Gravesend & Northfleet clinched their place in the first round of the FA Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the replay had finished level at 3-3 after extra time.
Midfielder Rob Owen was the man who kept his head to fire home the winning penalty as the pressure rose following two successive failures from the spot by Alexandre Jeannin and Scott Hiley.
Exeter made the early breakthrough as Dwane Lee stole in across the penalty boss to fire through a sea of legs after seven minutes.
The visitors enjoyed most of the first half possession as Gravesend struggled to gain some cohesion, but after the break the home side were revitalised.
The equaliser on 70 minutes was a reward for several close efforts. Owen collected the loose ball after Exeter failed to clear from a corner and the midfielder drilled it across the face of goal for Chris Moore to head home.
The introduction of sub Andy Drury looked decisive when on 82 minutes he combined with Ben Abbey for the striker to score from close range.
But the lead lasted just three minutes. Sean Devine took advantage of a nervous Gravesend defence to break the offside trap and force the ball over the head of Paul Wilkerson to level the scores at 2-2.
Extra-time began in a frantic fashion. Gravesend regained the lead for the second time in the 101st minute when Rob Haworth fired a sizzling shot past Martin Rice.
But again the Grecians responded with the best goal of the game. Devine's half-volley from Barry McConnell's cross gave Wilkerson no chance and penalties loomed.
Both sides produced unblemished records in the shoot-out until Steve McKimm saw his effort saved by Rice.
Given the opportunity to win it for Exeter, Steve Flack screwed his spot-kick wide and the nerves showed for both sides in their subsequent efforts to clinch the tie until Owen slotted home.