SE Dons continued their remarkable FA Cup journey with a 3-2 victory at Chichester City, winning a five-goal thriller that swung one way and then the other before the visitors held on in a tense finale.

The London club, famous for their online following and their rapid rise through the non-league pyramid, showed they are far more than a story – coming from behind, taking control of the tie and then surviving a late onslaught to book a place in the next round.

Match overview

Chichester City, at home and well used to cup football at their level, started brightly and deservedly took the lead inside twenty minutes. But SE Dons responded impressively, scoring twice before the interval period was out and adding a third after the break to establish a cushion that proved just about enough.

The atmosphere was lively throughout, with a healthy travelling support adding to the occasion. It was exactly the kind of tie the FA Cup's early rounds do so well: two clubs from different worlds, meeting on a Saturday evening with a place in the next round at stake.

Key moments

• 18th minute – 1-0 Chichester: Ethan Prichard finished neatly at the near post after a well-worked move down the left.
• 32nd minute – 1-1: Jordan Adeyemi levelled with a low drive from the edge of the box that crept inside the post.
• 45+2 minutes – 1-2: Marcus Bailey scored at the perfect moment, turning in a loose ball after a scramble from a corner.
• 56th minute – 1-3: Tyler Grant broke clear on the counter and finished calmly to put SE Dons firmly in control.
• 77th minute – 2-3: Callum Overton gave Chichester hope with a header that set up a nervy final quarter of an hour.
• 90+4 minutes – the escape: A last-ditch clearance off the line preserved the visitors' lead.

Tactical story

Chichester's plan was to dominate possession and use their wide players to stretch the opposition. For the first twenty minutes it worked, but once SE Dons found their rhythm the match became a contest of transitions – and the visitors were clearly the more comfortable in that environment.

SE Dons defended in a mid-block and attacked with real speed. Their front three rotated constantly, pulling the home back line out of shape and creating the overloads that produced all three goals. Chichester's late switch to a more direct approach caused problems and made the closing stages uncomfortable, but the visitors' concentration held.

Standout players

Adeyemi was excellent, not just for his goal but for the way he repeatedly carried the ball through tackles and turned defence into attack. Grant's composure for the third goal was the moment of the match, while Bailey's timing in stoppage time before the break proved decisive.

For Chichester, Overton was the brightest performer, and his header gave them a genuine chance of a comeback. Prichard's early goal was a reward for a bright start that the home side simply could not sustain.

Season impact

Progress in the cup means prize money, exposure and momentum, and SE Dons are building all three. Their run is generating attention beyond the usual non-league audience, and results like this one suggest the club's progress on the pitch is keeping pace with its profile off it.

Chichester City will be frustrated at conceding three goals at home, particularly the second right before the break and the third shortly after it. But the character shown in the final twenty minutes is something to build on as the league season resumes.