GRAHAM Kemp paid tribute to number two Alex Pike after the former Wimborne boss's tactical masterstroke saw Linnets pull off one of the greatest FA Vase escapes in recent years.

Unbelievably 4-0 down after just 20 minutes, and with another Rovers goal ruled out for offside, Pike introduced Nick Miles as a replacement for Lee Bradford before Steve Strong and Mark Turner doubles and a single Leigh Phillips' effort helped Kemp's side achieve the almost Houdini-esque feat.

Nick Murray opened the scoring for Linnets' unfancied Devon hosts in the fifth minute but not even Mystic Meg could have predicted that hat-trick man Murray and Steve Ebdy would have quadrupled that lead in the frantic moments that followed as their visitors totally capitulated.

But once Strong had converted Liam Green's free-kick to spark Linnets back to life on the half-hour and Phillips had halved the deficit by scrambling the ball over the line from a corner three minutes before the break, the unlikeliest of comebacks was in full effect.

Anthony Tilley's corner was met by Turner shortly after half-time to make it 4-3 while the equaliser came courtesy of Strong's header from Miles' exquisite first time right-wing cross.

And unlike with their previous round success at Team Bath when the New Foresters needed extra-time to turn around Bath's 2-0 advantage, Turner lashed home the winner 10 minutes from the whistle after good work by Tilley.

Defender Kemp admitted Pike, who guided the Magpies to Vase glory at Wembley 10 years ago, is now in line for a very big Christmas present.

He said: "Alex made the all-important substitution when we were 3-0 down and it changed the game, we massively owe him one. He did the same in the last game at Team Bath when Nick came on for Nigel Mottashed and turned things around and it's happened again.

"It was without a doubt the most surreal game of football I've ever been involved in, I still can't believe it happened."

"After Willand had got the first, they broke away five times in the next quarter of an hour, got three more and had one disallowed.

"We just stood there shell-shocked because every time they got into our box they had a half chance, there was no explanation for it and I hold my hands up and admit I was just wandering around in a daze.

"But Strongy, Liam, Nick and Mark were absolutely phenomenal. They just grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and never gave up. It sounds corny but once we'd got one back the whole mood changed and we knew if we could get a second before half-time we would win. I think Willand felt that too.

"When it was 4-2 a couple more players perked up and then a couple more until the whole team was on fire by the end and if nothing else, I just hope it's taught us a lesson."

The draw for the fourth round will be made at 11am today.

Lymington and New Milton: (from) Staples, Bradford (Miles, 25), Gazzard, Kemp, Green, Tilley, Richardson, Turner, Gill, Phillips, Strong. Unused subs: Town, Walker-Harris, Cummins.