JUBILANT FC Clacton boss Tom Austin praised his players for a thrilling comeback as they rallied from two-down to make FA Vase progress against Buckingham Athletic.

The Seasiders prevailed 3-2 after a nailbiting first-round replay at the Rush Green Bowl on Tuesday night.

Jordan Lartey halved the deficit, Adam Hampson made it all-square and Karl Andrade thundered home a dramatic winner six minutes from time to set up a home tie against Kirkley and Pakefield on November 3.

It was a brilliant night for Clacton, who also pocketed £825 for their victory against the Spartan South Midlands League side.

“We were up against it, finding ourselves 2-0 down in 25 minutes," said Austin.

“But what a reaction from the lads.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more and it was a great night for our club.

“We got ourselves back in the game and I said at half-time that the next goal would be critical.

“Thankfully, we were the ones who got it and I thought we dominated the second half.

“It was a real change of fortune, having been in winning positions and then lost or drawn recent league games in the last few minutes.

“We’ve had some devastating results, conceding late on and losing to Newmarket and Godmanchester and then being pegged back in the first game against Buckingham on Saturday (the first match finished 2-2).

“But this was the reaction we’ve been looking for.

“The boys rolled their sleeves up, took the game by the scruff of the neck and really wanted it.

“They're buzzing and it’ll do them the world of good.

"Hopefully they can build on it on Saturday."

Clacton's evening got off to the worst possible start after they found themselves two-down.

There were only 21 minutes on the clock when the speedy Sam Olawale slotted home his second of the night to put Buckingham 2-0 ahead.

The Seasiders refused to lie down, though, and Lartey got them back in the tie with a close-range header, attacking a right-wing cross whipped in by full-back Charlie Thompson.

Hampson then made it level after the break, despite appearing to have missed his opportunity after slipping.

Instead, he quickly got back on his feet and produced a clever lobbed finish over the Buckingham keeper.

Extra-time was looming until, with just six minutes left, Thompson swung in a cross from deep on the right and Lartey played the cleverest of passes into Andrade’s path.

The ball bounced invitingly and the striker made no mistake, volleying across goal and high into the net.

“Karl had asked me five minutes before his goal how much time was left," said Austin, who was without suspended pair Jake Plane and Harry McDonald.

“He told me to keep him on because he said he felt he had one in him.

“Thankfully the chance came his way thanks to a real piece of class from Jordan.

“And when I saw him in that position with the ball falling kindly, I knew there was no chance he was going to miss. He took it so well."

Clacton have a league match at Norwich United on Saturday and then host Brantham Athletic in the League Challenge Cup on Tuesday.