East Preston 2, Hassocks 3: Offshore oil worker Dave Smith flew back for this match and came off the bench to strike gold for the Robins.

The 30-year-old striker, who works on the rigs off Humberside, rarely plays for Dave John's team because he spends three weeks at a time at sea.

But he played a key role for Hassocks on Saturday when he came on with 20 minutes left and struck the winner to cap a magnificent comeback for the visitors.

He said: "I've been at the club five or six years but I can't play as much as I would like because of work.

"I really miss my football when I'm away and it makes me all the more determined to make the most of it when I'm back.

"To score the winner was a dream come true and I could have had another one.

"The lads have been giving me some stick for not scoring much and I'm not around much to defend myself. Hopefully that will get them off my back for a while.

"I knew it was in as soon as I hit it."

Manager John added: "It's typical of him. He couldn't have played a full game but he was itching to get on and he won us the match."

The struggling Robins appeared dead and buried when they conceded two goals in quick succession following efforts from Lee Farrell in the 12th minute and skipper Matt Huckett, who notched his 18th of the season.

However Hassocks skipper Chris Hewitt pulled a goal with a crisply struck free-kick in the 28th minute and Joe Fernley netted to ensure parity at the break.

Both teams could have won it after the interval before Smith curled in the decisive goal a minute after coming off the bench when he capitalised on an error by Dave Hall to curl the ball in with a low finish off the post.

East Preston could scarely believe their misfortune, but the goal was sweet revenge for Hassocks who lost 3-2 at home to Vic Short's team earlier in the season after conceding a last minute goal.

The defeat means that newly-promoted Preston, who were third in the table at the start of play, have not won in five League games but boss Short is not too concerned.

His side have an average age of just 19 and their movement and passing, particularly going forward, tore Hassocks to pieces at times.

Huckett and Farrell, who is profoundly deaf, look a dangerous partnership in attack and they will only get better.

Short, who used to manager Rustington before joining the Lashmar club at the start of last season, said: "The boys are disappointed but they are young lads and we pinched a win at Hassocks earlier in the season.

"We had won our last two matches in the cup before this one and I think the team took their foot off the pedal when we were 2-0 up.

"I was confident at the start of the season we would hold our own because we will always score goals but I have been surprised that we have given the better sides a good game.

"We have a lot of young players and I'm not looking for a quick fix. In many ways I'm trying to copy Dave John, the Hassocks manager) because I've tremendous respect for what he has done and we don't pay our players either."

Short's opposite number John admitted he was relieved to have edged the highly-entertaining encounter which kept both keepers occupied throughout the afternoon.

He said: "There were so many chances for both teams it could have been 10-10.

"We are delighted with the win. We are missing several key players and don't have a recognised goalkeeper because my son Paul hurt his back.

"The guys battled well though, and if they continue to do so then I'm sure we'll stay in Division One and that's our aim."