Cup defence ends in tears

Almost from the kick off a long punt from Ross Standen was touched on by Dominic Shepherd to Darren Tidey, whose shot was easily gathered by the Robins goalkeeper.

However, it soon became clear that the windy conditions made high balls something of a lottery and what few chances were created in the first half came from neat flowing football with the triangle of Gareth Green, Tidey and Shepherd prominent for the Blues.

Bart Kedzior and Mickey O'Callaghan both went close for Ringmer while Standen had to be at his best to keep out a powerful low shot from Pat Harding.

An error by Julian Curnow let in Harding for another chance only to be denied a shot by a saving tackle from Chris Dicker. Then after 34 minutes Shepherd, despite close attention from two defenders, somehow managed to squeeze a shot between them and into the net to give Ringmer the lead.

Moments later Dicker was unlucky not to increase the advantage with a free-kick that shaved the top of the crossbar.

The second half began with a period of sustained pressure from Hassocks with Harding twice denied by Standen.

Standen remained in the thick of the action with another good save, this time from a long-range shot by Beveridge.

Then a misunderstanding saw Standen rush out after a loose ball only to see Curnow head it away. The ball fell invitingly for Thompson out on the left wing, whose lob found the net despite the despairing efforts of Gary Stacey to keep it out.

By now driving rain was making conditions underfoot difficult. The rest of the half saw Hassocks continue to dominate the midfield and they always looked the more likely winners without finding the killer blow. That came in the first minute of extra time when Fernley skipped through the Blues defence to slide the ball past the advancing Standen.

Moments later Andrew Ducille had a shot cleared off the line before Pat Harding who, threatened all evening, was again denied by Standen.

Mickey O'Callaghan's shot from the edge of the penalty area brought a fine save from keeper Joel Harding, then with time running out Tidey's shot from wide on the right looked destined for the top corner before the keeper turned it away.

Ringmer: Standen; Kedzior (Misiura), Dicker, Curnow, O'Callaghan, Stacey, Barycza, Ducille, Shepherd (Agutter), Green, Tidey.