FOOTBALL: Battling Blues go down at Rustington

With neither team having played for five weeks, the game was always likely to be a lethargic affair and so it proved, with the single goal always looking enough to settle things.

Mussels started brighter and struck the bar in just the fourth minute through Rob Boddy, before Josh Clayman saw his follow-up effort saved by Andy McCarthy.

Shoreham edged ahead four minutes later. Sam Blundell cut in from the right and his cross was glanced home by the onrushing Ryan Bradley.

Cameron Johnson then flashed a shot wide before Rustington, who battled hard throughout, gradually imposed themselves on the game and almost notched an equaliser in the 22nd minute, but Jim Smith's header clipped the post.

Bradley went close again just before half-time when his drive was saved by McCarthy, but Mussels had to be content with just the one-goal lead at the break.

They took their foot off the gas in the second half and allowed Rustington to gain the upper hand, but the best chances still fell to Shoreham.

Boddy and substitute Owen Callaghan both went close, but this failure to kill the game off almost cost Mussels, and goalkeeper Michael Hunter had to be alert to deny Andy Smart. That was the last action of the game and Shoreham held on to secure their place in the next round.

Blues boss Kevin Short said: "It was a good run-out and having a hard, tough game was nice for the squad.

"We showed signs of rustiness and you could tell we've not played for five weeks, but they were in the same situation. The league is our priority and the squad is where it should be."

Mussels joint manager Darren Donnelly said: "We should have been out of sight by half-time and I think we showed our rustiness. It's always nice to win, but we just wanted to get back playing again."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; C.Matthews, Neal, Butcher, Green; Darwin, Smith, Wimbleton, Smart; S.Kirkham, Boxall. Subs: Morten (Darwin 55), Adams (Neal 84), Harris (Matthews 86), C.Kirkham.