Nine-man Rye and Iden United almost had a fairytale ending to their incredible run in the Sussex Senior Cup after taking Crawley into extra time in the semi-final at Lewes last night.

The county division two minnows had Steve Smith and Shaun Loft sent off in normal time, but still managed to take the Dr Martens giants all the way.

Crawley missed a hatful of chances and had to wait until the 113th minute for the breakthrough, when Danny Hockton headed in from close range.

A 25-yard volley from Ernie Cooksey two minutes later doubled the lead and a header from Stuart Holmes wrapped it up.

It was a disappointing finale for Rye boss Keith Miles.

He said: "People will see they scored three goals and think they cruised it but it was not like that.

"We almost held on and for certain parts of the game we were on top.

"When we went down to nine men it was just a case of trying to play for penalties and in the end I have no complaints."

His Crawley counterpart Francis Vines admitted: "We made extremely hard work of it and we must have missed about 20 chances. It was getting ridiculous in the end.

"The result was the main thing but we can't play like that and hope to get away with it."

Crawley, who were without captain Peter Fear as well as injured pair Mo Harkin and top-scorer Nick McDonnell, suffered another injury setback after just three minutes.

Warren Bagnall hurt his back after colliding with Rye keeper Simon Rugeley and, with no proven striker on the bench apart from Vines, defender Ellis Hooper deputised up front.

Despite a depleted team, Crawley predictably dominated the first half but found a resilient Rye hard to break down.

Reds' biggest threat came from the left foot of Neil Le Bihan, who carved out Crawley's two best chances in the first period.

The first came on ten minutes when the former Peterborough midfielder swung in a free kick which was headed against an upright by Cooksey.

The same pair then linked up again 13 minutes later but this time Cooksey's header bounced off the crossbar.

Rye enjoyed a brief flurry just before half-time, with five consecutive corners and looked bright after the restart.

It was Crawley though who squandered the better chances in normal time.

Hockton, who moments earlier had sliced horribly wide, was guilty of missing the best opportunity after 70 minutes when he headed Nigel Brake's cross wide just five yards from goal.

Rye midfielder Smith, who had ridden his luck for most of the game since receiving an early booking, was given his marching orders on 83 minutes after a foul on Brake.

Rye were reduced to nine men in the last minute of normal time when Loft was shown a straight red for an elbow on Ian Payne.

Crawley finally broke the deadlock when Hockton headed home from close range.

They doubled their lead just two minutes later when Cooksey fired over Rudgley from long-range. Holmes wrapped it up from inside the six yard box.

Crawley will play either Eastbourne Borough or Pagham in the final.

Rye: Rudgley; C. Willard, S Willard, Henderson, Godden, Smith, O'Callaghan, Tuppenney, Miles (sub Winton 95), Loft, Chamberlain (sub Rhodes 95). Unused subs: Hall, Hodges.

Crawley: Little; Holmes, Payne, Judge, Pullan, Hooper (sub Vines 105), Le Bihan (sub Timlin 105), Cooksey, Bagnall (sub Hemsley 10), Hockton, Brake. Unused subs: Matton, Wackett.

Referee: Colin Rolfe (Eastbourne).