Southern Combination League Division One Cup Semi Final
The Saffrons, Eastbourne
Admission including Programme: £5.00
Attendance: 150
Match Rating: 4
With my planned silly season, early evening kick off at Icklesham Casuals moved to the horribly soulless playing fields of Tilekiln in Hastings, I decided to take in this attractive looking cup semi final in senior football instead.
There have been no alterations made to The Saffrons, home of Eastbourne Town, since my last visit a year ago. The programme was a really poor effort, certainly compared to the one produced by the East Sussex League for their cup final on Monday. It consisted of 8 pages and was the one issued for the originally scheduled fixture on 12th March, and contained just predicted line ups, potted histories of both clubs and penpics of the Little Common players - no meaningful welcome message, league table or form guide for either team. A free team sheet was handed out to those wanting them shortly after kick-off, though.
This evening's match, which was a local derby with both teams playing their home games in Eastbourne this season, was between the top two teams in the division, each scoring over 100 goals this season, and both teams are already guaranteed to be promoted, with Little Common requiring just three more points from their last three league games to be crowned as champions. They have won 27 and drawn one of their 31 league games, scoring 101 goals in the process, and so having to play their fixtures at Eastbourne United's home ground The Oval certainly seems to have inspired them this season. Langney Wanderers were in second place, following 24 wins and three draws from their 31 league games, and have scored 114 goals. 5 more points from their last three games will guarantee them the runners up spot. Little Common have won both fixtures between the two clubs this season, both at home, winning 2-0 in the League Cup in August, and 2-1 in the league in November.
On a dry evening under clear skies, which became chilly as nightfall descended, this was a disappointingly one-sided affair, as Little Common looked threatening going forward, solid defensively, while Langney Wanderers, after a rather indisciplined start, put in a rather limp performance throughout. On 13 minutes, Little Common were awarded a penalty. A long ball forward from their keeper was flicked on by Lewis Hole for Jamie Crone to run onto, and as he rounded the keeper, he was brought down with the keeper's hand. Wes Tate stepped up to fire the ball into the left side of the goal. They were awarded a second penalty nine minutes later. Sam Ellis's drive into the box was ended by a lunging foul tackle by a defender, and it was Tate again who fired the ball into the other, right side of the goal from the penalty spot. And after Langney had a rare good chance to pull a goal back, Little Common went straight up the other end to pretty much seal the victory. Again their keeper set up the attack, his long punt downfield was flicked on for Crone to run onto, and as he rounded the keeper, he fired the ball home from quite a tight angle with a good finish into the roof of the net.
If Langney were to get back into the game, they needed a quick start to the second half, but it never materialised as Little Common almost completely controlled proceedings until about mid way through the second half. Langney did manage to create some presentable chances, but they couldn't put any away, and Little Common put some gloss on the final scoreline on 84 minutes. Crone drove clear of the defence and accelerated to the right of the goal, before lashing home a shot through the keeper from an angle. And so it was Little Common who comfortably set up a Cup Final date with Oakwood, and they should be big favourites to lift the trophy, given that Oakwood were third bottom of the division.
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