Eastbourne Borough 3, Tooting and Mitcham 4 (aet).

Eastbourne Borough were denied a first round clash with Stockport County in controversial fashion at Priory Lane last night.

Referee Mike Bull sent off two Borough players, Andy Atkin and Dan Smith, and awarded Tooting and Mitcham two penalties in extra time as this fourth qualifying round replay more than matched the initial tie for drama.

The visitors had twice taken the lead through a Paul Armstrong penalty and Gary Elphick but Tooting hit back thanks to Paul Vines and Allan McLeod to make it 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Matt York then converted two penalties, the second on the rebound, to put the Ryman premier division side on course for the next round and Borough’s hopes of another remarkable comeback to match Saturday’s were hampered by Atkin’s dismissal.

Ben Austin gave them hope but it was not enough and insult was added to injury when Smith was given his marching orders in the dying minutes.

Referee Bull had been in Borough’s good books after just 12 minutes when he awarded them their first penalty of the season.

Jamie Taylor chested off the ball to Matt Crabb and then went for the return but had his legs taken away by Joe Vines as he ran in on goal. Armstrong sent Dave King the wrong way from 12 yards.

Borough briefly threatened to overrun the visitors. Tooting stood firm though and were back on level terms in the 30th minute when Aaron Goode slid Paul Vines in to finish in emphatic fashion.

Liam Enver-Marum failed to get is head on a teasing free kick from Matt Crabb in the 35th minute but three minutes later Crabb’s whipped cross from the right touchline was flicked on at the near post and Elphick arrived right on cue to thump the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The lead lasted just five minutes this time as McLeod brought Tooting level again in spectacular fashion as he arrowed a half-volley into the top corner.

Borough were desperate for an early goal after the restart to settle their nerves but were denied twice by the woodwork in the space of five minutes.

An audacious 35-yard volley from Taylor rattled the angle of post and crossbar with King beaten and then Enver-Marum’s low shot from a tight angle came back off the far post.

It all went pear shaped in the 99th minute when substitute Atkin needlessly shoved Joe Vines in the area. Atkin was sent off and York made no mistake from the spot.

Four minutes later Matt Crabb was harshly judged to have handled a cross in the box and although Knowles saved York's penalty he was able to blast home the rebound.

Eastbourne: Knowles, Austin, Pullan, Elphick, Jenkins, Smith, Brown (Weatherstone 105), Armstrong, M Crabb, Enver-Marum (Atkin, 86), Taylor (Treleaven, 70). Subs not used: Jordan, Baker, Johnson, Smart. Booked: Brown, Pullan. Sent off: Atkin Smith.

Tooting: King, Hamblin, Byatt, Nelson, J Vines, York, McLeod (Pitterson, 107), Goode, P Vines, Parker, Hartburn. Subs not used: Clayton, Henry, Fletcher, Bracken. Booked: Nelson.

Referee: Mike Bull (Essex).

Attendance: 906.

Man-of-the-match: Ben Austin