Rustington scored three goals in five minutes in a devastating first half spell to break TD Shipley hearts in the SCFL Division Two Challenge Cup final on Tuesday night.

Under the lights at Shoreham FC, the Dragons struggled to get going as Scott Howe’s side were well beaten by last year’s league champions.

TD looked to hit Rustington on the counter where possible in the opening stages of the contest, with Tom Barnes’ team enjoying the lion’s share of possession."Settle down," shouted experienced midfielder Brad Curtis as he tried to rally the extremely hard-working Dragons.

The message looked to have been well received when tenacious midfielder Taylor Edwards found the energetic Max Furber with a delightful through ball, but the eventual effort was put wide, albeit with the offside flag raised.

Rustington responded with a chance of their own. Ollie Vodden found midfield runner Sam Boyd with an inch-perfect pass but the No.8’s effort was narrowly put wide.

TD, who sit third in Division Two after 23 games played, found a sudden injection of pace down the right hand side as good work from Shane Redley and Conor Smith resulted in a corner. Ollie Broad’s subsequent cross was met by the head of Redley but the centre back’s effort was blocked and eventually cleared.

With 23 minutes on the clock, Rustington found another level. Defensive midfielder Liam Reynolds stung the hands of TD goalkeeper Harry Charman but it was a clear sign of things to come.

Toby Funnell scored his first of the night with a well-taken strike from outside the box, before Jack Newhouse doubled his side’s lead with a screamer of his own just three minutes later.

With their tails up Rustington smelt blood and TD struggled to weather the storm. Matt Searle soon made it three with a header from a corner, capping off a devastating five-minute period for the Blues.

Alfie Lelliott was largely untested in the Rustington goal but the teenager was called into action shortly before half-time. Broad’s dangerous free-kick found prolific TD striker Adam Campbell-Stone, who has scored 33 goals in 24 appearances this season, in space inside the box but the No.9’s header was directed straight at the grateful goalkeeper.

Any chance of a TD comeback in the second period was soon quashed as the devastating Funnell scored his second goal of the night. The tricky No.7 evaded his marker on the right-hand side and fired past the diving Charman into the far corner to make it 4-0 to Rustington.

The Shipley back five of Smith, Redley, Jerome Johnston, Dan Evans and Ollie Barton-Hague worked tirelessly all night as Rustington continued to probe. Howe brought on Dylan Weller, Ashley Dugdale, Sayif Ahmed, Kyle Johnson and Toby Smith in an attempt to keep the side fresh and the Dragons refused to give up.

Funnell found himself through on goal late on and probably should have had his hat-trick, but his outside of the foot effort trickled wide.

In truth it was a well deserved victory for Rustington, who face Bosham in the league next Tuesday as they bid to win their second consecutive league title. TD Shipley, meanwhile, entertain Ferring at Dragons Green on Saturday as they look to make it three wins in a row in the league.

“I’m proud of my players,” TD Shipley boss Howe said after the match. “Every man gave us everything they could tonight, and although we were a little short of Rustington, and credit to them, I can't have asked for any more effort and commitment.

“As the dust settles on the match, we must learn the lessons, from where we were second best, so that when we get into the next final we can use the experience from today to help us to success.”

Rustington: Lelliott; Sparkes (Thomas-Pryke, 72), Sayers, Clark, De Gruchy (Millard, 46); Reynolds (Onipede, 78), Boyd, Searle; Funnell, Newhouse (Wilson, 65), Vodden

TD Shipley: Charman; Smith (Smith, 66), Redley, Johnston, Evans (Weller, 55), Barton-Hague (Ahmed, 62); Curtis (Dugdale, 55), Edwards; Furber (Johnson, 66), Campbell-Stone, Broad