Leverstock Green's FA Vase dream is over, as Rye United came from behind with a powerful second half display to claim their place in the quarter-finals. It was a great effort from the Green against the Sussex visitors, but Rye proved just a bit too strong on the day despite the heroic efforts of Leverstock keeper Carl Tasker.

A bumper crowd of 377 packed into Pancake Lane for the Fifth Round tie, many of them from Sussex. After a cagey opening to the game, it was Leverstock who took the lead in the 14th minute. Louis Austin managed to dig out a great cross from near the corner flag, and Ben Butler was unmarked inside the six-yard box to head home past keeper Josh Pelling to give his side a great start.

Rye had a chance in the 20th minute with a free kick in a dangerous position, but Duncan McArthur's effort went over the bar. However, six minutes later McArthur had an easier chance to level the scores. As Rye attacked down the left, a cross from Danny Ellis struck the outstretched arm of Lee Bircham, and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot. McArthur made no mistake with the spot-kick to equalise at 1-1.

The remainder of the first half belonged to Leverstock, though. On 31 minutes Austin was brought down by Jono Richardson just outside the box, and Charlie Gorman's curling free kick was tipped over the bar by Pelling. On 39 minutes a corner from Bircham caused a goalmouth scramble in which an effort from Butler was cleared off the line. Two minutes later a foul by Shaun Loft prevented Austin from going clean through, and he was perhaps lucky to get away with only a yellow card. Seconds later Richardson got away with what looked like a push on Austin as he ran onto a long kick from Tasker.

Leverstock were unlucky not to be ahead at the break, and 30 seconds after the restart they had another great chance. Butler's pass put Austin clean through, but Pelling saved Austin's eventual shot with his legs.

As the second half settled down, though, Rye started to take control with their strong attacking play down the slope. On 50 minutes Scott Ramsay ran onto a chipped pass from McArthur, and Tasker appeared to foul Ramsay as he tried to go round him, but the referee waved away shouts for another penalty.

Danny Leach was close with a header and a shot in the 58th and 60th minutes, but the moment of the match came in the 61st minute. Sam Cole's cross from the left touchline found Jack Dixon with a superb volley on the swivel, but Tasker produced a brilliant save to tip it over the bar.

With the Green hanging on somewhat, Steve Heath brought on Jon Davies to replace Craig Preston on 66 minutes. A minute later a free kick from Bircham found Steve Hatch with a good chance, but he headed over the bar.

With 15 minutes left, Rye began to put Green under the cosh again. A pass from Ellis put Leach clean through, but Tasker stood his ground and turned Leach's shot round the post. Seconds later a cross to the far post found Richardson, but Tasker produced another wonder save to keep out a header from point blank range. From the resulting corner, however, Shaun Loft connected with a bullet header which Tasker got a hand to, but couldn't keep out, and Rye had a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute.

The Green side kept battling, but were looking tired on a pitch that was heavy after a couple of days of rain. They almost got out of jail with a dramatic incident deep into stoppage time. Austin was put through on goal, but he was brought down from behind by a defender. The referee awarded the penalty, but then spotted that the linesman had already flagged for offside. The flag was actually against Andrew Cracknell, who wasn't active, but the penalty decision was reversed, and a few seconds later the game was over.

Leverstock's history-making run in the Vase was over, but the game was played in a great spirit throughout, and the sizeable Rye support stayed out to applaud the Green side off the pitch.

Steve Heath's side now have to lift themselves for their remaining league games, plus the three cup semi-finals for which they have already qualified - the season is far from over for this Leverstock Green side.