Alan Pook is hoping sentiment does not get in the way of Worthing's bid for promotion to the premier division of the Ryman League.

Unlike a number of other managers who have criticised the Sussex Senior Cup this season, Pook is desperate to lift the one trophy in the county that has eluded him as a manager.

The Rebels kept those dreams alive by moving into the semi-finals thanks to a 1-0 win over Crawley Town at Woodside Road last night.

While Pook was delighted to get one over on the Dr Martens premier division leaders, he realises their achievements in the various cups this season could come back to haunt them.

Pook said: "Whichever competition we are in we want to win it and I am delighted to beat Crawley but it does mean another game at a crucial time of the season.

"We have only got one spare midweek from now until the end of the season and if we are not careful we could find ourselves playing three times a week.

"I can understand why some clubs have complained about the cup this season because with the restructuring of the leagues there is so much pressure on getting promotion. In previous years finishing in a comfortable league position and winning the cup would have been regarded as success but not this season.

"If we do not finish in the top six it will be a disaster as we have set our sights on being in the Ryman premier next season."

To emphasise the point Pook is poised to sign two new players before Saturday's match with Staines to strengthen his injury-ravaged squad, with a 6ft 5in striker and a central defender likely to put pen to paper later today.

Not that Worthing looked depleted last night against Crawley as they more than matched opposition who have their sights set on promotion to the Conference.

The visitors were given an early warning when Daryl Plummer hit a post after only three minutes.

Charlie MacDonald could have put Crawley ahead in the 22nd minute only for his shot to be blocked by Will Packham who got back to his feet quickly to save Robert Traynor's follow up.

That proved a costly miss as three minutes later Worthing were ahead. A slip by Sean Hankin left Mark Knee with time and space in the area to pick his spot inside Andy Little's far post.

The Rebels were unlucky not to double their lead before the break when Damion Dobbyn, making his first start since the second game of the season, saw his effort blocked on the line by Kevin Hemsley with Little nowhere and then Shaun Grice hit a 20-yard drive which smashed against a post and away to safety.

However, Worthing did not need the comfort of a two-goal cushion as a Crawley attack sorely missing the physical presence of Joff Vansittart rarely threatened their well-organised defence, with Peter Fear's shot which deflected wide being the nearest they came to an equaliser.

Pook said: "As a player I missed the 1974 final for Worthing against one of my former teams Lewes because of a knee injury. My son is also recovering from a knee injury at the moment so hopefully he will be back in time to play in the final if we get there.

"I am a great believer in fate though maybe it is Worthing's year."

Crawley can now turn their attention to their league campaign and MacDonald admitted going out of the cup might prove a blessing in disguise.

He said: "We want to win every game we play in but it is important we concentrate on the league."

In a fourth round clash, Oakwood shocked first division Arundel 6-1 with Gerald Manville scoring a hat-trick, taking him to 30 goals for the season.

James Grant (two) and Zak Newman also found the net with Barry Pidgeon replying.