The scoreline might be unbelievable, but yes it did actually happen, and the old cliche of a game of two halves might well have been made for this match as both sides slugged this goal fest out under a cloudless sky.

With the game held up due to an official injuring himself in the warm up and Hailsham having to find a volunteer linesman the match was slightly late in starting, not that it affected either side, as against the run of play the Stringers went in front on 9 mins when a mistake at the back let in Hailsham’s Charlie Levi who set up Sam Divall to open up the Stringers account. 1-0 Stringers.

One had the feeling that the Anvils could take this game whenever required borne out with Michael Belli’s free kick being tipped over by keeper Mateus Szafranski, next came Kerran Boylan just wide with his first shot, come 16 the Stringers were opened up again allowing Kieran Greig to slide the ball home 1-1.

By now the Anvils were well on top with next striker Boylan taking a Greig pass to put the Anvils in front 1-2

On 27 it was Sam Cane having his shot cannon back off the bar, and a freekick saw Marc Pelling heading over, on 32 James Day went near when heading over from another corner, but come 37 Boylan again got free to cut inside and notch his second putting the Anvils 1-3 ahead.

By now it was becoming really one sided as the Stringers young side were beginning to get the run around, and on 42 Cane added more misery when heading home a Greig cross 1-4 Anvils, just before half time Boylan registered his first hat trick in Anvil colours when converting another cross field ball. HT 1-5 Anvils.

Game, set and match surely as the second half started, even allowing for the loss of skipper Blair Cooney (ankle) replaced by Sonny Barton, as the Anvils pressed forward with Boylan firing another Greig cross just wide, on the hour mark just after Cane had blazed over a Pelling cross, the game took a dramatic turn.

Firstly Divall was becoming more prominent going near on a couple of occasions forcing Anvil custodian Andy Greaves having to save with his knees, but Divall went one better when converting another cross 2-5 Anvils. Mere hiccup one thought, especially with Oli Leslie now on for Boylan converting a brilliant Josh Brown evading run to make it 2-6 Anvils, but no, come 70 and Sub Billy Taylor then got on the end of another freekick to make it 3-6, with home support going thro the roof, and Anvils Pelling taking an early bath for a harshly awarded free and a last man sending off, their was just one team in it, and on 73 an almighty scramble in the Anvils goal mouth resulted in midfielder Lewis Parsons poking home. 4-6 Anvils.

Temporary sanity was restored on 80 when left midfield youngster Myles Pitt playing his first ever FA Cup match scored after running through the Hailsham defence and slotting home to boost the Anvil gap to 4-7 Anvils, but no it still wasn't over with arch predator Divall notching his hat trick and the Stringers 5th to make the final score 5-7 to the Anvils.

Team: Andy Greaves, Blair Cooney (Sonny Barton), Harry Lowe, Mike Spence, Marc Pelling, James Day, Keiran Greig (Myles Pitt), Michael Belli, Kerran Boylan (Oli Leslie), Sam Cane (Myles Pitt), Josh Brown