The game started brightly despite the baltic conditions, but a few early mistakes from Sandwich allowed Thanet Dons to capitalise and take control. The visitors punished the errors clinically, racing into a 3–0 lead by half-time.

They say that football is a game of two halves and that was certainly what was needed here.
At the break, a strong team talk and a couple of key substitutions injected fresh energy into the side and it didn’t take long for the response.

Sandwich were back in the game early in the second half thanks to a moment of real quality from Tommy Park. Winning a free kick in a dangerous area, Tommy struck it with tremendous power. The ball smashed off the goalkeeper and flew into the back of the net to pull one back and spark belief throughout the team.

With momentum building, the comeback was well and truly on. Half-time substitute Josh made an immediate impact, relentlessly pressing the opposition defence, forcing a mistake, and coolly finishing to reduce the deficit further.

The pressure mounted as the clock ticked down. With only minutes remaining and the game on the line, Sandwich produced a lovely piece of team football. The move found Tommy out wide, and with pinpoint accuracy he delivered a superb cross into the box. Jordan Page met it bravely, going one-on-one with the keeper and powering a header home, nearly sliding into the post in the process to make it 3–3 and complete an incredible turnaround.

Penalty Shootout
Thanet Dons stepped up first:
Thanet Dons – Goal
Sandwich – Miss
1–0
Thanet Dons – Saved by the big hand of Ben Godden, full stretch down to his left.
Sandwich – Miss
1–0
Thanet Dons – Miss almost sending the ball to Dover high over the cross bar
Sandwich – Goal
1–1
Thanet Dons – Goal
Sandwich – Goal
2–2
Thanet Dons – Important big save low to the right from Ben Godden
Sandwich – Goal
2–3
? Sandwich Town FC win 3–2 on penalties!
A tremendous display of character and resilience from Sandwich to overturn a three-goal deficit and secure victory in dramatic fashion.

Next week another cup game with the chance of silverware still very firmly alive and a big game against Holmans Carpentry