Nine-man U’s nab extra-time win

A 119th minute winner from Danny Ellis gave United a slender victory over opposition which plays its football two levels further down the non-league pyramid and set up a Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final at home to Crawley Town, who edged out Newhaven 1-0 tonight.

Ryman League Premier Division outfit United were second best during the first half of normal time against a Peacehaven side which is top of the Sussex County League and reached the last 32 of the FA Vase.

Peacehaven took a deserved lead through an excellent lob by Ashley Rees and were only denied a second by a miraculous save from Daniel East to deny Rob O’Toole. United grabbed an unlikely equaliser shortly before half time through a stunning 25-yard free kick by Zac Attwood.

United had the wind at their backs during the second period and a Mikel Suarez header bounced up onto the crossbar, but neither side could force a winner so the third round tie went into extra-time.

East made a fine save from Dave Minnis before United went down to 10 men when Matt Whitehead hobbled off after all three permitted substitutes had been made. Ellis pounced on a stray pass to grab the late winner, but there was still time for Sean Ray to be sent-off for an off-the-ball incident.

United player-manager Ray is expected to serve a four-game ban starting from the visit of Hampton & Richmond Borough on March 2, while Tom Vickers and Jamie Crellin are due to face two-game suspensions from the same date after picking up their 10th bookings of the season.

United: East, Cox, Whitehead, Vickers (Richardson), Ray, Judge, Crellin, Ellis, Suarez (McDonald), Attwood, Okojie (Carey). Subs not used: Bachellier, Manning.