Knaphill exited the FA Cup with a 3-1 defeat at Rusthall in the extra preliminary round.

The Knappers took the lead early on, but the hosts roared back to book their spot in the preliminary round and end Knaphill’s hopes for another year.

Rusthall began brightly, with Jack Kirby testing Knappers keeper Harvey Keogh from distance on two occasions in the opening minutes.

Knaphill nearly took the lead on 15 minutes when Ross Murdoch burst through on goal and chipped Rusthall keeper Serine Sanneh, only to see his effort cannon off the crossbar.

The Knappers went ahead on 18 minutes when Aidan King's pass found Lucas Watkins, who composed himself and finished with his left foot into the top right-hand corner.

Rusthall equalised on 40 minutes. Keogh saved Kareem Rahman's free-kick but fumbled the rebound, and Josh Reid was alert to the loose ball and tapped in.

The hosts took the lead in the 62nd minute when a deflected shot fell kindly to Kirby, who headed past Keogh with clinical composure. The goal appeared to deflate Knaphill's resolve.

Despite introducing Charlie Postance and Charlie Plant to try to shift momentum, Knaphill's attacking phases lacked the incision and urgency required to trouble a Rusthall side now in control.

Rahman became an increasingly dominant force for the hosts, orchestrating play with a directness that exposed Knaphill's vulnerabilities. On 57 minutes, he dribbled past three Knaphill defenders before Keogh smartly advanced to thwart him.

Keogh’s distribution and shot-stopping kept Knaphill competitive, but without more decisive action from his outfield team-mates, the mounting pressure was inevitable.

The third goal, arriving in the 95th minute, sealed Knaphill’s fate. Daniel Atta was allowed space on Knaphill's left flank and unleashed a finish that Keogh saved, only to see the rebound crash into the net.

By Jonas Poon