RUSTINGTON Football Club lost an entertaining Cup final 11 minutes from the end of extra-time on Thursday evening at Shoreham.
Richie Watton hit home an unstoppable 20-yarder into the top corner, after Blues had fought back from 3-1 down with just three minutes of normal time left.
On 87 minutes, Sean Duffy clipped the ball past Peacehaven keeper Owen Fisher, then Adam Bi
bb drew Blues level from the penalty spot on 89 minutes after a foul on Joe-Lewis Cumber.
Rustington started extra-time on top, and Cumber and Andy Boxall were both denied by Fisher, before Watton fired home the clincher.
Brian O'Toole had headed Peacehaven into a 34th-minute lead, but Lee Gibbs coolly equalised eight minutes into the second half.
Craig Bunch nodded home to put Peacehaven back ahead five minutes later, then Wes Mills made it 3-1 on 64 minutes.
Then came the late drama, and although Peacehaven denied Rustington their first senior silverware, it has been still been an outstanding season for Blues in their first campaign in Division 2.
Rustington boss Gareth Davies said: "The boys have just got so much heart. We gave it all we had, and that's all I had asked of them.
"In our first season in senior football, we've finished in the top three, and got to a Cup final, which isn't bad at all."
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