Swans exit Senior Cup to Hailsham

Boss Ricky Hamilton insisted his side were a match for the County League Division 1 visitors, and if they had taken their chances, could have pulled off an upset.

He said: “The Sussex Senior Cup is not a competition we were going to win, but it would have been nice to go on, and this was a winnable game.

“I don’t think if anyone walked in off the street they would have been able to tell there was a league between us. The quality in front of goal was the main difference.”

Hailsham were on the back foot from the first whistle after arriving late and hurrying through pre-match routines.

The Swans almost took advantage in the opening stages when an unmarked Tim Martin headed wide from six yards.

It continued in the same fashion for Storrington who created plenty of openings, but Hailsham grabbed the lead by taking advantage of a Storrington lapse. Sam Elliott slipped when in possession, allowing his man to sneak in and finsh beyond Gary Elliott.

Martin missed an opportunity to level when undone by a bobble in front of goal, and when a strong penalty appeal was waved away after Martin was clipped in the box, the writing was on the wall.

A second goal followed soon afterwards and when the third was prodded home from close range it was game over. Kristian Harding got a late consolation, though, when he cut inside and fired home from 15 yards.

STORRINGTON: G.Elliott; McCall, Watton, S.Elliott, Rhodie; Cooke, Maymon, Bridle, Tidman; Martin, Grantham. Subs: Jearum (Maymon 55), Harding (Tidman 70), Davis (McCall 85).