Mick Sullivan admits his head is still spinning after his Leatherhead side advanced in the FA Trophy in crazy circumstances on Tuesday night.
The Tanners triumphed 2-1 in a replay at Thamesmead Town that saw the home side reduced to eight men and have their manager dismissed from the dug-out.
And Sullivan revealed it was a night he’ll never forget.
He said: “It was absolutely incredible.
“They just totally lost their discipline.
“It was complete mayhem.
“They were screaming and shouting for everything.
“There was a challenge early on involving our player Julian Osuwu-Beoke that was 50-50 whether he would go, and when the ref let him off I subbed him straight away.
“I don’t think they liked that and they were chasing the ref for the rest of the game, but I think they just made a rod for their own back.”
Tommy Hutchings and Dean Gunner put Leatherhead in control, before a Gunner own-goal described by Sullivan as ‘pathetic’ ensured a furious finale.
The replay victory, which will see Leatherhead travel to Ramsgate in the next round, came on the back of a stunning fight-back on Saturday, where the Tanners struck three times in the final 20 minutes thanks to Hutchings (two) and Hassan Nyang to force a 3-3 draw and a second bite at the cherry.
And Sullivan reckons he is building something special at Fetcham Grove.
He added: “Every side that I manage know that they will have to work their backsides off.
“My emphasis is always on workrate and effort, and that message is getting through.
“We are building a real never-say-die attitude here.
“Now it is just a matter of getting the consistency in the performance - we have quite a few players injured and it is a case of finding the formula to fit them all in.
“I have been blessed with some real talent here and it is my job now to get the best out of that.”
Leatherhead’s next three matches: Oct 10 Whitstable Town (a), 13 Croydon Athletic (h), 17 Ramsgate (FAT, a )
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