A record crowd watched National League South side Tonbridge miss the chance to make the FA Cup second round for the first time ever against lower-division Harborough Town on Saturday.

Angels were slight favourites for the first-round tie - a match which attracted an attendance of 3,132 - but it was Harborough who enjoyed a memorable day as it finished 4-1.

Paul Malone gave the visitors a half-time lead and top scorer Ben Stephens found the net twice after the break to effectively seal their place in the second round.

Substitute Dan Forbes appeared to wrap things up late on and, although Angels did score from skipper Sean Shields’ stoppage-time deflected shot, it was Harborough’s day.

Visiting midfielder Connor Kennedy had become the first player in referee Alan Dale’s book in just the third minute at Longmead.

He caught home defender Jamie Fielding, who had come forward for a long throw, and received a caution.

Tonbridge’s Shields then tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area on 22 minutes but his shot was comfortably gathered by Harborough keeper Elliot Taylor during what was an, understandably, cagey start.

Soon after, the visitors created their first opportunity, which saw a shot by forward Stephens deflected inches wide.

Away goalkeeper Taylor had to be at his very best to tip wide Tonbridge midfielder Shields’ powerful drive shortly after the half-hour mark.

The next chance for Jay Saunders’ side saw winger Jason Adigun bundle agonisingly wide from yards out after striker Noel Leighton had broken through the offside trap and delivered a cross-cum-shot to the far post.

Harborough were quick to threaten again at the other end, Ben Starkie firing over from long range.

But the Southern League Premier Division Central side did break the deadlock with 41 minutes played. Tonbridge keeper Matt Rowley had got his hand on experienced defender Malone’s header at the back post from a Josh Walsh corner, although he wasn’t able to keep the ball out.

The hosts opted to make a double half-time change that saw Tariq Hinds and Trevan Robinson come on for Crossley Lema and Adigun.

And they twice quickly threatened when midfielder Taylor Mahoney whipped a free-kick wide and Shields also failed to hit the target from a good position.

Just before the hour mark, Leighton flicked a Shields corner narrowly over.

But the clinical Leicestershire outfit then doubled their advantage with a crucial second when Starkie played through Stephens, who slotted past Rowley to spark wild scenes among the away contingent.

With 20 minutes to play, Rowley gathered as Malone attempted to get his second and Town’s third.

But a second of the afternoon for Stephens did come after a sweeping counter-attack moved him to 10 goals for the season and made it 3-0 on 72 minutes.

Tonbridge continued to push forward and substitute Mo Dabre had a deflected shot saved in the 82nd minute.

Things got even better for Harborough, however, when substitute Forbes fired home. He ripped off his shirt in celebration and got a yellow card for his celebration - not that he will care too much.

Summing up well below-par Angels’ miserable day, Liam Vincent looked to have pulled one back at the start of six minutes of injury time, only for Taylor to make a sublime save.

The Kent outfit did find the net in the 95th minute when Shields’ shot was deflected past Taylor, who was eventually beaten, but it all came far too late for them.

Angels boss Saunders had made one change from the team which suffered a last-gasp 2-1 National League South defeat at Truro City last weekend as midfielder Ryan Hanson replaced Italian winger Dabre.

There was also a home bow for young Reading loanee keeper Rowley.

Harborough Town manager Mitch Austin named vastly-experienced former Gillingham striker Gary Mulligan, 39, among his nine substitutes.

Tonbridge had seen off lower-division Cray Wanderers (1-0), Walton & Hersham (2-1) and Merstham (2-1) to get to this stage of the competition.

Angels’ previous record crowd at Longmead had stood at 2,806 from their league derby against Maidstone on Boxing Day in 2023.

Tonbridge, sitting 13th, will visit fifth-placed Torquay next weekend in the league.

Tonbridge Angels: Rowley, Lema (Hinds 46mins), Hanson, Nelson, Maloney (Wagstaff 66mins), Leighton, Fielding, Vincent, Bakrin (Dabre 73mins), Shields, Adigun (Robinson 46mins). Subs not used: Richardson, Tyrie, Norburn.

Harborough Town: Taylor, Cooper, Walsh, Malone, Williams, Morris, Robinson (Forbes 73mins), Kennedy (Sandhu 90mins), O’Sullivan (Tonge 90mins), Stephens (Daire 80mins), Starkie (Mulligan 90mins). Subs not used: Burgess, Dolman, Rose, Carta.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Attendance: 3,132.