A bumper crowd watched Lewes under-18s produce an impressive display as they went down 2-1 to Premier League Hull City in the third round the FA Youth Cup.

The gate at the Dripping Pan was recorded as 529, which was 43 more than watched the first team against Stevenage on Saturday.

However, with 300 free tickets handed out to local schools the real figure was probably nearer 650.

Lewes, only the second Sussex non-league side in history to reach this stage of the competition, pushed Hull all the way with a performance which did the club proud.

Coach Jason Hopkinson said: "We started off a little cold and played with a bit of fear for the first 20 minutes. We got them in at half-time and said we had lost the first half but let's just go out and play with no regrets.

"We changed the shape a bit, we got at them, rattled them a bit and had four or five chances.

"A few of them are in tears but they did themselves proud and I'm chuffed to bits with them. I could not have asked for any more."

A plethora of scouts were among the crowd, including representatives of Arsenal, Charlton, Fulham and Watford. Their interest was primarily in David Wheeler although others like Tim Rivers, Fred Foreman and Grant Hall will have caught the eye.

There was a sense of anticipation, particularly after Lewes started quite brightly, but the fans were silenced when Hull went ahead with a flukey goal in the seventh minute.

Darragh Satelle sent over what looked like a cross from the right of the penalty area which dropped over the head of goalkeeper Jake Buss and nestled in the far corner.

Lewes responded positively, playing some neat passing football and creating a couple of chances through Rivers.

The big centre forward tried an ambitious shot from 35 yards on 13 minutes which was not too far off, then Charles Essam helped the ball on for Rivers who muscled past two defenders before rifling his shot wide of the near post.

Hull were certainly on the backfoot and it was harsh on Lewes when they scored a second goal two minutes before half-time.

Striker Mark Cullen latched on to a raking pass from the back which caught the Lewes defence napping and nicked the ball past Buss as he came out.

The impressive Wheeler started the second half with a couple of mazy runs and Hull left-back Dean Deagle was booked for a crude challenge on the Lewes midfielder.

As the game wore on Lewes understandably tired against their full-time opponents, who had travelled down the day before the game, but the young Rooks never stopped battling and got back into the game five minutes from time when Rivers turned the ball inside for substitute Aaron Hopkinson who steadied himself before firing into the bottom corner.

In a storming finish Lewes forced two corners, the second of which Jay Tidey rifled wide with goalkeeper Ben Hallam rooted to the spot.

Lewes: Buss, Hall, Whitehead, A.Essam (sub Hopkinson 81), Timms, Tidey, Wheeler, C.Essam (sub Sutton 57), Rivers, Foreman, Storrie. Subs not used: Scott, Davies, Crellin.

Hull City: Hallam, Fox (sub Emerton 84), Deagle, Holohan, Wilkinson, Bradley, Satelle, Leonard, Cullen (sub Raymond 79), Ekra, Cairney. Subs not used: Ranson, Overment, Wright.

Referee: Mr M.Foley (London).