Southend Manor fought back from two goals down at the break to eventually edge out Ilford on penalties to progress through to the Third Round of the Essex Senior Cup.
The hosts had hit Halstead Town for five in the previous round whilst Ilford scored an impressive win at Walthamstow to get to this stage, but it was the visitors who made the better start in this one.
And they took the lead after just three minutes when Lion Docaj sent a wonderful looping effort over hosts keeper Connor Pearce and into the far top corner of the underside of the bar, and give Ilford the perfect start in this one.
The next fifteen minutes or so saw Manor come close when an effort was flashed across goal, whilst the Foxes themselves had decent chances to double their lead, seeing an effort blocked and also a follow up cross headed just wide of the post.
But in the 27th minute the visitors did double their money when after Yasseir Nazor had struck an effort against the bar, the loose ball was turned back across goal and saw David Oyeleku convert from inside the box, and the visitors were looking comfortable.
The hosts did create a chance when Nathan Dewberry almost converted a close range header, whilst Nazor saw a cross cum shot glance of the bar, but six minutes before half time Nazor won a penalty after he was fouled inside the box, but his spot kick sailed over the bar and the deficit remained two.
The hosts tried to find a goal back late in the half but saw an effort off the line before a cross to the far post was put wide, and it meant the visitors went into the break with a two goal cushion.
Half Time Southend Manor 0 Ilford 2
The early exchanges of the second period saw Ilford go close on a couple of occasions, firstly when a Manor defender sliced an effort over his own bar and then secondly when the visitors burst through but saw a great tackle thwart them, whilst down the other end second half substitute Rhys Fatt saw an effort deflected onto the bar.
Just before the hour mark though Manor got themselves right back into the contest when after Dewberry was fouled side the box, skipper Lewis Sparrow converted the spot-kick and saw the deficit halved.
And then just two minutes later Manor were level as after Mohamed Kargbo had driven to the edge of the box, he laid the ball into the path of Dewberry who fired an effort into the net, and just like that Ilford's lead had been wiped out.
Both sides flashed efforts wide thereafter it what was a terrific cup tie, and both went for it in the final stages of the contest but neither could find that illusive winner meaning the tie would go to penalties.
It was to be a shoot-out the visitors would forget as they saw their first one saved by Pearce and their next two sent sailing over the bar. And with Manor converting all three of their spot kick's it meant the hosts went through to the next round of the competition to complete the comeback.
Full Time Southend Manor 2 Ilford 2 (Southend Manor won 3-0 on penalties)
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