Holmesdale exited the FA Cup at the first time of asking as they were edged out of hard fought contest by Southern Combination Premier side Crawley Down Gatwick at Oakley Road on Saturday afternoon.
In warm conditions the visitors started the game on the front foot with Lewis Gould firing over from the edge of the area and The Anvils continued to do most of the pressing with Dale unable to create anything going forward.
After a break for an injury to Dale keeper Archie Aldous, it was Crawley Down who pressed again with Josh Alder shooting over from range and they went even close soon after when Aldous spilled a long ball into the box and Alder squared the ball to Gould who hit the bar from ten yards out, Dale defender Micquelle Murray clearing the rebound for a corner.
Only minutes later though, Gould did find the target, when another ball into the box found the tall striker who turned sharply in a crowded area and smashed it home to put The Anvils 1-0 up.
Crawley Down came close to doubling their lead when Szymon Kowolczrk played in Gould whose low shot was saved by the feet of Aldous.
Late on in the half Holmesdale had a brief spell of pressure with Kie Douglas driving a free kick over and after a corner Tom Osel had a close range effort tipped over by Alex Bellingham at the second time of asking.
The second half saw Holmesdale start looking to be more positive, but the visitors had the first chance when Alder had a shot from a corner saved by Aldous at point blank range.
Dale then got going, and after Shay Okunola had gone close they were awarded a penalty when De’andre Williams was brought down in the box. Williams stepped up to take the spot kick, but Bellingham saved the shot and it looped up over the bar for a corner.
A scramble from the resulting restart was eventually cleared to safety, but Holmesdale kept going. Oghosa Williams went on a strong run down the right and crossed the ball for De’andre Willams, but he put his effort over the bar from six yards out.
Oghosa Williams then played in Lewis Heywood, but his goal bound shot hit Crawley Down defender Charlie Cooke in the face and deflected wide. Another Holmesdale corner found Oghosa Williams, but he fired over and Heywood then headed over from another corner soon after.
With time running out Sam Brayford curled a long range effort just over and Bellingham made a good save from De’andre Williams for another corner, which Wilf Evans headed over.
Going into injury time the visitors managed to get the ball up the pitch and run down time in the corners, when the ball did break out, Gould hit the outside of the post with the final effort of the match as the visitors secured the win.
In the end Dale didn’t take their second half chances and paid the price as Crawley Down Gatwick booked their place in the Preliminary Round.
Holmesdale (3-5-2): Aldous, Osel, Macaulay, Evans, Murray, Musoke, Orlebar, Okunola, Heywood, Douglas, D Williams. Subs: Ward, Hall, Brown, O Williams, Smart, Bayford, Church.
Crawley Down Gatwick (4-4-2): Bellingham, Gates, Ryder, Spence, Kilkenny, Cooke, Brown, Belli, Alder, Kowolczrk. Subs: Tidy, Enticknap, Rainford, White, Wolter.
HT 0-1 FT 0-1
Goal: Gould 36mins.
Att: 62
Referee: Tony King