Burgess Hill were dumped out of the Trophy after a late goal blitz at Thurrock.
A fine goal by Ben Fillery meant Hillians were drawing 1-1 against a Thurrock side reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Tresor Kandol for foul and abusive language but it all went wrong as they crashed to a 6-1 defeat.
Goals by Lee Hodges, Kris Lee, Jimmy McFarlane (2) and Cliff Akurang (2) did the damage.
Shell-shocked Hillians' coach Darin Kilpartrick said: "Football can be a very funny game. It was probably 60-40 to us in terms of possession and we played some great football.
"However, individual mistakes cost us. We are playing some young players and as long as they learn from those mistakes I can digest results like this.
"I was proud of the way the team played and their manager said we reminded them of Bognor Regis Town which is a compliment. However, it was still a 6-1 defeat and that's what people will read in the papers. I find it hard to take after seeing the game."
Thurrock manager Colin McBride said: "They are a good side with some good players but it was men against boys after the break."
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