It's an old cliche but a true one nonetheless that ten-man can often play better than 11.

There was no better example than at Rookery Hill on Saturday in one of the surprises from the first round of the FA Vase.

Mid-table Sussex County League side Ringmer lost Shaun Grice after 55 minutes after he struck out at Scott Holding and so you'd have fancied that the Ryman Two side would eventually win out - not a bit of it.

Ringmer became even more determined and were to take the lead just four minutes later and then add two more in stoppage time.

For a team that went out of the competition in extra-time in the third round last year, this was a major disappointment and arguably the worse result under manager Lee Patterson's tenure.

"Blame me," he said. "I pick the team and a lot of them today weren't good enough. I was missing five players through injury all have whom would been in the team but that is not an excuse - we're just not good enough at the moment."

Patterson was particularly upset that so many of the players failed to play with sufficient desire and hinted some of them were unlikely to remain East Thurrock players for long.

Rocks best chances had come during a disappointing first period. The first on 21 minutes arrived via a deep Scott Holding cross, but top scorer Rikki Finning, at the far post, headed over.

And it was Finning who was again presented with a decent opportunity when defender Glenn Davies misjudged Tony Pizzey's through ball only for the striker to drag his shot wide.

In between, Ringmer had gone close through Wesley Lopez and then with a Grice header which came back off the crossbar.

The East Sussex side were to go ahead from the penalty spot after Wes Faulkner fouled Davies, who got up to convert.

Thereafter Ringmer defended intelligently getting players behind the ball and allowing the home side little space, to the extent they were limited to a couple of half chances.

Victory was assured three minutes into time added on through Lopez and to add salt into Rocks' wound by Kevin Townsend who ran fully 50 yards before slipping the ball under Grant Lee.

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