Burgess Hill manager Danny Bloor was just pleased to still be in the cup after seeing his side struggle in a fourth round stalemate at Rye & Iden United.

The tie will be replayed on Tuesday week after the County League division two outfit held the current champions to a goalless draw after extra time.

The Hilliansfound the going tough in the boggy conditions and failed to create any clear-cut scoring chances.

The first division leaders dominated possession in the first half but the closest they came was a 19th minute free-kick by former Albion defender Ben Andrews which smacked against the crossbar.

After the break it was Rye who coped better on the heavy pitch and they looked more likely to book a place in the semi-finals.

They had a goal disallowed after 65 minutes when a corner from Paul Tuppenny was bundled into his own net by visiting keeper Ronan Callaghan under pressure from Shaun Loft.

But the assistant adjudged Tuppenny's kick had curled out of play before swinging back in and the goal was ruled out.

Bloor was relieved to have come away with the draw, but said the game should not have gone ahead.

"I thought the pitch was unplayable to be honest," he said. "I spoke to the referee at half-time and told him I really didn't think the game should have taken place.

"The ball wouldn't move because it was covered in mud, it just wasn't football. Nevertheless, we had a job to do and I am very pleased that they are coming back to our place.

"It was a very tricky game and more of a battle than a football match. I am just pleased to still be in the hat.

"It will be a very different game on a decent pitch at Leylands Park and one which we will be greatly looking forward to."

United player-manager Keith Miles was delighted with how his side performed and disagreed with Bloor about conditions.

"I have played on a lot worse pitches than this," he said. "You can't call a game off because it's too muddy.

"It would be nice to play on pitches like Wembley every week but this is county football and you have to put up with things like that.

"It was just a case of knuckling down and getting on with it and I thought we did that really well and did ourselves proud."

Despite finishing top of Division Two last season, United were denied promotion because they failed to install floodlights at The Salts before the County League's May 31 deadline.

The lights are now in place and United, currently third with games in hand over leaders Eastbourne Town, are again pushing for promotion.

Miles thinks this result proves his side are good enough for Division One and says it will give them confidence for the replay.

He said: "They are top of County One but I didn't think the two sides looked a division apart. We more than matched them for a whole game and extra time and I think it shows that we are good enough to be a Division One side already.

"They are a very good side but I definitely thought we edged it overall. We made enough chances to win the game and had a goal disallowed, so I can't see any reason why we can't go back to their place and get a result."

The home side had several second-half chances to win the game, but it was the disallowed goal from Tuppenny's corner which United felt should have settled the tie.

Tuppenny was adamant the ball did not go out of play. "To me it was a definite goal," he said. "I didn't put any bend on it, I just drilled it and it went straight at the keeper who put it in, so I can't see why it was not given.

"The ball was covered in mud so it would have been very difficult to curl. I had to drill it, that's all I could do.

"I suppose you just have to accept these things and get on with it. It will just make us more determined to go and do our best in the replay."

Rye: Rudgley, Henderson, Willard, Rhodes, Godden, Smith, Tuppenny (sub: Hall 105 (sub: Miles 117)), Price, Loft, Winton (sub: O'Callaghan 95), Chamberlain. Subs not used: Gasson.

Burgess Hill: Callaghan, Edwards, Guile, Head, Andrews, Day, Harper, Carter, Geard (sub: Williams 79), Carr, Lutwyche. Subs not used: Killpartrick, Sullivan, Johnson, Saleman.

Referee: Grant Smith