THREE players were sent off following a second half brawl as Horsham won 1-0 at Lewes in the quarter-final of the Sussex Senior Cup.

The match exploded in the 72nd minute following an unnecessary shove by Horsham striker Steve Slain on Paul Stokes.

Lewes midfielder Stokes was then sent off for retaliating and Horsham pair Germain Amanuel and Junior Kamara were also dismissed as a flurry of punches was thrown.

The drama was not over as Amanuel had to be manhandled back to the dressing room after trying to attack a Lewes official as he left the pitch.

Once the furore had calmed down referee Martin Postles showed a yellow card to Slain the instigator.

Earlier Amanuel had been the hero as he headed the only goal of a frantic contest in the 57th minute.

The Horsham striker rose highest at the back post to nod home Nick White's inswinging corner and clinch a semi-final showdown with Hastings Town.

Under-strength Lewes were forced into five changes from the side which had beaten East Thurrock last Saturday, and young striker Tom Beech was handed only his third first team start.

The Rooks were unlucky not to go ahead on 14 minutes when Stewart Holmes crossed from the right and Beech headed against the inside of the post before Horsham scrambled the ball clear.

Horsham did not threaten the home goal until the 50th minute when keeper Will Warne had to punch away John Kirby's back header.

After the triple dismissal Lewes settled better with Andy Johnson's free kick hitting the crossbar.

Twin brother Chris Johnson then hit a shot which keeper Lee Preston gathered at the second attempt and Preston saved again from Chris Johnson in the closing stages as Horsham held on.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.