East Sussex League Divisions Two and Three Challenge Cup Final
Pilot Field, Hastings
Admission including Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 200 (estimate)
Match Rating: 4
April is a month I always look forward to, as it allows me the opportunity to watch games at a level - intermediate or junior – that I would not normally watch but do enjoy watching when I can, thanks to cup finals and early evening kick-offs. This evening I decided to take in my first junior cup final of the season, at one of my favourite local venues.
As expected, there have been no alterations to the more tgan adequate and oozing in character Pilot Field, home of Hastings United of the Isthmian League Division One South, since my last visit two years ago. The large old fashioned stand along one length made for a very welcome refuge on a damp evening, and also provides good elevation for supporters with the pitch quite distant from the spectators areas, apart from behind one goal. The 8 page programme followed the usual format for East Sussex League cup finals and was perfectly acceptable, containing league tables, introduction to both clubs and roads to the final.
With this competition open to clubs in Divisions Two and Three of the East Sussex League, arguably the two best teams entering the competition, based on current league rankings, indeed made it through to the final. Icklesham were in second place in Division Two, following nine wins and two draws from their 13 league games, while Sovereign Saints were in third place in the same division, having won eight and drawn three of their 12 league games. They trailed leaders Bexhill United II, who only have one game remaining, by four and seven points respectively, but have four and five games in hand. For an entertaining evening, one would have hoped for some kind of repeat of the league encounter between the two teams in October, when the match finished 6-6. To reach this evening’s final, Icklesham beat Battle Baptists II 4-2 at home, Hollington United II 1-4 away and then Catsfield 1-9 away in the semi final, while Sovereign Saints won 0-2 away at Bexhill United II 0-2 away, Pebsham Sibex 0-6 away, Sedlescombe Rangers II 1-2 and then Victoria Baptists 4-2 at home in the semi final. Sovereign Saints would be looking to lift their second cup within a week, having won the Sussex Junior Cup final last Wednesday.
On a misty evening with frequent showers of drizzle, this was actually quite an even game for the most part, but the difference really was a striker bang in form, with the opposing defence unable to cope with him running at them with the ball at his feet. Sovereign Saints were nearly gifted a goal on 16 minutes when the Icklesham keeper slipped as the ball was rolled back to him by a defender, and he sliced the ball just wide of his own post, while on 20 minutes, an Icklesham free kick from 30 yards was fumbled by the keeper as two forwards attacked the ball, but the loose ball was cleared just in time. Both teams then traded some chances, before Icklesham took the lead on 28 minutes. Charlie Cornford showed some great footwork around and into the box, and his eventual shot squirmed past the keeper. They doubled their lead 2 minutes later, when a ball was played forward and Cornford dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper and into the net. Sovereign Saints came close to pulling a goal back when a low drilled shot from the edge of the area came back off the far post with the keeper flat footed.
The game felt far from over at half time, but it soon did when Icklesham added a third on 48 minutes when Cornford beat a couple of defenders in the area before thumping the ball low past the keeper. On the hour mark, Cornford ran onto a through ball, just about holding off a covering defender but his eventual shot hit the keeper’s legs. On 67 minutes, Sovereign Saints again came close to pulling a goal back, when there was something of a scramble around the six yard box, and an eventual goalbound shot was blocked on the line. On 74 minutes, it really was game over, as three shots blocked in quick succession ended with Cornford striking the ball home from fairly close range. The match lost a little of its intensity, as one might expect, but still both teams managed to create some chances.
In the end, it was Icklesham who lifted the cup shortly after the final whistle, and while they deserved the victory, this was undoubtedly the Charlie Cornford show, who made the difference with his attacking guile and prolific finishing.
This was an enjoyable game of football to watch, played in the right spirit with plenty of attacking, and it was certainly heartening to see both teams enjoying good support amongst a very healthy attendance.
On a misty evening with frequent showers of drizzle, this was actually quite an even game for the most part, but the difference really was a striker bang in form, with the opposing defence unable to cope with him running at them with the ball at his feet. Sovereign Saints were nearly gifted a goal on 16 minutes when the Icklesham keeper slipped as the ball was rolled back to him by a defender, and he sliced the ball just wide of his own post, while on 20 minutes, an Icklesham free kick from 30 yards was fumbled by the keeper as two forwards attacked the ball, but the loose ball was cleared just in time. Both teams then traded some chances, before Icklesham took the lead on 28 minutes. Charlie Cornford showed some great footwork around and into the box, and his eventual shot squirmed past the keeper. They doubled their lead 2 minutes later, when a ball was played forward and Cornford dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper and into the net. Sovereign Saints came close to pulling a goal back when a low drilled shot from the edge of the area came back off the far post with the keeper flat footed.
The game felt far from over at half time, but it soon did when Icklesham added a third on 48 minutes when Cornford beat a couple of defenders in the area before thumping the ball low past the keeper. On the hour mark, Cornford ran onto a through ball, just about holding off a covering defender but his eventual shot hit the keeper’s legs. On 67 minutes, Sovereign Saints again came close to pulling a goal back, when there was something of a scramble around the six yard box, and an eventual goalbound shot was blocked on the line. On 74 minutes, it really was game over, as three shots blocked in quick succession ended with Cornford striking the ball home from fairly close range. The match lost a little of its intensity, as one might expect, but still both teams managed to create some chances.
In the end, it was Icklesham who lifted the cup shortly after the final whistle, and while they deserved the victory, this was undoubtedly the Charlie Cornford show, who made the difference with his attacking guile and prolific finishing.
This was an enjoyable game of football to watch, played in the right spirit with plenty of attacking, and it was certainly heartening to see both teams enjoying good support amongst a very healthy attendance.
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