Reading FC managed to avoid what would have been a monumental FA Cup shock as they had to come back from behind to beat non-league Harborough Town after extra-time.
The Royals found themselves 2-1 down at the break after three goals in quick succession had the non-league side ahead.
The League One side thought they had turned it around, but the Bees hit back again with five minutes left to make it 3-3 and take the game to extra-time.
Chem Campbell struck twice in extra-time to see the Royals through after what was a huge scare.
Despite the gulf in the football pyramid, with 104 places separating the teams, Harborough put on an incredible display in front of almost 3,000 away fans who made the trip from Leicestershire to Berkshire to watch their side.
There was a familiar face in the Harborough line-up as former Premier League midfielder and Brazil international Sandro was named in the starting 11.
The game endured a mad few minutes with a flurry of goals.
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It was the visiting fans who were sent into ecstasy as they watched their team take the lead when Freddie Robinson headed in at the back post from a corner.
The Royals hit back instantly when Mamadi Camara’s effort rolled past the keeper.
But Reading’s blushes were not spared as their non-league opponents showed immense resilience to retake the lead almost instantly when Reading failed to deal with a long throw before Riley O’Sullivan drilled the ball past David Button to make it 2-1.
Reading failed to break down a stubborn Harborough defence who were well worth their lead at half-time.
Ruben Selles made a double switch in midfield which saw Michael Craig and Charlie Savage replace Camara and Ben Elliott, meanwhile Sandro was taken off for the away team.
The Bees continued to look threatening from set pieces and came close to adding a third, but nodded over the target.
Reading squandered a massive chance to level when Adrian Akande found Jayden Wareham in the middle, but the forward skewed his shot wide of the post.
A few minutes later, Reading did find themselves level when Savage curled in from range to leave the keeper helplessly rooted to his line.
The Bees nearly found a third to go back in front as a wicked cross evaded everyone in the middle and almost snuck in at the far post.
There was relief all around the SCLin the home end when Reading went in front for the first time in the contest. Following a mix up from the Harborough defence, Akande punished them by slotting in from close range.
There was more drama to come when Kanu received his second yellow and was sent off with 15 minutes still left to play.
Harborough took advantage and found a dramatic equaliser with five minutes to play as Kai Tonge netted to take the game to extra-time.
Despite being down to 10, it was Reading who edged in front early on in extra-time when Chem Campbell’s strike squeezed past the keeper.
Campbell then made it 5-3 as his quickfire double provided relief for the hosts.
Reading: Button, Ahmed, Holzman, Kanu, Garcia, Wing , Elliott, Camara Tuma, Akande, Wareham
Subs: Rhone, Dorsett, Craig, Dean, Savage, Smith, Campbell, Bindon, Sackey
Harborough Town: Taylor, Cooper, Walsh, Malone, Williams, Morris, Robinson, O’Sullivan, Stephens, Starkie, Sandro
Subs: Burgess, Carta, Daire, Dolman, Forbes, Mulligan, Rose, Sandhu, Tonge
Goals: Robinson 18, Camara 20’, O’Sullivan 21’, Savage 58’, Akande 64’, Tonge 85′
Attendance: 7,916
