Hassocks slipped to a 1-0 defeat against a streetwise Ryman League Dulwich Hamlet.

The County League's last remaining team in the FA Cup worked hard but Dulwich's passage into the third qualifying round was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

The visitors missed a handful of clear-cut chances while their hosts failed to muster either a shot or header on target.

The London side were bigger and stronger with beanpole frontman Wayne Cort, the brother of Wolves frontman Carl, an excellent focal point for their attacks while the pacey Phil Williams also carried a threat.

Hassocks worked tirelessly but it left them little in reserve to go on the attack against the physical and well-organised visitors.

Hassocks boss Dave John said: "As much as we huffed and puffed we were not used to their type of football.

"In the first half there were two or three times when we should have got at them but we would get into good positions and wonder what to do next instead of going on.

"You need to play against sides like that every week to be able to deal with their brand of football. They are so dogged and big right across the pitch.

"I think they must reject players if they are small.

"They deserved to win the game but I don't think there was much in it in footballing terms."

The only goal of the game came on 12 minutes when Cort drew defenders to him likes moths to a flame but had the strength to keep possession before picking out an unmarked Charlie Side, who clipped the ball past the advancing Joel Harding.

Joel Harding superbly pushed away a Williams effort as the break approached before Jamie Coyle fired over a volley from the resultant corner from ten yards while there were further chances for Kenny Beaney and Cort in the second half to make the scoreline more comfortable.

It was a trip down memory lane for Hassocks' 81-year-old president Maurice Boxall, who wore Dulwich's pink and navy strip in the 1950s.

He said: "They were just too powerful for us. They were a very strong side and they marked our best players out of the game."

Hassocks: J. Harding, Turner, Thompson, Hewitt (C), Faith, Marsh, M. Simpson, Brown, Hibbert (Robbins 74), Laing, P. Harding. Unused subs: K, Leahy, Dawson, Harvey, A. Simpson.

Dulwich Hamlet: Seuke, de Souza, Wood, O'Brien (C), Coyle, Dayes (Turley 57), Dundas, Side (Hakki 74), Cort, Beaney, Williams. Unused subs: Ward, Brady, Scott.

Attendance: 320.