Nobody was expecting a miracle with the arrival of Liam Joyce in the dugout having had just a single training session with the players and with this being a cup game and no points at stake it was something of a free hit. Not making the most of chances that came our way – not unlike our earlier visit here – saw us go behind to a to easy header and when looking to go in at half time just a goal down, Peacehaven scored a freak deflection goal. The hosts added two more goals after the break as they saw the tie out without too much trouble.

Not only was this a debut for our new First Team Manager Liam, there were debuts for Richard Bull and Lewis Lembisika. First opening came for us in the opening minute when Lewis Lembisika broke free on the left wing to deliver a cross into the box that Peacehaven cleared. A couple of minutes later Peacehaven were probing down the right but could only muster a soft shot. They soon had the ball won in midfield and played it long into our box but Noah Agbinone was able to shield it behind for a goal kick. Skipper David Heaton set Lembisika clear on the left once again but nobody could get on the end of his cross on 7mins. Quick to get on the attack Peacehaven had a shot that hit the bar with Stephen Hodge there to put the loose ball behind for a corner that came to nothing. A failure to put a boot through the ball on the left of our box let Peacehaven have space to cross and then shoot over the bar. On 18mins a free kick from just outside our box on the right was delivered into the centre of the box and without a challenge it was slotted home to give the home side the lead.

With twenty minutes played, Jack Webb-Olley was able to comfortably catch a shot at him. Richard Bull had a chase to a ball with their keeper shortly after but came second. A good opening came on 24mins from a Jason Stripp free kick from the right that found Matt Cheeseman in the box but his header went wide of the left post. Chance number two came from Stripp again as he set Gus Ward clear in the centre but his shot flew over the bar. As the half hour approached Peacehaven were on a promising attack down the left only to be stopped by an excellent last tackle by Conor Wilford. On 38mins a free kick from Stripp on the left of their box dropped into the keeper's arms without anyone challenging. Inside the last five minutes and with Peacehaven attacking the box on the right Webb-Olley saved their shot. The ball was back to them and hit high into the air where the wind made it difficult for Webb-Olley to gather it. In a discussion with the referee Agbinone said the wrong thing and was sent to the bench for ten minutes. Bull did well to gather a ball on the right with time nearly up, holding off a strong challenge to win a throw deep in their half that nothing came of. And that was about it except for Peacehaven having possession of the left of the box into added time. They were being held but then a shot at goal – or cross - hit Wilford in the face and looped up into the air, over Webb-Olley's despairing hand and dropped inside the right post for a second goal.

A freak second was harsh after a fairly even first half. Kicking off for the second half our skipper Heaton had taken a knock about thirty minutes in and was replaced by Jack Tickle making his debut. Not really getting going after the break, losing the ball on the left allowed Peacehaven to cross into the box and let us off by heading wide. Bouncing back, a high ball towards the Peacehaven box was taking down nicely by Ward, shielded from challenges and then laid into the path of Lembisika. He drove into the box but was tackled before he could get a shot off. A minute later it was our box being threatened but good covering forced them to deliver a soft shot for Webb-Olley to take. On 54mins Webb-Olley had more of a challenge as he was off his line to clear a long ball into touch. At this point it was time to give a debut to Tristan Lock as he replaced Lembisika.

On 57mins Webb-Olley was in action again as the ball pinged around the box but the clearance went out to a Peacehaven player whose shot was straight at Webb-Olley but moving on the wind so it was a good take. Just approaching the hour mark and Malakhi Toppin-Gunter stepped up from the U23s to replace Bull. He was soon into the action as Lock played a ball through for Toppin-Gunter to chase but their keeper was quick out to gather. On 63mins one of our best came playing out from the back and down the right as Stripp found Wilford to send Hodge down the wing. He pushed the ball down to Cheeseman and his run into the box earnt a corner that we then wasted really. Toppin-Gunter was given a ball to chase but Peacehaven defended their box well. On 72mins Andrew Harris came on for Cheeseman.

Toppin-Gunter was busy and in the box onto a loose ball only to have the referee do Peacehaven a favour with a free kick. Stripp put a lovely ball down the left for Ward to latch onto and hold off the attention of two defenders but he could not keep his cross in play. Our efforts at keeping the game close were undone by allowing Peacehaven the freedom to play and notch a third goal. The next five minutes or so was all Peacehaven as the third goal deflated us but Webb-Olley made three straightforward saves and then saw a cross bounce off the cross bar. With a couple of minutes to go the normally reliable Stripp delivered a free kick straight to the keeper. Into the last minute of normal time and Peacehaven were given time and space for a shot from distance that gave Webb-Olley no chance. A final chance to get on the score sheet came as Stripp gave Toppin-Gunter an opening in the box but Peacehaven kept a clean sheet and moved on into the next round.

Probably on the whole a better performance than our 5-1 league defeat although that game started with us making three or four good chances to have taken the lead. However, this was more about building for our next two games at Little Common on Friday evening and then a home game against currently pointless Wick although that fixture clashes with Steyning being at home in the FA Cup.