A match-winning effort by Lewis Francis sent Saffron Walden Town through to the next round of the FA Cup with a 4-2 victory over Little Oakley.
The striker only arrived off the bench with 30 minutes to go and the Bloods trailing 2-1.
But a sensational hat-trick ensured their passage and a game at Southern League Welwyn Garden City in the preliminary round.
Speaking on Twitter he said: “Well what can I say. First game back for Saffron Walden and to come off the bench with 30 minutes to go and bag a hat-trick that takes us through to the next round, you can’t beat that feeling.
“The link up with me and Steven Carvell is going to be a problem [for teams].”
Walden had early twice fallen behind to their Harwich-based, Eastern Counties League Division One South opponents, Alfie Hilton getting the first equaliser.
The Bloods start their Essex Senior League season on Saturday at Redbridge.
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