The one-off fixture is played between the County League champions and the John O'Hara Cup winners. Mussels had lifted the John O'Hara Cup, 10-9 on penalties, against Ringmer in April, while Crowborough ran away with the league title — by 20 points — and are now preparing for their first season in the Ryman League.

Mussels, again as John O'Hara Cup winners, had lifted the Trophy two years ago, 1-0 against Horsham YMCA.

On Tuesday, Shoreham started the brighter, but after a nondescript opening half hour, Crows finally fashioned the first chance. Wayne Clarke's neat footwork created an opening but Shoreham's new signing, former Southwick keeper, Michael Hunter, was equal to it.

Crowborough again went close soon afterwards but Andy Ducille fired an excellent opening wide.

Lively Shoreham striker Darren Annis, Mussels' 24-goal leading scorer last season, was then unlucky not to put his side ahead. Crowborough keeper Mark Oldroyd rushed out to try to punch clear, but misjudged the flight of the ball. Annis got to it first but headed just over.

Crows went ahead five minutes before half-time. Rob Boddy attempted to control the ball with his chest, but it bounced up, hit his arm, and referee Robert Bell pointed to the penalty spot. Clarke took responsibility and, although Hunter went the right way, he could not keep it out.

Mussels started the second half on the front foot, and should have equalised when Dean Smith blasted Grant Philpott's pass wastefully wide.

Their best equalising chance came on 65 minutes. Smith's header was cleared off the line by Dave Soutar, and from the resultant corner Annis' shot was parried by Oldroyd, before the danger was cleared.

Shoreham joint-boss Darren Donnelly said: "Our main aim for the coming season is to improve on our league position, and I feel we should be aiming for the top 10.

"We will try to go as far as we can in the cup competitions, and if we can win one or two then that would obviously be fantastic. Tonight, I felt we played well. We probably edged it and acquitted ourselves well.

"As for the penalty decision, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. We were unlucky as this time the decision didn't go our way."

SHOREHAM: Hunter; Mighall, Hurley, Denyer, Philpott; Keehan, R.Boddy, Smith, Taylor, O.Callaghan; Annis. Subs: Groves, Edwards, Clayton, Burt, Green. Att: 94.