JOHN EBBRELL secured an astonishing third round replay victory for FA Cup holders Everton with a dramatic last minute winner.
The midfielder scored from 30 yards with a pile driver into the corner past stranded keeper Neil Edwards.
Stockport could not believe it. They had only drawn level 60 seconds earlier when Alan Armstrong turned quickly in the penalty area to knock in the equaliser.
But Ebbrell had the last word in the game which had left Everton looking poised for their earliest exit from the competition since 1982.
The second division side, so impressive in the 2-2 draw at Goodison. took the lead after 22 minutes when Matt Bound headed. home after the ball had been kicked on by Ian Helliwell from Mike Flynn's long throw.
Bound then cleared off the line from Ebbrell and Edwards made a marvellous save from a header by Andrei Kanchelskis.
Stockport should have taken the game out of Everton's reach shortly after half time, when Jeff Eckhardt curled a superb shot just around the post.
Then John Jeffers was wide with a clear chance from close range and Helliwell miss kicked after Jeffers had swung in a cross.
However, Everton equalised after 71 minutes when Duncan Ferguson replacing Paul Rideout, who scored the winning goal against Manchester United at Wembley last May powered in a header from Graham Stuart's corner.
Two minutes later a shot from Kanchelskis was only parried by Edwards and Stuart knocked in the rebound.
That seemed to be that. but with two minutes to go, Armstrong seemed to have taken the game into extra time.
However, as Stockport were still celebrating, Ebbrell rammed in the spectacular winner and Edwards could not hide his annoyance as he raced to berate his defenders.
It was tough luck on a Stockport side who had run their hearts out and played some delightful football, particularly in the first half.
But Everton, if nothing else, are resilient these days and have now booked a home tie against Port Vale.
If they do make it all the way to Wembley again, it is doubtful they will have any harder games than this.
