The month of September might only be three days old but Whitehawk have already experienced FA Cup heartache this season.

Ian Chapman's side conceded a stoppage-time equaliser after leading Ryman League division two side Leatherhead 2-0 with 30 minutes left in the preliminary round of this famous competition.

Player-manager Chapman could not hide his frustration.

He said: "I thought the game was over when we were 2-0 up. It should have been really, but they got one and then got back in it. We should have killed the game off when we had a couple of chances at 2-0.

"But we are still in the cup and I am sure we'll be fired up for the replay. I am disappointed with the goals we let in. We felt we should have been bigger and stronger."

Whitehawk led from virtually the start to almost the finish. The Hawks opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Josh Christison crossed from the right and Jason Allen headed his third goal of the season past Stewart Vaughan.

The home side's lead rarely looked in danger until after the interval when the match exploded into life with referee Gavin Ward dishing out a series of bookings.

Leatherhead's Michael Webb was fortunate to stay on the pitch after two poorly-timed tackles but the home team were grateful he remained on as moments later he carelessly handled in his own box to gift Whitehawk a penalty in the 66th minute.

The spot-kick was converted by former Crystal Palace midfielder Ollie Rowland. Vaughan guessed the right way, diving low to his left, but he could not keep the ball out.

Seven minutes later Allen should have sealed the win as he raced through on goal. Vaughan rushed off his line to smother and the save proved to be the turning point of the match.

Leatherhead promptly reduced the arrears. Peter Maynard swung over a free-kick from the right and veteran centre forward Warren Burton steered the ball past Matt Ades.

Whitehawk sought to hang on to their slender advantage, relying on the pace of Rowland to hit the visitors on the break.

In one such move the Hawks' No. 10 illustrated his class. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Rowland spread it out wide to Gary Beal and dashed diagonally to the corner. He picked up the return pass, beat two defenders and laid the ball into the path of Warren Buss. Unfortunately, Buss's finish failed to match the quality of the approach play.

That was the home side's last sniff of goal as the visitors lay siege to Whithawk's box. The pressure told in injury- time when Burton set up substitute Alex Inglethorpe who netted a last-gasp leveller.

The tie will replayed tomorrow night and Chapman insisted his side can progress.

He said: "I expect Leatherhead will go away thinking they have done enough to go through now. We'll go there with no pressure and I am sure we can do it. We have more than matched them over 90 minutes and probably edged it slightly. There are a great bunch of lads here and we'll try to do the best we can."

Hassocks boss Dave John wanted to know if his side would get the headlines again this week after they attracted them for the wrong reasons in last Monday's Argus after a crushing 7-0 defeat against Whitehawk.

The County League's Rocking Robins bounced back to winning ways as they beat Ashford Town of the Dr Martens League eastern division 3-2 in the FA Cup with goals from Phil Eldret (2) and Ashley Low.

John said: "I had seven or eight first choice players out last week and that is the only reason we were beaten like that. We looked a much stronger unit with players back in the side against Ashford."

He added: "As we got all those headlines last week for our defeat, do we get them again this week as it's a good result as they are from the Dr Martens League?"

Horsham YMCA enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 victory over Walton Casuals to book a showdown with Thame at home this month. YM boss John Suter said:"It was a good all-round team performance."

Paul Boxall opened the scoring with a rare header while Taylor grabbed the second after a Stewart McCreadie effort rebounded off the woodwork. Andy Dhiman grabbed the third and Nathan Sleat added a fourth in injury time.

High-flyers Selsey were brought down to earth with a bump by Andy Taylor's Littlehampton as they picked up a 2-0 victory.

The Marigolds were in control from the seventh minute when a whipped in corner by Ryan Hudson went straight in and they double their tally soon after when the ball broke to Stuart Sell 25 yards out and his left-foot volley flew into a top corner.

Peacehaven manager Peter Edwards was pleased with the 1-0 victory at Hailsham, especially as his side kept a cleansheet.

Ian Gilmour got the only goal in the 52nd minute.

Peacehaven will now take a step up in class as they meet Carshalton Athletic in the next round.

Redhill have to go to Oxford City on Tuesday after being held to a 2-2 draw at Kiln Brow. Russell Mason's side almost snatched victory in the closing minutes as the visiting keeper pushed one goalbound effort away and the crossbar came to their rescue but goals from Allen and Germain Amanuel were only good enough to secure another crack at City tomorrow night.

Wick fought back from 2-0 down against Dr Martens eastern division outfit Bashley but manager Carl Stabler was disappointed.

Gareth Green got both Wick goals, scoring the first with a good strike from the edge of the area and then nodding in the equaliser.

Manager Gary Croydon's promise to give Tooting and Mitcham a good game came true as Burgess Hill held their Ryman League opposition to a 0-0 to bring them back to Leylands Park tomorrow night.

Roger Moore scored twice as Chichester won 3-1 at VDC Athletic yesterday. Southwick lost 3-0 at Cray Wanderers.

IN the County League, Sidley United centre-back Brad Poole was the hero for last season's champions as he scored twice in the first half to secure a 2-0 win at Sidlesham.