Hillians manager Danny Bloor has hailed his goalkeeper Pat Gannon as the best in Sussex.

The rookie boss was ecstatic after the County League champions booked their place in the third round of the FA Vase with a 2-1 victory over Stanway Rovers.

Former Albion player Ben Andrews rescued the home team from defeat with two headed goals in the last eight minutes but Bloor insisted Gannon should get just as much credit, if not more.

The young shot-stopper made two stunning saves in the closing stages of the game to keep the home side in the contest as the visiting team from near Colchester piled forward.

Gannon also produced heroics in the competition last year, particularly in the fourth round replay at Dorking when Hillians won on penalties en route to the quarter-finals where they went out to finalists Tiptree in extra-time.

Gary Croydon was in charge then but Bloor succeeded him in the summer and the new manager harbours ambitions of bettering his predecessor's achievements at the club.

The Hillians have a real affinity and passion for the competition and it was the main reason why Bloor was relieved to scrape through.

He said: "Pat Gannon was outstanding. He made two saves that kept us in it and I think he is the best non-league goalkeeper in Sussex.

"I've seen all of them and he's the best without a shadow of doubt. If there's a better keeper out there I'd like to know him.

"It was vital Pat played well because we can play a lot better than that. Stanway were a good side and perhaps we didn't deserve to win, but it's my job to make sure we do.

"We possibly played a bit too deep. It is something we can work on because we didn't defend particularly well."

Bloor is right to be concerned about his side's vulnerable looking rearguard and it was a surprise it took the visitors until the 81st minute to score.

Mitchell Springett rattled Gannon's post in the second minute from a free-kick and although Sean Edwards responded for Hill by hitting the woodwork himself with a header, Rovers had the better chances.

Gannon saved well to his left from Springett's set-piece in the second half and he then denied David Lee with a brilliant block at his near post.

The hosts looked to be heading out of the competition when Robert Bate finally beat the Hillians No.1 but Andrews equalised a minute later with a firm downward header from Edwards' corner.

And the big centre half repeated the feat when he nodded in his seventh of the season in stoppage time from Ashley Carr's cross.

Andrews is enjoying his football at Leylands Park following his move in the summer and he is desperate for Hillians to do well.

He said: "I haven't enjoyed my football as much as this for long time. I'm happy here. It is an ambitious club and a great set-up.

"The team did pretty well in the Vase last season so there's a bit more expectancy about the place. It is a special event for the club but I have the attitude that every game is worth winning."

Andrews spent six months at Brighton on the YTS scheme and a further two-and-a-half-years as a professional before a cruciate ligament injury terminated his progress under Micky Adams.

Now Bloor seems to be getting the best out of him again and he will have to continue to do so if Hillians are to fulfill their ambitions.

The match against their Jewson Eastern Counties division one opponents on Saturday marked the opening of the club's new £53,000 300-seater stand at Leylands Park.

If Hillians are to fill it regularly they need to progress to the latter stages of the Vase again but Bloor knows they must play better than this.

Hill: Gannon, Edwards, Guile (Lutwyche 45), Head, Andrews, Downey, Day, Geard, Churchill, Carr, Williams (Harper 51). Subs not used: Sullivan, Carter, Gallaghan.

Stanway: D. Schultz, Abrehort, Sines, Bate, R. Schultz, Johnson, Ingles, Springett, Driver, Curtis, Lee. Subs not used: Parkes, Warren, Ball.

Referee: J. O. Brien (London).

Attendance: 202.

Man of the match: Pat Gannon.