THREE absorbing extra preliminary round FA Cup ties, three replays. The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well.

Badshot Lea, Farnham Town and Alresford Town all lived to fight another day on Saturday in the oldest and arguably most glamorous knockout cup competition in the world.

The Baggies had to do it the hard way, coming from two goals down and equalising deep into stoppage time to earn a replay in a tough clash with fellow unbeaten Combined Counties League Premier Division side Ascot United.

The visitors from Berkshire, who were technically at home for the tie but had to switch grounds because of ongoing work at their Racecourse Ground home, led through two goals from Usman Lalustani before great work by midweek hat-trick hero Nick Medcraft gave substitute Shaq Williams a tap in and Liam Flanaghan dramatically headed home a free kick with time running out.

The two sides, who sit first and second in the league after perfect starts, will do it all again at Wesfield Lane in Wrecclesham on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm) for the right to play Wessex League side Christchurch in the preliminary round on August 24.

In sharp contrast to Lea’s fine comeback, battling Farnham Town surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead in a pulsating game against Fleet Town at Calthorpe Park.

Charlie Oakley thumped Farnham into the lead from close range on the half hour after the Fleet defence failed to deal with Jo Sowden’s fine whipped cross from the right.

And Matt Glass doubled Town’s lead from the penalty spot after 44 minutes after Romaine Atkinson was brought down.

But gutsy Farnham couldn’t replicate their superb first-half showing and visibly tired in the later stages as a looping header from Billy Oram on 57 minutes and an own goal from the unlucky Jack Mitchell 15 minutes from time clawed Fleet back into the tie.

And but for two stunning fingertip saves from Farnham keeper Dease Kerrison, a revived Fleet could well have stolen the tie.

The two sides will meet again on Tuesday night at the Memorial Ground for the right to face Alresford Town or Baffins Milton Rovers, who drew 0-0 at Arlebury Park and will replay their tie on Tuesday night.