Common's cup misery continues

The Commoners exited the divisional competition at the first stage for the second successive season and missed out on a plum tie against unbeaten leaders Rustington.

Joint manager Mark Linch said: "It was a diappointing result, but I think when we play them in the league we will be quite confident that we can take some points off them."

The only goal of a generally fairly even game came 10 minutes from time as fourth-in-the-league Rottingdean repeated their victory away to Common in last season's Sussex Intermediate Cup.

But it might have a very different outcome had the visitors, who are seventh in the league, converted some gilt-edged chances on a day of strong winds in Brighton.

Chas Lister squandered two of them, firstly shooting against the outside of the near post and then lifting the ball over the goalkeeper but wide of the post when clean through towards the end.

The other notable opportunity came the way of the returning Keir Anstey, but he took too long to get his shot away from six yards out, enabling the home defence to make a crucial block.

Jared Lusted and Dan Larkin also saw efforts test the home goalkeeper as Common adapted well to the atrocious conditions despite missing key trio Tim Bigg, Chris Steward and Lewis Hole.

The hard-working Dan Collins almost opened the scoring on the stroke of half time, but his 25 yard effort was acrobatically saved.

The second period was a cagey affair with neither side threatening the opposition goal until Lister was called upon to head off the goal-line from a Rottingdean corner.

Just when extra-time seemed the most likely outcome, 'Dean' took the lead from a corner when Pollard prodded the ball home after a mis-kicked clearance.

Stuart Weston enjoyed a decent debut for a Common side which had won eight and drawn one of its previous 10 league and cup games.

Linch added: "It was on the cards that a scrappy goal would win it, but saying that we played very, very well and were unlucky to lose it."

Little Common: Shoesmith, Larkin, Parsons, Eldridge, Lister, Kettyles, Weston, Collins, Anstey, Lusted, Matthews. Subs not used: Humphrey, Whyborne.