Horsham boss John Maggs hailed last night's Sussex Senior Cup shock as one of the best results of his long managerial career.

Maggs's Ryman division one side beat Conference neighbours Crawley at the Gladwish Stadium, Worthing, to secure a place in the May Bank Holiday final.

Former Worthing player Tom Graves got the all-important goal in the first half.

Hornets, who last won the trophy 30 years ago, also knocked out Albion Reserves earlier in the competition.

Maggs, who spent 37 years at Crawley as a player, manager and chief executive, said: "Because of the circumstances with my involvement with Crawley, this has to go down as one of the top results I have ever had.

"I know they have got their problems but nothing should be taken away from us.

"For a side three divisions below to beat a full-time outfit is an absolutely fantastic achievement.

"It will give everyone at the club something to look forward to and we fully deserve it."

Defeat was the third time this season Crawley had gone out of a Cup competition to lower opposition.

They suffered humiliating exits against Braintree in the FA Cup and Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy.

Manager John Hollins said: "We had the chances to win it, but didn't take them, it was as simple as that. I was not too unhappy with the way we played but our finishing was very poor.

"All credit goes to Horsham and I wish them luck in the final."

Crawley started with a weakened side as Hollins took no risks ahead of Saturday's important relegation clash with Forest Green.

He handed debuts to all three of the teenagers signed on work experience from Millwall last week.

Michael Bostwick and Dean Pooley played at the back and generally looked solid, while the lively Jack McLeod was a pacey threat on the right flank.

However, Reds' inexperienced defence was arguably at fault when Horsham took a surprise lead with their first attack on 24 minutes.

Graves was left unmarked at a John Westcott corner and slotted a side-foot volley past keeper Rikki Banks from close range.

Banks, on work experience from Crystal Palace, had only been on the pitch for five minutes after he had replaced Phil Smith, who limped off with a leg injury.

The goal was hard to take for Crawley after they had dominated the opening period and missed a sitter just two minutes before.

Omari Coleman somehow scuffed wide from five yards after Hornets' keeper Rob Frankland parried a shot from Danny Ekoku into his path.

The Conference club twice went close again early in the second half.

Neil Jenkins had a header saved at point-blank by Frankland, then Dave Woozley failed to get enough power on a shot, making it easy for the Horsham custodian to catch.

Maggs' battlers almost punished Reds again on 67 minutes when Westcott floated a deep free kick into the box.

Banks came and missed the ball completely and, to his relief, saw it flash just past an upright.

Crawley played with three men up front for the last ten minutes after Chris Giles replaced Sacha Opinel.

But, apart from another bad miss from Coleman, the expected late surge of pressure never materialised and Horsham held on relatively comfortably for a memorable win.

Horsham: Frankland; Graves, Brake, French, Howard, Hawthorne (Payne 46), Carney, Westcott, Taylor, Rook, Charman (Geard 39). Subs not used: Hudak, Mateos, Elliott.

Crawley: Smith (Banks 19); Bostwick, Pooley, McLeod, Jenkins, Mendy, Opinel (Giles 81), Woozley, Clay, Coleman, Ekoku (Burton 66). Subs not used: Blackburn, Brown.

Man-of-the-match: Westcott (Horsham)