Three Bridges manager Sammy Donnelly believes his side will have to get used to playing cup matches if they are to win the County League title.

Bridges have been widely tipped as favourites for the championship this season and will be able to focus their full attention on winning it after going out of the FA Cup to Dr Martens League eastern division side Fleet Town.

The game looked to be heading for a replay before Shaun Hale hit a cruel injury time goal to win the first qualifying round tie and £2,250 prize money for the Jubilee Field visitors.

Donnelly had no arguments with the defeat, despite seeing his side dominate much of the game.

The experienced boss now wants his players to bounce back and continue their good start to the season, which has seen them drop just four points so far, although he admits it will not be easy.

Donnelly does not like his side being tagged as title favourites and believes it makes other teams raise their games when they come up against them making every match like a cup tie.

He said: "Most people have tipped us to win it, so it seems like we are going to have loads of cup final type matches this season. We can't do anything about that and if we want to do well then we are going to have to get used to it.

"I am only concentrating on the next game which is against Hassocks and we will be looking to bounce back, but we know they are going to be really up for it."

Bridges certainly looked title contenders as they out-played a Fleet side, who have lost all of their league games so far this season.

The visitors were restricted to one clear chance in the first half and they took it. A long ball into the Bridges box on 40 minutes was toe-poked on by Steve Black and striker Mark Frampton was given two chances to control the ball on the six-yard box before stroking it past Alan Mansfield.

It only took 12 minutes of the second half for the home side to get back on level terms when Andy Alexander headed home a corner by Justin Simmons.

It was no more than Three Bridges deserved and they could easily have snatched the win, before Fleet did in the dying seconds.

Home keeper Mansfield made a superb double save from point-blank efforts by Craig Anstey and Frampton, but the ball only fell for Hale who made no mistake from close range.

Donnelly believes the game came too soon for his side.

He said: "A draw would have been the fair result, but if you want me to put my hand on heart, I didn't fancy another replay. If there is any gripe about the FA Cup is that it comes too early for the non-league clubs in my opinion."

Ringmer crashed out after a 4-3 defeat at Abingdon Town. Dominic Shepherd, Baz Allen and Andy Johnson netted for Ringmer.

Peacehaven lost 3-0 at Dartford yesterday.

Three Bridges: Mansfield, Simmons (Edwards 72), Turner, Webber, Langridge, Alexander, Butcher, Smith, Hackett (Green 54), Milford, Funnell (Dunning 72). Subs not used: Mortimer, Ahearne.

Fleet: May, Buckland, Millerick, Murphy, Bakely, Jeffery, Black, Anstey, Parker (Smith 85), Frampton, Hale. Subs not used: Proctor, Hare, Martin.

Referee: G. Hoare (Kent).

Attendance: 129.

Man-of-the-match: Simon Funnell (Three Bridges).