough started the second half on the front foot. David Sesay fired just wide of the far post before Bamba had an effort saved by Foulkes after his shot took a deflection.

Pierce Bird then whipped a ball in from the left and picked out Bamba, but his downward header was turned around the near post by the home keeper.

The Sports kept the ball well but couldn’t quite break down a deep Dorking defence, with Bamba and Clarke both having shots blocked.

Murray rang the changes as the clock ticked down, with Diarra coming on as a forward in the closing stages – a switch which proved to be a masterstroke.

With 89 minutes gone, Bird whipped in a corner from the right and Diarra rose highest at the near post, and his bullet header from ten yards out gave Foulkes no chance.

And so onto penalties – and after Alfie Pavey converted, Metcalfe stood his ground to save Jason Prior’s effort as he attempted the Panenka to give Borough the advantage.

Dom Odusanya, Woollard-Innocent and Bird then all converted, before Metcalfe dived to his left to save Brooking’s effort and see The Sports progress.