County League Littlehampton are in the FA Cup record books after losing the longest penalty shoot-out in the competition's 133-year history.

The Marigolds lost 16-15 to Kent League Tunbridge Wells in Wednesday's extra preliminary round replay on a night when a remarkable 42 penalties were taken.

According to the FA's historian David Barber, the previous record was set in 2001 when Macclesfield beat Forest Green Rovers 11-10 after a 1-1 draw.

Barber said: "This game has beaten that by miles although I have heard of longer penalty shootouts in other competitions."

Littlehampton had two penalties in normal time. Peter Brackley equalised after 68 minutes but Gary Young missed from the spot.

Alaska Kamerra then made it 2-1 to the visitors after 94 minutes.

The game went to penalties when Wells scored a controversial extra-time equaliser just after their joint managers Kevin Metcalfe and Martin Telford were both sent off for foul and abusive language to the officials.

Brackley and Billy Rayner missed penalties which would have won the shoot-out for the visitors before Wells' goalkeeper John Whitehouse saved Grant Vanson's effort with his outstretched foot and Simon Joynes was successful with the 40th kick.

The match finished just before 11pm.

Littlehampton manager Carl Stabler said: "It was an amazing night and great for the people who turned up, but we should have won it long before the penalties.

"We had enough opportunities in the first game on Sunday and on Wednesday I reckon we had ten good chances to win it from open play."

Stabler was furious about their opponents' second goal in extra time.

"Our goalkeeper Wes Hallett got done under the six-second rule but it was an absolute joke. We didn't time-waste all night. I feel we were cheated out of it to be honest, the officials were not very good."

Every Littlehampton player except Hallett and Russell Kirby took two penalties in the shoot-out.

Young and Brackley both had three penalties each on the night and were successful with two.

Tunbridge Wells chairman Norman Sales said: "It was a crazy night. It got very exciting but I didn't think either side played well enough to win.

"We went 2-0 up in the penalties and we all thought it would be over quickly. But then everyone started scoring and it looked like we were going to be there all night!"

The record for penalty shoot-out involving Sussex clubs was set in 2003 when Hailsham beat Wealden 23-22 in an RUR Cup tie after a goallless draw.