SUSSEX'S cup final hopes are still flickering thanks to a dramatic injury-time strike by Phil Churchill, at Totton last night.

The Horsham YMCA striker, on his first start for the County, followed up for a close-range poacher's strike when Craig Willard's shot bobbled through a crowded goalmouth.

The goal came in the third of four minutes of added time and gave Sussex a point they did not really deserve.

They will now reach the final of the South West County Championship if the Army fail to beat Dorset in their final game.

Sussex boss Nick Greenwood admitted his side got out of jail but added: "Give the players credit because they kept going.

"I thought Hampshire were as good a side as we played and our own performance was very patchy.

"We tried hard, but I'd more or less given up on getting a result."

Sussex had the perfect start of a sixth minute goal when Andy Aguttar turned in Darren Pearce's through ball.

But George Kerr's driven equaliser two minutes later steadied Hampshire and Danny Gibbens's header almost put them ahead when it flicked off the top of the crossbar.

Sussex defenders Reece Head and Duncan Kneller also came to the rescue with crucial blocks in front of goal.

Paul Balch had a strike disallowed after the break as he followed up when Adam Gage someoow parried a fierce Willard volley.

But the hosts, strong, skilful and highly competitive, regained the upper hand and seemed to have settled the contest when big Stuart Anderson turned home a corner on 70 minutes.

Hampshire: Gage; Barfoot, Hussey (sub O'Leary 79), Anderson, Scullard (sub Hodder 70), Reacord, Kerr, New, Holland (sub Anjorin 64), Rowley, Gibbens. Unused subs: King, Kydd.

Sussex: Lightwood; Baker, Dicker, Pearce, Kneller, Head, Balch, Willard, Agutter, Churchill, Green (sub Shepherd 70). Unused subs: Dumbrill, Ducille, Embleton, Russell.

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