Burgess Hill missed a chance to move within three games of a Wembley final as they were pipped 3-2 by the Metropolitan Police at Imber Court.

They watched the Police three times in the previous two weeks but all the homework failed to compensate for an off-day.

They were 2-0 down at the interval and Tony Holden missed two glorious chances inside the first five minutes of the second half for them.

Hillians manager Gary Croydon said: "I'm really disappointed, particularly for the players. They know they had a great chance to reach the last 16 and didn't take it. But that's football."

They fell behind on 12 minutes when Jason Prins backheaded in a long throw by Ian Batten and it was 2-0 on 31 minutes as Prins crossed for former Worthing and Bognor striker Lee Cormack to head home.

Hillians' Glenn Davies headed in a Paul Thomsett cross on 52 minutes. But Batten restored the Police's two-goal advantage in the 57th. Hillians battled back again when substitute Guy Hutchings drove through a crowd after Daren Newman struck a post after 74 minutes.

Burgess Hill: Waters, Atkins, Williams (sub: Lutwych 76), Cable, Newman, Davies, Pook (sub: Hutchings 67), Thomsett, Carr, Holden (sub: Gayler 85), Head.

Saltdean run halted

SALTDEAN United's Vase run came to an end as they went down 5-1 away to a strong Mossley side.

The North West Counties League outfit scored twice in three minutes through Matt Wolstenholme and Pedro Brennan to take control of the game.

Tony Flower reduced the deficit on 27 minutes after Kevin Townsend's free kick was not cleared, but Wolstenholme's dispossessed Reece Head to put Mossley 3-1 ahead at half time.

Lee Wilkinson added a fourth early in the second half and Brennan's second 20 minutes from time sealed victory.

Saltdean: Bryant, Stevens (sub: Southwell), Flower, Essam, Head, Holmes, Cooper, Randell (sub: Bagnall), Dobbyn, Allen, Townsend (sub: Longley). Subs not used: Hamilton, Grice.

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