Lloyd Rowlatt grabbed the opener for Chi on 20 minutes only for second-half goals from Victor Akinwale and Camron Gradebo to put the hosts ahead before Ethan Prichard’s 66th minute equaliser sent this cup tie straight to penalties.
The visitors to the Connect Management Stadium came into the game on the back of a 2-2 league draw with Billericay Town last time out.
Miles Rutherford, Dabba, Danny Potter & Co were forced into a couple of changes without the absent Kieran Magee and Curtis Da Costa. Tonbridge Angels’ dual-signee Mackenzie Foley lined up between the sticks and Jamie Horncastle came into accompany Ben Pashley at the back alongside stalwarts Ryan Davidson and skipper Rob Hutchings. Joe Moore started once again as the holding midfielder together with Joe Clarke, Isaac Bello and Rowlatt with Olly Munt and Prichard up top.
The Lillywhites started brightly and Prichard latched on to a loose ball when it bounced over his marker but the resulting shot went over the bar.
And then in the second minute of play Davidson had to steer away Dan Quick’s cross before Moore and Bello combined in a move that looked like the No4 had been fouled – nothing doing according to referee Tim Robinson.
Prichard had another go eight minutes in after a defender got tangled up.
Next, Gbadebo hooked up with Quick on an overlap but the ball was played smartly back to Foley by the Chichester backline.
Nice stuff from Kingsley Anokye saw him find some space as the East Sussex side pressed again but Clarke snuffed out the danger before Munt was impeded by Sports’ Mo Sagaf.
A Moore slip allowed Josh Anifowose to fizz one wide of the mark on 15 minutes and the hosts won the first corner of the evening off Horncastle.
Then Bello and Prichard linked up for a cross into the box which Rowlatt tucked home beyond the despairing Borough keeper Jamie Searle to make it 1-0.
Both sets of fans and players gave a rapturous minutes’ applause for Billy Vigar, who wore the number 22 when he was on loan at Eastbourne from Arsenal, at the mid-point of the half.
Next, the hosts earned a couple of corners one of which Foley spilled and the other got turned wide of the Chi goal.
There was no trouble for Foley however moments later when he gathered an Isaac Pitblado free-kick easily enough before Quick found Jayden Davis whose cross was poor.
Seconds later Davis did Davidson but he couldn’t find a delivery and the ball was shepherded out for a Borough throw.
Prichard and Munt combined in Chi’s subsequent attack but the home side’s back four hooked the ball away and, up against the dangerous Quick, Hutchings defended well and won the visitors a goal kick.
Bello couldn’t get any real power on his shot; Horncastle made a fine block 10 minutes before half time; and Munt tried to pick Prichard but Freddie Carter intervened to concede a Chichester throw.
Then Pashley effectively out-muscled Anifowose and earned the visitors a goal kick and his fellow defender Davidson held off Jes Uchegbulam.
Quick and Sagaf probed once more only for Hutchings to guide the ball back to Foley.
Both teams exchanged set-pieces for fouls as we entered the last five minutes of the first period.
Davis whipped over a cross although no one was there for the Sports and Foley claimed without any trouble as Uchecbulam threatened.
Mr Robinson added a couple of minutes of time added on where Davidson intercepted a sloppy Anifowose pass and Bello launched a long throw on the stroke of half time.
City didn’t make any changes at the interval, although Tayt Trusty and goal-scorer Akinwale were introduced for the hosts.
Davidson then bundled over Anokye before a neat finish from Akinwale made it all square two minutes in.
Bello launched a long throw and Prichard had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be ruled out for offside in the 50th minute.
Munt unfortunately rattled the post in Chi’s next attack before Bello brought an impressive save out of Searle after a nice pass from Rowlatt.
The resulting corner was headed over by Clarke and Emmett Dunn replaced Horncastle at the back.
10 minutes after the restart Hutchings did well up against Anifowose and shortly after Davis’ delivery was too deep.
The Sports couldn’t profit from a poor clearance by the visitors and Dunn turned out a dangerous cross by Davis for a corner which Uchegbulam took.
Davidson headed this out however for another on the other side.
Trickery from the Eastbourne No11 caused some problems for Chichester before Uchegbulam blazed one over.
The first booking of the night went to the same player for a foul on Moore and a slick move earned the hosts a corner just after the hour.
The East Sussex team took the lead through Gbadebo from close range on 63 minutes before Rowlatt was exchanged for Misha Djemaili and Prichard levelled things up firing clinically past Searle moments later.
Sagaf was then yellow-carded for fouling Bello who was also upended by Gbadebo.
It got a bit scrappy before Foley’s world-class save somehow denied Akinwale a second goal at point blank range with 15 minutes to go.
Davis came off for Joey Phuthi as the hosts reshuffled before Hutchings drilled an effort wide and Bello almost capitalised on Searle’s misplaced touch.
Two super crosses from the most recent Eastbourne sub set up golden opportunities that the home team wasted, and a decent one-two between Prichard and Djemaili led to a shot off target.
Lewis Rustell replaced Munt up front as we entered the last five minutes and he tried his luck with a long-ranger.
Chichester then won a corner late on which Prichard took and another that the No11 also delivered before a shot/cross was simple enough for Searle.
So, it went straight to penalties to decide things.
Djemaili’s first one beat Searle coolly to put Chi ahead, only for Borough to also score without any trouble.
Both Pashley and Prichard had their spot-kicks saved before Rustell converted straight through Searle’s legs.
But the hosts netted all four of theirs to advance to the third round.
Chi welcome Dulwich Hamlet to Oaklands Park in Isthmian premier division action on Saturday 1st November (Kick Off 3pm).
Chichester – Foley, Davidson, Hutchings, Moore, Horncastle, Pashley, Bello, Clarke, Rowlatt, Prichard, Munt (Dunn, Rustell, Djemaili, Sarson).
