Burgess Hill can make history by becoming the first Sussex club to win the FA Vase.

That is the view of Hillians boss Gary Croydon and Gary Penhaligon, Porthleven's former Bognor, Worthing and Horsham goalkeeper who spent much of the second half waging a one-man war against the impressive home side.

This eye-catching result and Lewes' dismissal of Tow Law Town, a double whammy which suggests Sussex is no longer the traditional soft touch in national competitions, will have sent ripples throughout the non-League scene.

Delighted Croydon, whose scouting mission to Cornwall last Sunday paid off in style, said: "We've got as good a chance as anybody of winning it. We've scored 17 goals in the competition and conceded two, so I don't think many teams are going to want to play us."

Penhaligon is in no doubt the runaway County League leaders have what it takes to lift the trophy. He said: "They can go all the way. You need a bit of luck but with that luck anyone left can win it because they're all good teams in the last eight.

"They got a couple of goals through deflections but they did create a few more chances than us. They kept their shape well, they're very solid at the back and the No.10 (Ashley Carr) held the ball up well, bringing everyone else into the game."

Porthleven boss Alan Carey added: "They're a good side going forward and a good side on their own pitch. It's a very tight pitch and they know how to play it very well. I should think if they get a home draw, they can at least get to the semi-finals.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and we weren't good enough on the day. I thought 4-0 flattered them a bit but I've no gripes about it."

Daren Newman's 19th-minute strike gave Hillians an interval lead and the Sussex side clinched the tie with two goals in five minutes around the hour.

The first of these was a stunning strike by exciting 19-year-old Steve Harper, who showed just why Millwall are interested in him with a classy finish from outside the box. Penhaligon stopped Harper adding another after a back-heel by Carr, but a Richard Carter shot from the resulting corner deflected off a defender and looped over the goalkeeper. Carter added a fourth after 83 minutes and Phil Churchill hit a post two minutes later.

What pleased Hillians' officials and management almost as much as the result was the crowd figure of 1,215, smashing the club's previous record of 849.

Burgess Hill: Gannon, Lutwyche, Guile, Brown, Newman, Downey, Harper, Carter, Churchill, Carr (sub: Callingham 85), Williams, Unused subs: Isaac, Head, Killpartrick, Waters. Booked: Williams (dissent, 42).

Porthleven: Penhaligon, Ainscough (sub: Latham), Strike, Triggs, Hillson, Swiggs (sub: Vercesi, 32), Larsen, Morrison-Hill, Harvey, Bleasdale, Medlyn (sub: Burrows, 61). Unused subs: Miller, Holsey. Booked: Triggs (unsporting behaviour, 50).

Men-of-the-match: Carr (Burgess Hill), Penhaligon (Porthleven).