At the end of a very busy week, having moved out of my Kent home to relocate down to West Sussex, albeit for two weeks in temporary accommodation while the move into our new home goes through, I came for some calm down to Peacehaven, just a ten minute drive from Brighton, where Pride weekend was in full swing, stopping en route for a lunch at the beautifully located Smugglers Inn on the seafront, as you drive into Peacehaven.

Today’s game was an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Qualifying round tie between Peacehaven & Telscombe FC and Harefield United. The home side play in the Southern Combination Premier Division, where they finished seventh last season. The Tye, as Peacehaven & Telscombe FC are known, are managed by Mark Shutt. The Sports ground holds a capacity of 3000 with seating for 350. I was very pleasantly surprised to find padded seating in the main stand, a rare luxury in non-league football.

Today’s visitors Harefield United hail from Uxbridge and play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, where they finished fourth last season, narrowly missing out on promotion losing 3-1 in the play-off final to Bedfont Sports. A new manager, Richard Pacquette was appointed in June 2025 as Wayne Cooper left to manage Harrow Borough and the Hares will have travelled to the south coast hoping to set off on a good cup run.

The match kicked off with the clouds gathering above the ground and the temperature dropping, while inside the Peacehaven FC Wild Kids Choir sang from the start!

Despite Peacehaven & Telscombe FC making the brighter start, it was Harefield United who scored first, on nine minutes, when Mario Quiassaca stabbed home a corner after a short scramble to make it 0-1.

In the 20th minute the game got a lot tougher for the home side when a penalty was awarded for a badly timed challenge in the box, which Harefield United’s Mario Quiassaca narrowly scored past the gloves of Foulkes, the Former keeper, to make it 0-2.

In the 28th minute the score was back to 1-2 as Peacehaven’s Callum Edwards lashed home a finish which caught my filming skills out but which reenergised and ignited the home side’s self belief.

Before half time there were clear chances for both sides. Connor Tighe struck the crossbar, when through on goal looking for an equalised for the home team. Then a chance for the visitors drew a fine save from Max Foulkes in the Peacehaven goal. However with no further goals, when the teams went in at half time the score remained 1-2 to Harefield United.

The second half was evenly fought. The home side pushed aggressively for an equaliser, whilst the visitors looked stronger when counter attacking.

In the 83rd minute Peacehaven were finally level, when Connor Tighe scrambled the ball across the line from a corner kick, which almost mirrored the opening goal for the opposition.

There were two late chances for each side to win. For the visitors Mario Quiassaca was through on an open goal to secure his hat-trick, but somehow put the ball across the goal when it seemed easier to score.

Then as the game moved to added time, Peacehaven & Telscombe FC’s Fin Agnihorti went through on goal but his shot was easily saved by Fin Purcell, the Harefield United keeper.

At the break the sides were still tied, so will require a replay on Tuesday night in Uxbridge. This had been an entertaining FA Cup tie and either side could have progressed into the next round.