Sussex manager John Suter admitted his tactical switch at half-time helped contribute to the defeat against Cornwall which ended their interest in the Championship.

After seeing Sussex create the better chances in the first half, Suter opted to go to 3-5-2 for the second period in an attempt to further dominate the visitors who had shown little ambition.

However, the move backfired as Cornwall struck within a minute of the restart. Michael Roberts, looking suspiciously offside, watched a hopeful ball from the right find its way to him and a horribly exposed Lee Preston was given no chance by the striker's finish.

After goal, it was all Cornwall and they could have scored two or three more before victory was sealed with a sweetly struck 68th-minute strike by Paul Baker.

Suter, who knew only a win would do for Sussex at Culver Road, Lancing, said: "I made a mistake by changing the formation.

"They were prepared to sit deep and I wanted us to get at them more but that led to their goal which was the catalyst to them going on and playing a lot better than us.

"They played with the kind of urgency I was trying to generate from my side. In the second half they out-talked us, out-fought us and out-played us."

Jamie Taylor was Sussex's most impressive player in the first half and almost gave the hosts the lead on 33 minutes with a beautiful strike which dipped over stranded Cornish keeper Dennis Annear, only to cannon off the crossbar.

Cornwall, who have never won the championship, can now pip The Army at the head of the group if they beat Dorset.

Sussex: Preston, Duffield, Tucker, Hack, Langridge (D. Smith 75), Clayton, Wright (P. Harding 65), Gellatly, S. Rowland, Taylor, McLaughlin (Turner 45). Subs: J. Smith, Tidy.

Attendance: 182.