Eastbourne Junior Cup Semi Final
Lime Cross, Herstmonceux
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 8 (head count)
Match Rating: 3
Wanting to make the most of some silly season action this season, there will little attractive about this game in itself, from a low level of football and at a ground I had previously visited just a couple of years ago. However, on a fairly pleasant evening, it did offer the opportunity of stopping off on my way home from work for a relaxing evening in a countryside setting watching some cup football for this game kicking off at 6.30pm.
Both teams playing this evening ply their trade in the East Sussex Football League. Herstmonceux are in the second tier, Division One, and were in eighth place in the 10 team division, following six wins and two draws from their 17 league games. They came into this game in good form, having won their last three league games. Punnetts Town were two divisions below Herstmonceux, in Division Three, but were top of the table, following 14 wins and one defeat from their 15 league games, with that defeat coming in late March.
On a mostly cloudy evening, on a pitch that had thick grass cuttings left on one side of it making it tricky to dribble and pass the ball through, Punnetts Town opened thescoring on four minutes, when following a low cross, the ball was tapped first time across the keeper and into the far side of the net. They doubled their lead on 27 minutes following a good dribble down the left wing to the byline, and a low cross into the six yard was fumbled by the keeper, and although the first shot was blocked, the ball was then struck home. Herstmonceux pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time, when a shot from the edge of the area took a big deflection off a defender, to divert the ball against the inside of the post and into the net. That certainly gave Herstmonceux hope of getting back into the game, but it was surprising, given the league status of the two clubs, that Punnetts Town more than deserved to be leading, and should have held a much more comfortable lead at that.
Five minutes after the break, Punnetts Town restored their two goal lead. Their striker got on the end of a ball played forward, got it under control well, before slotting the ball low under the keeper. They virtually assured progress to the semi-finals on 67 minutes. A long high ball pumped forward found the run of a striker, and he showed great technique to half volley the ball powerfully past the keeper on the run. The visitors were then awarded a penalty on 75 minutes for a barge over in the box, and the ball was struck powerfully to the right side of the goal from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way. Punnetts Town made it six on 81 minutes following a couple of chances to score in quick succession, eventually the Punnetts Town stretched to reach a ball by the near post along with defenders and the ball looped up high and eventually dropped just inside the far post. Herstmonceux grabbed a consolation on 89 minutes with a good goal following a lovely cross from wide which was struck across the keeper and into the far side of the net. But they were a well beaten team on the night, surprisingly so, and it was no exaggeration to say that Punnetts Town really should have notched doubled figures, but they will go into the semi-final, presumably confident of progress whoever they are to meet.
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