NORTH Leigh recovered from a nightmare start to record a stunning 3-2 victory away to Folkestone Invicta in a dramatic second qualifying round tie on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 after four minutes, the Millers stormed back with goals from Lance Williams (2) and George Seacole to repeat last month’s shock FA Cup victory over their Ryman League Premier Division hosts.

The Millers went behind after two minutes when Matty Woodley, in trying to clear a cross from Folkestone’s Ashley Miller, succeeded only in knocking it past his own keeper Manny Agboola.

It got worse for the Millers, two minutes later when Folkestone doubled their lead from a corner, top-scorer Ian Draycott thumping the ball home through a crowded area from six yards.

Folkestone were in charge. Agboola made a fine save to deny Draycott, while time and again the visitors’ centre backs Stuart Hole and Dan James were at full stretch to halt the dangerous Invicta forwards.

With seconds remaining before half-time, Williams pulled a goal back, squeezing a right-foot shot inside the left-hand upright.

With Roger James coming on for Woodley and Michael Hopkins moving back into defence for the second half, the Millers had more attacking options and trouble the hosts who appeared to lose confidence.

Taking charge of the game, the Millers equalised in the 72nd minute when Seacole drove a low 20-yard drive inside the left post, with keeper Tim Roberts beaten.

Two minutes later, Roger James’s cross from the left fell to Williams, who hit a first-time left-foot shot that thudded against the bar.

The winning goal came in the 82nd minute.

Seacole fed the ball out to the overlapping Williams on the right.

Although closed down by a defender, he fired in a shot which hit a defender and completely wrong-footed keeper Roberts, who watched as the ball slowly rolled over the line.

With just a few minutes remaining and all three substitutes on the field, Folkestone stormed forward.

But misplaced passes and strong defence prevented any serious threat on the Millers goal.

With Agboola in great form, the visitors saw the game out for a welcome but unexpected victory and a place in today’s third qualifying round draw.

North Leigh: Agboola, Platt, Hopkins, Turk, Hole, D James, Fawke (Cook 79), L Williams, Seacole, Murphy, M Woodley (R James HT) Subs not used: Steedman, White, Thompson.

Attendance: 291.