Croydon FC 2
Deal Town 1
After losing last Saturday's Vase encounter to a 90th-minute winner, Croydon experienced the other side of the coin against Deal by scoring twice in the last two minutes to snatch a win from the jaws of what seemed certain defeat.
Although the turnaround was a cruel blow to the plucky visitors, the Trams showed why they remain in contention for the league title.
Croydon were on the back foot from the start, when Bronek Dabrowa was adjudged to have charged a ball down with his hands just inside box.
Dave Bathgate slotted the spot kick empathically past Danny Harwood.
It wasn't quite the home side's day and, although they dominated matters in the first half, the rub of the green eluded them.
In fact Deal played better in the second half and matched the Trams chance for chance. But, in the 88th minute with the game looking beyond them, Croydon snatched an equaliser when their two subs combined.
Emmanuel Quarshie squared the ball for Sam Warner, who struck a superb shot into the net on the turn.
Croydon would probably be content with that but conjured up a winner two minutes later. Ray Freeman sent in a corner from the right and Dabrowa got to the ball first.
Keeper Danny Twyman made a brave save but the ball spilled to Dabrowa, who bundled the ball home to give his team what may turn out to be a vital victory.
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