Joff Vansittart showed Crawley what they had been missing last night by coming off the bench to book a place in the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-finals.

The experienced striker scored both goals, the second in the last minute, as the holders came from behind to beat Bognor 2-1 at Broadfield Stadium.

It was his first appearance since breaking a leg at the beginning of December and a timely reminder to manager Francis Vines that he could be the answer to Crawley's problem up front.

Vines has been desperately searching for a striker to partner Charlie MacDonald for the last two months.

He had Gavin Holligan and Jonny Dixon on loan from Wycombe last month and has brought in Brentford forward Robert Traynor for a month, while former Rushden and Diamonds striker Jonathan Adams is on trial.

Vansittart said: "It was nice to be playing again and, of course, to score as well. I have been fit for a while and have been itching to get going.

"A lot of attackers have been brought in while I have been out, but he (Vines) can bring in as many as he likes, I'm just going to do my best and hopefully keep scoring goals."

Vines said: "It's good to have Joff back but we'll have to see for how long because he has struggled with injuries.

"I am still looking for players and have just had a five-figure bid turned down, which is disappointing."

Vansittart's goals were a bitter pill to swallow for Bognor who have not won the competition for 17 years.

Manager Jack Pearce said: "I am very disappointed to be out but what worries me more is that as soon as they brought on a big striker we couldn't cope.

"It has happened to us too many times this season and it is something we are going to have to look at."

The first half was played at an almost pedestrian pace and both sides struggled to create significant chances. Bognor's best came after 15 minutes when Brett Poate, who is on a month's loan from Havant, curled in a corner which was headed just over by John Price.

Reds responded on 25 minutes when MacDonald left Birmingham for dead on the left flank before cutting the ball back for Traynor who was unable to get his close-range shot on target under the challenge of Price.

The Rocks increased the tempo after the break and should have scored a minute into the second half. Former Crawley striker Rob Collins burst into the box before cutting back for Sargent, whose shot from ten yards was cleared off the line by Glen Matten.

Adams had a glorious chance to make an instant impression on the hour mark. The 19-year-old, who had travelled from Birmingham for the game, had only just come on as a substitute when the ball fell to him six yards out, but his effort was saved at point-blank range by Craig Stoner.

Bognor took a surprise lead thanks to a bit of luck on 66 minutes. Reds' keeper Andy Little came out to clear his lines but drove his clearance straight at defender Sean Hankin and the ball broke to Sargent, who beat Ian Payne and fired into an empty net.

Vines responded by bringing on Vansittart on 74 minutes and the move instantly paid off. The former Farnborough forward turned sharply in the box and fired under Stoner with his first touch of the game.

Bognor almost hit back through substitute Matt Russell who had time to line up a volley only to see it saved by the legs of Little.

Both teams could have won it in the closing stages with MacDonald rattling the crossbar for Crawley, while Michael Birmingham had a close-range diving header turned round the post by Little.

Vansittart won it for Reds in the last minute when he scrambled in from two yards following a corner by Paul Armstrong.