Lewes defied the odds to clinch a place in the Sussex Senior Cup final after a 3-0 win over Crawley Town at Lancing last night.

Paul Arscott slotted home two penalties and Chris Dicker also netted as the Rooks outclassed their Dr Martens League Premier Division rivals.

The victory was clinched even though Lewes were missing six regulars from their starting line-up, including three midfielders out through suspension.

The situation was so desperate that former Saltdean manager Glenn Burvill was called in for a surprise debut.

Lewes boss Jimmy Quinn said: "At 6.45pm we didn't have a team. Mark McCallum was stuck in traffic and we were panicking over how we could get out a strong enough side just to compete with Crawley.

"It was a last minute decision to play Burvill. He wasn't even going to be a substitute but he did a fantastic job for the first 45 minutes."

It was the quality of Lewes's football as much as the result which surprised Crawley.

Quinn added: "They were very direct. When we got the ball down we opened them up time and time again.

"It is a great boost for the club. We have made a lot of progress this year but we have to cap it off with promotion. This is just a bonus."

Crawley threatened early on when Dave Powell's header forced a fabulous one-handed save from Florian Ludewig.

But Lewes looked the more lively in attack and they went ahead on 22 minutes when Paul Thomsett was bundled over by John Ugbah and Arscott slotted home the penalty.

The lead was doubled in similar circumstances three minutes before the interval.

Andy Riley, a surprise call up for Crawley, was caught in possession by Thomsett who ran clear only to be brought down as he tried to go round goalkeeper Andy Little.

Little escaped with a yellow card when it could have been red but further punishment was exacted when Arscott coolly converted from the penalty spot for a second time.

Victory was secured on 53 minutes when Crawley failed to clear a Ryan Hackett corner and Dicker turned well to fire home inside Little's right hand post. Crawley finished the game with ten men after substitute Francis Vines was sent off following an off the ball clash with Arscott.

Lewes, whose last Senior Cup final appearance was in 1988, will now meet the winners of tonight's other semi final between Bognor and Horsham YMCA.

Crawley: Little, Brake, Payne, Riley, Pullan, Ugbah (Wordsworth 52), Hawthorne, Anderson, Powell, Hynes (Vines 52), Huggins. Unused sub: Richardson.

Lewes: Ludewig, Hudson, Beeston, Burvill (McCallum 46), Hack, Cable, Dicker, Arscott (Jarvie 90), Bagnall (Francis 90), Thomsett, Hackett.

Referee: Andrew Wooldridge.

Bookings: Anderson, Little, Powell, Wordsworth for Crawley. Burvill, Arscott for Lewes.

Sending Off: Vines .

Attendance: 406.