Sutton United 3 Margate 2

Sutton had appeared to be heading out untila controversial stoppage time equaliser from Danny Phillips forced extra time.

To rub salt into Margate’s wounds, midfielder John Keister was sent off for his protests that Phillips had handled prior to scoring.

United finally made the extra man count when Cobbs drilled home a low shot seven minutes before penalties.

Forced in to a late change when Billy Hawes was delayed en route to the ground, Sutton took the early initiative in a first half that for most of the time followed the pattern of the league encounter at Sutton last month.

After 20 minutes in which Margate had more of the game without seriously threatening, Sutton scored with their first attack.

Sam Gargan's clever lay-off set Stefan Payne away on the right and his low cross was turned in at the far post by an unmarked Matt Hann.

United dominated after the goal, with Cobbs heading just over from Hann’s cross four minutes later.

They should have scored again when Payne's willingness to chase a stray pass back from Curtis Robinson saw him force goalkeeper Paul Nicholls in to a hasty clearance.

But, slightly off balance and with more time than he realised, Gargan sent his shot wide of the empty net from 30 yards.

Nicholls made a good save from Hann as Sutton enjoyed their best spell of the evening, but the game changed four minutes before the break as they conceded the softest of equalisers.

Lloyd Blackman, earlier booked for what referee Tony Power adjudged to be a dive, this time won the decision after a challenge from Bradley Thomas.

Wayne Wilson's inswinging free kick from 40 yards out on the left evaded everyone to bounce in to the far corner of the net.

Margate finished the half strongly, with Wilson volleying over from 20 yards, but Sutton almost went in front immediately after half time.

A superb run from Hann ended with the ball breaking to Gargan, who took it round Nicholls before crossing but even at full stretch Payne couldn't quite provide the final touch.

As it was, Margate were soon ahead as a cleared free kick was quickly returned to Joe Healy, who had stayed onside.

Healy went through to calmly lift the ball over Scriven.

United almost equalised when Gargan's powerful free kick was parried by Nicholls but scrambled away, but their attempts to get back in to the game lacked any real pattern.

Apart from a Cobbs shot wide from 20 yards after one spell of sustained pressure, the visitors coped comfortably.

With seven minutes left, the tie could have been over as Healy found himself in space 10 yards out as Blackman forced the ball in from the right, but Scriven stuck out a foot to block his shot and then saved West's follow-up effort.

The importance of that save was underlined deep in stoppage time as United, who had wasted several good dead-ball positions late in the game, finally got one right.

Billy Hawes’ free kick was headed down by Jason Goodliffe and Phillips knocked the ball past Nicholls before shooting in to the empty net.

There was certainly a hint of handball as Phillips took the ball round the keeper, and Margate's protests ended with Keister, one of five players already booked, shown a second yellow card leaving his side to play extra time a man short.

Chances were few in the extra period, with Gargan shooting wide for Sutton and a mistake by Goodliffe allowing Margate a counter attack which ended with Blackman's shot saved by Scriven.

But, in the second period, United pushed Anthony Joseph up alongside Gargan, with Payne moving to the right wing.

The move paid off with seven minutes left as Joseph's pace took him past two defenders before his shot was deflected in to the path of Cobbs, whose cleanly struck shot found the corner of the net.

Even then, United had to endure one more scare, but Robinson volleyed over from inside the penalty area following a free kick and Sutton held on to book their home tie against Uxbridge in the next round.

Margate: P Nicholls, A Lacy, C Robinson, J Keister, B Lewis(sub D Lombardo 116), J Haverson, L Smith (sub L Wheatley 99), W Wilson, J Healy, L Blackman, S West(sub S Cliff H-T E-T). Subs n/u K Millington, J Taylor, A Krvnic. Goals: Wilson (41), Healy (53). Booked: Blackman (29-simulation), Robinson (45-foul), Lewis (55-foul), Healy (61-foul), Keister (69-persistent infringement). Sent Off: Keister (90-dissent-second bookable offence).

Sutton: K Scriven, B Thomas (sub B Hawes 57), A Bray (sub J Hawes 90), J Goodliffe, J Roberts, S Cobbs, M Hann, D Phillips, S Gargan, S Payne, S McKimm (sub A Joseph 57). Subs not used: A Pouton, K Beaney, P Smith, K El-Salahi. Goals: Hann (20), Phillips (90), Cobbs (113). Booked: Goodliffe (83-foul).

Referee: T Power (Harrow Weald) Attendance: 301