Waltham Abbey booked their place in the next round of the Essex Cup in dramatic style, beating Tilbury 6-5 on penalties after the match finished 3-3 in normal time.

An incredible contest saw five goals scored in the first half as Tilbury stormed to an early 2-0 lead.

James Peagram pulled one back for Abbey from the spot just after the half-hour mark before Tilbury restored their advantage soon after.

A minute before half-time however Billy Jones gave Abbey hope with a well-taken finish to make it 3-2 and just after the hour mark the visitors completed the comeback as Peagram grabbed his second, again from the penalty spot.

Five minutes later matters took a turn for the worse for Abbey as Loren Maxwell was sent off and three minutes from time it looked like all the visitors’ hard work would be undone when Tilbury were awarded a penalty of their own.

Abbey keeper Jake Whincup had other ideas though, keeping the spot-kick out and the visitors’ hopes alive with a dramatic stop.

Whincup’s heroics were not done there as two saves in the penalty shoot-out, and five faultless efforts from the Abbey takers, saw the visitors through to the next round.

The all-action tie provided a stark contrast to Abbey’s league match three days before when they drew 0-0 with Harlow Town.

The result keeps Abbey’s unbeaten run intact but the team could have taken all three points had they taken one of a handful of good chances towards the end.

Abbey will be looking to maintain their strong form when they travel to Potters Bar Town on Saturday.

Waltham Forest were also involved in an Essex Cup shootout against Thurrock but crashed out 6-5 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 in normal time. The defeat comes as a double blow for Forest who suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Tilbury in the league on Saturday.

The hosts were on the back foot in the first half and Tilbury’s sharper play was rewarded when Joel Barnett found the net five minutes before the break.

Abbey certainly looked more the part in the second period and when substitute Tunde Adewumni was brought down in the box, he was able to dust himself down before converting the penalty to level the score.

As the game drew to a close it seemed the defences and a rather boggy pitch would see the game out at 1-1. But, with five minutes left, there was a controversial winner when Webb slotted past Aaron Ormand to steal all three points for Tilbury despite the Forest players’ claims for offside.

Forest will be looking to bounce back from two disappointing results when they travel to Ware in the league on Saturday.

Redbridge were on the end of another league defeat on Saturday although the 4-1 scoreline flattered Needham Market.

Needham took an early lead after six minutes when Nathan Clarke headed in a long throw from the right and the visitors doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Sam Newson tapped in from close range.

Redbridge had played better than the scoreline suggested and just after the hour mark the Motormen pulled a goal back when George Monger smashed in a stunning left-footed volley from 25 yards out.

Bouyed by the goal, Redbridge began to pick up the tempo and for the next six minutes Needham were forced to absorb some heavy pressure. But the hosts were once again let down by a defensive lapse and the game was wrapped up on 70 minutes.

Joseph Moffat gave the ball away in-front of goal and his poor clearance fell straight to Barber who struck home to make it 3-1 before Newson’s second confirmed the win late on.

Redbridge’s Essex Cup tie against Croydon on Tuesday night was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

The Motormen’s next match is Wroxham away this Saturday.