Chichester were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Trophy in dramatic circumstances after Essex side Brentwood Town grabbed an injury time winner.
Chichester bowed out of the FA Cup losing narrowly to National League South opponents Tonbridge Angels in front of a sell-out crowd at Oaklands Park.
Hat-trick hero Gicu Iordache helped Chichester to their first three points this season in an enthralling and at times feisty encounter at Oaklands Park against Haywards Heath.
Chichester matched league leaders VCD Athletic for almost an hour before conceding three goals in ten second half minutes as the south-east London side punished their opponents for missed opportunities and mistakes.
Second half goals from Kaleem Haitham and Lloyd Rowlatt gave Chichester a third successive come-back win in this season’s FA Cup.
An Aaron Watson goal from close range five minutes after the interval gave joint table toppers Whyteleafe a narrow victory and condemned Chichester to another league loss in their second Isthmian south east game of the season.
Second half goals from Ben Pashley, Josh Clack and Ethan Prichard helped Chichester to a come-back win over Bristol based Cribbs FC in the FA Cup first qualifying round.
Chichester suffered an opening day loss at home to Ramsgate as the Isthmian South East division got under way, with the four goals coming in the second half.
Assistant manager Graeme Gee praised his players for tremendous character to pull off a dramatic comeback win in their opening game of the FA Cup.