Worthing skipper Mark Burt has admitted the referee was right to send him off in the Senior Cup defeat by Lewes.

Burt was dismissed on 70 minutes after catching Justin Harris late for the second time in the tie.

That left Rebels to battle on with nine men, though it took a late penalty to send them towards an eighth successive defeat.

Burt, who is being pursued by Burgess Hill said: "It was fair enough, they were two late ones. I had started walking off before the ref even got his red card out.

"I was impressed with Lewes, particularly Justin Harris. I thought he ran the game."

Rebels boss Barry Lloyd at least appreciated his skipper's honesty. He said: "There wasn't a great deal of intelligence on the pitch, simple as that.

"When you've been booked once you know what the score is and it cost us the game.

"Mark said in the dressing room 'I've just cost you the game' and he apologised.

"That's good, it's a stepping stone. It's good he's big enough to admit it but we go out of the competition. I thought the remaining players grafted so well but they had no alternative really."

Lloyd gave Hillians boss Gary Croydon the all clear to talk to Burt without having to make a seven-day approach.

It would be an intriguing move for the midfielder, who recently passed 300 appearances for Rebels but also has a wealth of County League experience.

Betting men on the Woodside Road terraces would probably rather wager on Burt re-joining with his old boss Sammy Donnelly at Southwick if he goes anywhere.

It is not all bad news in the Burt household. The Worthing skipper and his wife Emma are celebrating the arrival of a daughter, Claudia-Rose.

A huge silver lining at the end of a tough week.