Substitute Antonis Vasiliou scored an injury-time equaliser as Margate snatched an FA Cup replay against 10-man Folkestone.

Vasiliou struck four minutes into added time to force a Second Qualifying Round replay at Cheriton Road on Tuesday night.

The tie was heading for a replay after Gate striker Steve Cawley cancelled out Ibrahim Olutade’s early header for the visitors.

Folkestone, who had Ryan Khanye sent off early in the second half, thought they’d won it when substitute Ira Jackson scored a brilliant second with four minutes of the 90 remaining.

But Margate went for the jugular and were rewarded when Vasiliou struck - and he might even have won it a minute later.

Folkestone should have led inside a minute at Hartsdown Park, with Scott Heard dragging his shot wide after Dave Smith held the ball up in the box.

But a fast start was rewarded in the third minute with Heard’s cross from the right headed home by Olutade for a clinical opener.

Folkestone continued to look the better side in the first half, more composed in possession and working opportunities to get crosses into the box, albeit without creating too many more chances.

Player-assistant Ben Greenhalgh looked the best source of joy for Margate, with most of the hosts’ best work going through him.

It was a Greenhalgh free-kick that saw Margate go close to a 14th-minute equaliser, with Tyrone Sterling’s header skimming the bar.

There was another good opening on the half-hour, Phil Roberts heading wide from eight yards after getting across his man from another Greenhalgh cross.

Gate skipper Sam Blackman had strong penalty appeals waved away after going down under challenge from Kane Penn early in the second half.

Moments later, Greenhalgh went close from 20 yards after a decent move.

Folkestone were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute.

Left-back Khanye - booked for timewasting in the first half - picked up a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Harrison Hatfull.

The visitors responded by withdrawing striker Smith for defender Will Dempsey, leaving Olutade up top.

It was up to Margate to break down the 10 men and Hatfull wasn’t far away after cutting inside on his left foot and going for goal.

Folkestone, though, almost doubled the lead midway through the half when the lively Ade Cole and Heard combined to feed Olutade, who was denied by a fine save from Harry Seaden after going through one-on-one.

Margate kept plugging away and were rewarded with a 74th-minute equaliser.

Cawley’s initial header from Vasiliou’s cross was saved by Josh Strizovic but the striker reacted quickest to stab home the rebound.

Blackman saw a second Gate goal ruled out for offside after Vasiliou flicked on Hatfull’s cross as Reece Prestedge’s side pushed for a winner.

Olutade then had his hands on his head after failing to make the most of ex-Gate boss Andy Drury’s cross at the other end.

But Folkestone were soon celebrating after regaining the lead in the 86th minute.

What a finish it was, too, with substitute Jackson controlling the ball 20 yards out and firing into the top corner.

Back came Margate and it was 2-2 in the fourth minute of seven added minutes.

Vasiliou, who’d impressed since coming on, was the scorer, finishing an almighty goalmouth scramble.

The same man had a chance to win it for the Gate a minute later but fired when unmarked.

Margate: Seaden, Hatfull, Johnson, Sterling, Hudson, Blackman, Cawley, Roberts (Cham 90mins), Greenhalgh, Rutherford (Vasilou 59mins), Duncanson. Subs not used: Hobbs, Bowman, Salmon, Sutcliffe, Mazzone.

Folkestone: Strizovic, Penn, Khanye, Davies, Drury, Heard, Cole, Smith (Dempsey 57mins), Olutade, Ababio (Jackson 77mins), Moses. Subs not used: Gayle, Coker, Watkins, Everitt.

Referee: Joshua Langley-Feining.

Attendance: 692.