Hastings 2 Horsham 3 John Maggs has got the FA Cup bug again after guiding Horsham to a shock win over Hastings Town.

The former Crawley Town manager and chairman could scarcely contain his delight after seeing his team upset their higher grade opponents on their own soil.

He said: "The club got what it deserved on the day. It is a massive result."

The Ryman Division Two side had to come from a behind in the third minute, but two goals from Steve Flain and another from captain Matt Smart took them through to the fourth and final qualifying round.

Maggs said: "The first minutes of the game we weren't on the pitch but from then on we just grew and grew and took control. To be honest it spread into the second half where we were totally in command.

"We were really a good side, we had good passing and everyone was battling their socks off and at 3-1 Hastings lacked ideas."

Although Dr Martens outfit Hastings pulled one back through a superbly executed volley by Stuart Myall, it was not enough to deny Horsham a place in today's draw.

Maggs said: "Horsham last reached this stage of the Cup when I was at Crawley eight or nine years ago and they have not been anywhere near since.

Excitement "I feel the club are on their way back to being a force in Sussex. That was my job when I came here to try and achieve that and when we put out results like this it is a step in the right direction.

"The FA Cup always throws up the excitement. I went to the third round with Crawley and we reached the first round proper a couple of times, but when you get this far everything bubbles inside you. There's nothing quite like the FA Cup."

Disappointed Hastings manager George Wakeling was left to bemoan his side's failure to kill off their opponents in the opening 30 minutes.

Paul Jones fired Hastings in front inside three minutes and Danny Simmonds twice fluffed great chances to virtually put the tie out of Horsham's reach.

Wakeling said: "If we had had a bit of luck when we were 1-0 up the game could have been over. We did not get it and they came back. Things happened in that game which hurt us at the wrong time but that happens in football."

Hastings were punished for their failure to convert their early chances when Flain equalised just before half-time following great work by Gavin Geddes.

Myall almost regained the lead in Hastings' next attack but his shot hit the inside of the post.

Horsham came out for the second half with all guns blazing and within seven minutes were 3-1 up.

Flain took advantage of goalkeeper Tony Kessell's poor headed clearance to chip into an empty net and Smart rifled home a third from the edge of the area.

Geddes should have increased the lead but Kessell pulled off a fine save. Hastings had plenty of possession for the remainder of the game but never really hurt their opponents as their attacks continually broke down on the edge of the area. Jones got to the byline and delivered a cross for Myall to volley home in spectacular fashion the one time they did manage to work an opening Although eight minutes of stoppage time was played, Hastings could not create another clear chance and it was Horsham who marched proudly into the next round.