Petersfield Town exited the Southern Combination Football League Cup with a 1-0 quarter-final defeat at home to Hassocks.

Morgan Vale’s 25th-minute goal was enough to send the visitors through to the semi-finals.

The visitors were quick out of the traps and nearly took the lead in the second minute when Ruari Farrell turned and fired over from close range.

Hassocks went close again on nine minutes when Dan Turner’s header was superbly saved by Rams keeper Kieran Connell.

The visitors continued to pose a threat and went close again in the 14th minute when Harvey Blake’s cross was headed back across goal by Vale to Farrell, who hit his shot on the turn straight at Connell.

Hassocks’ pressure eventually told on 25 minutes when Joe Bull’s pass found Vale on the edge of the box, and Vale fired a clinical right-foot finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

The Rams created their first chance of the evening in the 35th minute when Will Webb fired over from the edge of the box.

The visitors almost scored a second three minutes later when Blake drove forward and hit a powerful right-foot shot which Connell pushed away for a corner.

Hassocks went close again on 40 minutes when Farrell laid the ball off for Vale, who fired his right-foot shot over the bar.

The Rams had an excellent chance to get back on level terms early in the second half when Max Allen was fouled in the Hassocks penalty area, but Ashton Leigh smashed his 50th-minute penalty against the crossbar.

The visitors went close to a second in the 64th minute when Brad Tighe’s cross picked out Farrell, who poked his effort wide.

Petersfield had an excellent chance to equalise a minute later when Bob Tudway headed wide of the far post from close range.

Hassocks went back on the attack on 68 minutes and Vale delivered an excellent cross from the right which found Farrell, who was superbly denied by Rams keeper Connell at his near post.

The Rams had a good chance to equalise in the 80th minute when substitute Kian Towse was through one-on-one with Hassocks keeper Fraser Trigwell, but his dinked effort went just wide of the far post.

Petersfield were reduced to nine men in stoppage time when Callum Kimber received a straight red card and Harrison Cable was sent to the sin bin.

Hassocks saw out the rest of stoppage time to book their place in the last four.

Next up for the Rams is a trip to Eastbourne United in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division on Saturday (3pm kick-off).