Goalkeeper Ian Chatfield turned goalscorer last night to clinch dramatic cup victory against his old club at windswept Culver Road.

Chatfield converted Horsham's fifth penalty to complete a Sussex Floodlight Cup win the Ryman League side deserved but thought was slipping away from them.

Having dominated normal time, they were stunned by a superb 100th minute finish from Ben Abbey with Crawley's only on-target effort in two hours of action.

The ex-Crawley connection then took over, with Steve Payne sliding in the 108th minute leveller which helped Hornets boss John Maggs, 34 years a Red Devil, celebrate a notable victory.

Maggs said: "We did it in style. We won the game on penalties but I thought we were by far the better side throughout.

"I am so pleased for the lads because they have had a good season and they did deserve something from it."

Victory will help atone for Horsham's near miss in the division two title race and have been especially satisfying against their neighbours, who fielded a strong side.

The bitterly cold south westerly made life tough for players and spectators alike and Reds had it in their faces for the first 45 minutes.

Their only scares were a Stuart Hardy swirler which Andy Little tipped over and a Dave Flemming finish ruled out for offside.

Warren Waugh poked a shot wide for Crawley on the hour but the onslaught never came. Instead, with Lee Carney and Luke Gelding busy in midfield and Hardy getting forward down the left, Horsham looked the better side.

Carney had a curling free-kick tipped over, Flemming forced two super saves from Little and, in the final seconds, Gary Charman's header from a superb Hardy cross hit the bar.

Crawley took advantage of that let-off thanks to Abbey's explosive right foot strike after good work from Danny Carroll, who almost doubled the lead a minute later.

Then the luck which saw them through both the semi-final against Horsham YMCA and 90 minutes last night deserted them as referee Steve Tomlin spotted a push in the six yard box.

Crawley assistant boss Brian Owen admitted he was mystified by the decision and Reds were further bemused when Little saved Hardy's spot kick, only for Payne to pounce on the rebound.

Owen also felt conditions made the contest a lottery and Horsham certainly had the winning combination in the shoot out.

Crawley's Steve Sargeant dragged the first shot wide and Hardy was next up.

He again went right and watched in relief as Little this time guessed incorrectly.

The next seven spot kicks were high class, so it was all eyes on the centre circle to see who would march up to win it for Horsham.

No-one budged. Instead Chatfield stepped out of goal and beat his opposite number to spark the celebrations.

Maggs said: "He's never let me down. He didn't make a save all night but he put his penalty away well."

Horsham: Chatfield, Kirby, Hardy, French, Barnes, Carney, Gedling, S. Payne, Taylor (sub Jones 100), Flemming, Charman. Unused subs: Dennis, Mackay, Bird, O'Donnell.

Crawley: Little, Ottley, I. Payne, Holmes, Pullan, Sharman, Carroll (sub Vines 117), Harlow (sub Hodge 90), Abbey, Waugh (sub Sargeant 78), Doherty. Unused subs: Collins, Westgate. Yellow card: Waugh.

Shoot out scorers: Hardy, Carney, Gedling, Flemming, Chatfield (Horsham), I. Payne, Holmes, Ottley, Abbey (Crawley).

Referee: Steve Tomlin (Lewes).

Man-of-the-match: Stuart Hardy (Horsham).