Eastbourne FA Challenge Cup Semi-Final
The Oval, Eastbourne
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Programme: None
Attendance: 70 (rough head count)
It was looking like I was going to have blank midweek, with no fixtures scheduled locally within the pyramid. But once I became aware of this fixture, it was suitably tempting for me to take in my third visit to The Oval this season.
This game would be between clubs from the northern suburbs of Eastbourne, and from the Mid Sussex League, although on paper, Willingdon Athletic would appear to have been favourites for this game, as their first team is in the Step 7 Premier Division, whilst Polegate Town are two divisions below, in Division One. Willingdon are down in 12th place in the 13 club division, following four wins and four draws from their 17 league games, but with at least three games in hand on the three clubs above them, and are only five points adrift of ninth with five games in hand, they should climb to safety. Polegate are in a fairly similar situation in their division, down in eighth place in the 11 club division, but climbing to fourth is very realistic, with at least three games in hand on the four teams above them, and five points adrift of fourth place.
On a very mild evening, after enjoying the last of the afternoon sunshine with a KFC in the park and a stroll along Eastbourne seafront, Willingdon dominated the early stages and it looked like being only a matter of time before they opened the scoring, but Polegate rode the storm, and had a great chance to take the lead on 13 minutes when the Polegate forward took the ball wide of goal, in the end too far to take a shot on goal, but his pass into the centre of the penalty area was easily hacked away. Willingdon created the more chances throughout the first half, a couple of crosses across goal just evading a tap in, whilst Polegate saw an excellently struck free kick heading for the top left corner tipped away by the keeper, and then a drilled close range shot was parried by the keeper, and after the ball was recycled, a ball pumped towards the back post just evaded a couple of players for a tap in.
So it remained goalless at the break, but the deadlock was broken three minutes after the break with a long range shot by Peter Cooper from just outside the penalty area was rifled into the top right corner of the net, brushing the keeper's fingertips en route. It was disappointing to hear a Willingdon player shout "They're f**king sh*t, they deserve that" - perhaps Polegate were rather limited, but they were giving Willingdon a run for their money and with a little bit of fortune, they could well have taken the lead. But as gamely as Polegate battle on, they didn't really look likely to get back on level terms as Willingdon saw the game out quite comfortably in the end, to set up a final against one of Eastbourne Rangers, Eastbourne Town Under 23 or Sovereign Saints.
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