GRAVESEND & Northfleet clinched their place in the FA Cup first round proper last night after a pulsating cup-tie replay against Exeter.

Rob Owen’s penalty, Fleet’s eighth in a penalty shoot-out, sent Andy Ford’s side through 6-5 to play Chester but only after a night of unbelievable drama at Stonebridge Road.

Dwane Lee put Exeter in front in the seventh minute when he turned home Glen Sheldon’s corner in a largely forgettable first-half.

Fleet battered Exeter in the second-half and missed several good chances. Ben Abbey just failed to steer Steve Perkin’s shot goalwards then Steve McKimm fired over. Then it was Owen’s turn to spurn a good chance as he fired wide from Abbey’s lay-off.

But Owen was the architect of Fleet’s equaliser. He jinked past his man on the right before whipping the ball across to Chris Moore who turned the ball home from close range with his midrift.

Andrew Drury entered the fray in the 81st minute and made an immediate impact as, with his first touch, crossed to Abbey who fired the ball into the net from six yards out.

Exeter’s Sean Devine put the visitors level just three minutes from time after a quick break to send the game into extra-time.

Fleet hit the front again in the first extra period when Abbey slotted a great through ball to Rob Howarth and he smashed the ball past Martin Rice.

But just two minutes later it was 3-3. Exeter took a free-kick, despite the ball rolling when the kick was taken, and Devine took advantage of slack marking to fire past Paul Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was superb and denied Devine twice and Gareth Sheldon in the closing minutes to send the game into penalties.

Both sides converted the first three but when McKimm’s effort was saved, the pressure got to Steve Flack who missed his vital kick that would have won the game.

At 5-5 in the shoot-out, Exeter’s Alex Jeannin sent his penalty against the post but with glory beckoning, Moore sent his spot0kick over.

But Wilkerson made himself the hero of the hour as he produced a superb flying stop to save Scott Hiley’s kick and it was left to Owen to put the ball home to send the Fleet fans into ecstasy and Ford’s side into the next round.

Ford said: “That sort of game should bring the crowds back. I thought at 3-2 up we should have buttoned the game up but I thought the ball was moving at the free kick that led to their third goal and if that had cost us £10,000 it would have been furious so justice has been done.

“There was some good penalties and Paul (Wilkerson) made a great save. It was a fabulous cup tie and no more than the club deserves.”

Fleet travel to the Deva Stadium to face Chester on November 8.

Fleet: Wilkerson, Lee, Skinner, Duku, Moore, Perkins (Drury 81 mins), Owen, McKimm, Walshe (Pinnock 108), Abbey, Howarth. Unused subs: O'Reilly, Pennock, Gradley.

Attendance: 1,227.