Whitehawk joint-manager George Parris is delighted to be in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase after a nervy 2-1 win over County League division two strugglers Littlehampton at East Brighton Park.

Wes Tate’s left-foot strike gave Hawks a first-half lead but they failed to capitalise on their domination and Joel Sayer’s penalty on 57 minutes gave the visitors hope of a shock before Jay Lovett headed home the winner.

Parris said: “We played quite well in the first half but we needed to score a couple more goals.

“There was no question about the penalty in the second half but their goal had been coming due to the way we had been playing.

“We got nervous but if we had scored the goals in the first half we could have then it would have been a lot easier. They players will learn from that.

“I don’t know what Jay was doing up there at the far post but I was glad he was there.

“All games are important to us but a run in the Vase can get good national headlines. I am just pleased to be in the next round.”

The Hawks will entertain fellow County League division one high-flyers Lingfield in the next round after they won 2-1 after extra time at Norton Sports with goals from Joel Greaves and Joel Hughes.

Chichester’s Ben Vassallo bagged a hat-trick to make it 13 goals for the season as they beat Colliers Wood 4-1 but boss Adie Girdler revealed the striker is still not firing on all cylinders.

Girdler said: “He’s been sensational but he’s only about 75% fit at the moment. He keeps suffering from a recurring thigh problem so he got his hat-trick on Saturday and then we took him off.

“Colliers Wood were not all that good but you can only beat what is in front of you.”

Peacehaven will go to County League division three Saltdean in the next round after going behind to a Scott McDonald penalty before beating Hailsham 2-1 at a windy Piddinghoe Avenue.

Substitute Andy Wilkinson won the penalty from which Callum Saunders levelled before Roy Pook came off the bench to get the winner.

Peacehaven boss Peter Edwards said: “It’s nice to play teams from out of the league in the Vase but you can’t help the draw and we have a nice local derby to look forward to.”

Hassocks finished the stronger against Sevenoaks and booked a trip to Molesey with extra-time goals by substitute James Laing and Dan Jacques.

Neil Kane equalised on the hour after the Kent side had taken a 38th-minute lead and Robins boss Dave John said: “It was a bit of struggle. They went 1-0 up but we battered them in the second half and should have won it before extra-time.

“They drew with Dulwich Hamlet the week before but were just not as fit as us.”

East Grinstead had a 1-0 win at Chessington and Hook courtesy of a Drew Crush goal following a Ben Burns cross.

Boss Steve Johnson said: “We played well and 1-0 flattered them. We never looked like we weren’t going to win.

“We said before the game that if we could keep a clean sheet we would win as we look like scoring at the moment.”

Crawley Down won 5-2 at Lordswood and Selsey sunk Southwick 3-1 in an all-Sussex clash. Ringmer beat Deal Town 2-0 with goals by Sam Sowter and Kevin Barden while Three Bridges dumped out Oakwood 4-1 after extra time in their local derby with Markel Greenidge, Andy Howard, Elliott Romain and George Hiller on target. Eastbourne United won 3-1 against Pagham in County League division one with Lucas Mann and Lee Walsh (two) the scorers.

Assistant manager Steve Latuske admitted: “It may sound silly but we were disappointed to only win 3-1 as it should have been five or six had we been clinical.

“Come the end of the season, the goal difference can make all the difference.”