Worthing manager Alan Pook has taken a swipe at the standard of Isthmian division one, calling it no better than the County League, after seeing his side beat Horsham last night.

The Rebels, who are 15th in the Isthmian premier, progressed into the Sussex Senior Cup quarter finals thanks to two goals in the first five minutes by Nko Ekoku and Ronnie Green and a Sam Francis strike early in the second half.

The result ends a run of four games without a win for Worthing and a four- match unbeaten run for a Hornets side second in division one.

Pook said: "We did not get out of second gear and it showed how much of a gulf there is between our division and Horsham's.

"Their's is County League standard and they would have to change a lot of players if they went up because the premier division is a strong as any other in non-league football.

"I expected this win because we are beginning to get players back from injury and now I am hoping we can put a run together in the league."

Horsham boss John Maggs disagreed with Pook. He insisted there was little between the sides and blamed the defeat on the Hornets' poor defending.

He said: "I don't think Worthing were much better than us, we just gave them three goals. I can't honestly say they earned a single one. The first five minutes were comical from our point of view. Our defending was a joke and you would not have even seen it in Sunday football.

"It knocked the stuffing out of us and we never recovered. We just have to make sure we don't defend like it again."

It was a mistake from former Rebels goalkeeper Luke Burton which handed Worthing the lead after just four minutes.

The Hornets custodian badly miscued a clearance straight to Francis, making his first start since November, and he squared for strike partner Ekoku to slot into an empty net.

Burton should have also done better with the home side's second goal a minute later. Lively right-winger Green was allowed to run with the ball 40 yards unchallenged before jinking past Eddie French and planting a shot from a tight angle inside Burton's near post.

Worthing could have gone into the break further ahead as Horsham's defence, which included new signing from Maidenhead Richard Harris at centre back, continued to look shaky.

Francis only had to prod home from close range on 26 minutes after an Ekoku cross fell kindly to his feet but he slipped and failed to get a connection.

Green was then released again on the right but this time leftback Simon Berry got a block on the shot.

The Hornets were killed off early in the second half after they were guilty of more comedy defending.

They had been let off the hook seven minutes after half- time when a slip by French allowed Ekoku to go one-on-one with Burton only for the big striker to miss the target.

But they were not so lucky a minute later when French and Harris tangled with each other as they went for the same ball and Francis stole in to round Burton and score.