FA Vase weekend tests the Southern Combination's depth

The second qualifying round of the FA Vase provided the week's clearest thread through the Southern Combination, and nowhere more dramatically than at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground, where Hassocks needed penalties to see off Abbey Rangers of Combined Counties Premier South. The sides could not be separated in normal time, with goalkeeper Ed's saves proving decisive in the shootout, as manager James Westlake later reflected on the drama in a post-match video. The win came in the same week Westlake reached 200 games in charge, a period in which he has led Hassocks to their first Southern Combination title, the Peter Bentley Cup and Step 4 football.

Lancing also progressed in the Vase, winning 1-0 before an attendance of 164, Roffey flew to Guernsey and won through 2-1 with goals from Berry and Mase, and Forest Row needed a penalty shootout of their own, winning 8-7 after a goalless draw with Saltdean, a result that also brought a new signing announcement as Richard Pingling joined the club. AFC Varndeanians won away at Beckenham Town, coming from a goal down through Kian Nandhra and a Tommy Jupp penalty, while Lingfield, who described their unbeaten Combined Counties opponents as tough opposition in their own preview, won 1-0 to continue what they called the strongest start in their Southern Combination Premier history. Not every Southern Combination side advanced: Billingshurst lost 4-3 at Phoenix Sports after a much-improved second-half showing, Bexhill United could not break down Tooting Bec at the NRT Stadium, and Seaford Town went out 5-2 at home to Chipstead in a match filled with both goals and bookings.

Away from the Vase, East Grinstead Town suffered a heavy 9-0 defeat, while Newhaven lost 4-2 having shown what they described as a much-improved performance from the previous weekend. Pagham won 3-0 in the FA Vase with goals from Horncastle, Rustell, and Crouch. Their earlier 2-0 win in the FA Cup equalled their best run in 36 years and earned them a tie against Hanworth Villa at The Covers Arena.

The week was also marked by tributes across the league following the death of Shoreham co-chairman Malcolm Saunders, with condolences posted by AFC Varndeanians, Billingshurst, Crawley Down Gatwick, Forest Row, Horsham YMCA and Lancing, several clubs noting his standing within Sussex non-league football.