Sittingbourne were edged out in a dramatic seven-goal FA Cup thriller as Greenwich Borough claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory in Kent. The contest swung from side to side, but it was the visitors who had the final say in a game that served up a classic cup tie atmosphere under the lights.

A frantic first half

The scoring began early and never stopped. Greenwich Borough struck first with a swift counter-attack, but Sittingbourne responded within minutes through a well-placed strike from inside the box. The away side regained the lead with a powerful free-kick before the hosts levelled once again just before the interval, ensuring the teams went in level at 2-2.

Greenwich hold on through late drama

After the restart, Greenwich took control of the tie for the third time, converting from a penalty kick after a clumsy challenge in the area. Sittingbourne came roaring back and equalised spectacularly with a 20-yard effort that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. But there was still time for more drama, and Greenwich claimed the winner in the 78th minute after slicing through the home defence to set up a simple close-range finish.

Biggest night of the round

For neutrals, this was the pick of the evening’s FA Cup ties. Greenwich Borough powered into the next round and will take great confidence from scoring four goals away from home, while Sittingbourne will rue missed chances in a game that showcased the unpredictability and excitement the competition is famed for.