James Rogers scored a crucial penalty in Lydd Town’s FA Vase win at Newhaven - despite being sin-binned at the time.

Midfielder Rogers put the Lydders 4-2 up in Saturday’s second qualifying round shoot-out and it was game over when Jake Robinson skied the hosts’ next kick.

The match went the distance after captain Sammy Adams’ injury-time free-kick rescued a 2-2 draw - and Lydd prevailed to set up a first-round meeting at Athletic Newham on October 19.

“What can I say about Rodgo?” said interim boss Ryan Smith.

“He’s walked up and it was the best penalty I’ve ever seen.

“He’s stroked it into the stanchion and I was like, ‘Oh my God’.

“He was sin-binned at the time but the referee said he was still allowed to take a penalty under the rules.

“Their fans were going mad and he’s stuck it in the top corner. It was hilarious.

“Jake Robinson, their superstar No.9, has then stepped up and, I’m not joking, that penalty must have landed in Lydd. It certainly didn’t stay in the ground.”

Ronnie Dolan levelled after Robinson gave Newhaven a half-time lead but the hosts went 2-1 up through Bailie Rogers.

The tie was in the fifth minute of added time when Adams’ free-kick secured a penalty shoot-out.

“Sammy’s the man of the moment,” said Smith. “He stepped up like David Beckham against Greece (when his last-gasp free-kick earned a 2-2 draw and qualification for the 2002 World Cup).

“It wasn’t a great strike, I’m not going to lie, but we were in trouble and our captain marvel steps up and the ball goes in the bottom corner.”

Dolan, teenager Harvey Donnelly and Billy Robbins were also successful from the spot as Lydd advanced.

“It’s a day I’ll never forget,” said Smith. “From the moment Sammy scored that equaliser, it was an unbelievable day. We had such a good time on the way back.”

The game proved to be assistant coach Will Graham’s last involvement at Lydd.

He’d been helping out Smith, who started Saturday’s tie, but has now moved on.

“He’s a top-level coach who knows what he’s talking about,” said Smith.

“Tactically, and with his organisation, I can’t knock him.

“He gave us a better structure. I wish him all the best.”

Lydd visit Tunbridge Wells in the Southern Counties East Premier Division this Saturday (3pm).