The eagerly awaited replay between these two sides did not disappoint as we were treated to a cracking game at the Crowborough Community Stadium. If the first game lacked goals and incident this certainly made up for it.

The crows fielded the same side as Saturday and the visitors were strengthened by the return of several players so the scene was set for an interesting tie. The visitors started the game strongly and looked determined to put the game to bed with an early goal, this produced a couple of uncomfortable moments for the Crows defence, but as on Saturday they stayed resolute with Nick Collick in the Crows goal looking sharp.

Crowboroughs attacks were sporadic but Jason Bartons shot was pushed out for a corner and from the resultant free kick, delivered by Alex Rich , Barton bundled the ball home to give the Crows a shock 1-0 lead with his first goal for the club. This shook East Preston and it took them a few minutes to regain their composure and indeed the crows had another half chance but the ball was cleared out of the box.

East Preston stepped up the pressure and a swerving shot hit with great power was met with a truly marvelous save from Collick who managed to keep the ball out and drop on the rebound. George Gaskin slid in to regain the ball and put into the empty net but an obvious infringement had taken place and the striker was booked for the challenge.

Collick again saved well when East Preston threatened through the speedy Darren Boswell and then pulled off a miracle block which seemed to be a simple tap in from the rebound but it was hacked to safety. From the resultant corner Collick was flattened by a challenge but he bravely got up after a period of treatment to continue.

Finally East Preston made the breakthrough with a swift attack down the left, and when the ball was delivered to Tom Levitt he slide it past Collick from close range to equalize.

East Preston had their tails up and another great save by Collick kept the scores level. Luke Carpenter was replaced by Wayne Clarke as a groin strain suffered means that the former can take no further part. East Preston are not having all their own way and Barton tests Harding from distance and Charlie Ottway almost gets in but Harding is quick off his line. There is still time for Collick to save a Boswell free kick and half time arrives and the scores are level at one apiece.

The game then took a dramatic turn as following two quick yellow cards, home favorite Wayne Clarke is dismissed and the Crows are reduced to ten men for the remainder of the tie, although this appeared to energize the visitors the Crows upped their work rate and Barton in midfield was immense, certainly the home side were going to make East Preston fight for the victory to take them through to a tie with the awaiting Colliers Wood in the next round.

On seventy two minutes after some sustained pressure East Preston break down the right and with a suspicion of offside the ball is played in to Joe Shelley who makes no mistake as he sweeps the ball past Collick to put the visitors ahead for the first time .
The Crows then defy the odds by throwing everything forward and after a series of dead ball situations, Rich throws a beauty into the visitors box and the hard working Sam Carrington gets above Harding to plant the ball firmly into the net for the equalizer , 2- 2 in what was now becoming a thrilling match.

With normal time running out East Preston substitute Liam O Brian fires narrowly over and the home side responds with a great effort from Carrington that glances the crossbar and now we face an extra thirty minutes of extra time to decide the tie.

In the first period Collick again makes two quick saves, the second a last ditch challenge on Boswell. The Crows respond when Carrington closing down on Harding almost scores when the keepers clearance is almost turned into an empty net. As a spectacle the game has everything but with extra time running out in the second period East Preston break down the right and Boswell does what he had threatened all night and rounds Collick to put the visitors 3-2. With ten minutes left the Crows have their best period and throw everything at East Preston and with a bit of luck might have taken the game to penalties, both Carrington and Sam Saunders had good chances.

Unfortunately the referees whistle ended the cup tie, with East Preston winning by the odd goal. For over 1 hour the ten players of Crowborough competed and at times out played the victors, who were greatly relieved to leave the pitch.