Two audaciously taken goals from Graeme Montgomery gave watching boss John Still a reminder of the tall winger's talent and took Daggers into the last eight of this season's Essex Senior Cup at Harlow on Tuesday evening.

In a surprisingly hard second round tie, against the Ryman League Div 1 North's bottom side, the pick of Montgomery's pair won Daggers a quarter-final place with just two minutes of normal time left.

Harlow's outstanding goalkeeper Ashley Harris fatally opted to punch away a Danny Spiller free-kick that sailed out to Montgomery 20 yards out and far to the left, but showing great accuracy, the winger chipped it in expertly over the stranded keeper for it to land in the net.

Daggers fielded a strong-looking side with Scott Doe in the centre of defence, the returning Stuart Thurgood and Spiller in central midfield and Montgomery paired up front with Wes Thomas.

In the opening minute a Spiller pass almost had Thomas through on goal, but keeper Harris was alert to snatch the ball off the Daggers' frontman's toes.

Harris then was at full stretch two minutes later to tip over a good cross-shot from Daggers' teenage full-back Charlie Bland.

The best early chance saw Spiller find Thomas whose low cross, in turn, reached Tommy Tejan-Sie with a clear shooting opportunity. Harris turned over the rising effort in flying style.

Then midway through the half, Harlow surprised Daggers by taking the lead in their first real attack. They caught out the retreating Daggers defence and Mason's cross found left-winger Akinnarwo who fired low past Chris Lewington into the corner in 18 minutes.

Daggers trailed for just two minutes, getting quickly on terms when Thurgood sent Thomas between two home defenders and his crisp finish also found the bottom corner for 1-1.

Four minutes later Tejan-Sie had a second big opportunity to get onto the scoresheet, Thurgood and Thomas creating the chance for Spiller to beautifully disguise a pass to set up the young midfielder, but again his rising effort brought a spectacular tip-over save from Harris.

Ten minutes before the break Daggers did have a second goal, Thomas chesting off a long throw into the path of Montgomery who drove a fine low effort across the keeper to again find the bottom corner.

But Daggers couldn't hold the advantage until the break. Three minutes from half-time Akinnarwo cut in from the right and left Lewington with no chance with a powerful effort that rebounded in off the post for a half-time scoreline of 2-2.

That remained the score in a poorer second-half, although Thomas had two clear chances to win it for Daggers, the first was fired just past the far post and the second, saw him latch onto a fine Tejan-Sie pass only for Harris to race out and block a point-blank effort.

Extra-time and even a possible penalty shoot-out looked very much likely, until Montgomery came up with his worthy winner to settle a rousing tie.

D&R: Chris Lewington, Abu Ogogo, Scott Doe, Matthew Pooley (Jack Jeffries 57 mins), Charlie Bland, Steven Demetriou, Stuart Thurgood (Jay Nash 54 mins), Danny Spiller, Tommy Tejan-Sie (Alfie Wren 90 mins), Wesley Thomas, Graeme Montgomery.

Att: 200