Sussex Senior Cup Final
American Express Community Stadium, Falmer
Admission: £12.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 3.087
This evening I decided to go to my first Sussex Senior Cup Final since 2015. In recent years, I have been put off when the game was switched from a Saturday afternoon to midweek, but I was sufficiently tempted to take in this game, being a potentially intriguing match between the young professionals of a Premier League outfit, against a club high on confidence at the end of a very successful promotion winning season.
As usual, this final was played at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion, and only the lower west stand was open this evening. Tickets were cheaper when bought in advance, on the day the price rose to £15, plus a £1.50 booking fee (which did not apply to online bookers). A programme was supposed to have been issued for this game, as the Sussex FA’s own match review advertised, and a programme sponsor was announced over the tannoy at the match. Yet none were available this evening, and it transpired that they had been sent to the wrong place. Unfortunately with the Sussex FA’s Twitter handle blanking all enquiries as to whether the programmes would be obtainable in any format even after the game, the assumption is that they would not.
To reach this evening's final, Brighton have beaten Haywards Heath Town (Isthmian South East) 0-6, Chichester City (Isthmian South East) 0-1, Eastbourne Town (Southern Combination Premier) 0-3 (a game I watched back in January) and Horsham (Isthmian Premier) 1-3, with all fixtures being played away. Worthing have beaten Seaford Town (Southern Combination Division One) 6-2 at home, Lewes (Isthmian Premier) 3-0 at home, Bognor Regis Town (Isthmian Premier) 0-2 away, and then Three Bridges (Isthmian South East) 0-5 away in the semi-final. Perhaps surprisingly, Worthing have won the Sussex Senior Cup more times than any other club, 21 times in total and a further 9 appearances in the final, and victory tonight would complete a very successful season for the club, having won the Isthmian League Premier Division by 10 points, chalking up 100 goals in 42 league games, and they can now look forward to National League football for the first time in their history.
Backed on by a sizeable and noisy contingent, Worthing started the game well, proving a match for Brighton's youngsters, and in the 24th minute, they were awarded a penalty when Reece Myles-Meekums played a one-two and as he burst into the penalty area, he was upended by Jack Hinchley. Oliver Pearce sent the keeper the wrong way, striking the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Brighton equalised in the 32nd minute, when Lorent Tolajn hit a wonderful first time shot from the edge of the area, which saw the ball fly past the keeper. They almost took the lead a couple of minutes later when a cross from the left was met by the head of Todd Miller, but the ball hit the top of the bar and went over. But on 39 minutes Brighton did take the lead, with Tolaj scoring his second, following a Worthing throw in their own half which was intercepted, Miller clipped the ball forward for Tolaj to run onto and just clear of the covering defenders, before firing the ball past the keeper from just outside the penalty area. Worthing created a couple more chances before half time, and although they went in at half time behind, they were still very much in the game.
But although Worthing started the second half quite strongly, it was Brighton who scored next when Jack Spong drove into the area before passing across to an unmarked Cam Peupion, who showed good composure in taking in touch before slotting the ball under the keeper and into the net via a deflection. And on 64 minutes, it was pretty much game over when the Brighton youngsters scored their fourth, this Tolaj was the provider when he ran into a ball down the right wing before passing the ball inside to Andy Moran, who took a couple of touches to ease away from a defender before firing past the keeper. The scoreline was a little harsh on Worthing, but no doubting that Brighton’s youngsters’ composed, quick passing style was grinding the visitors down. Worthing did pull a goal back in the 82nd minute though when a corner was not cleared and Colbran poked the ball through several players and into the net. Although Worthing did push forward, they could not get another goal to make the tie really interesting, but in the tenth minute of added time - following a length stoppage for a serious looking injury to Brighton’s Baker-Boaltey which saw him eventually stretchered off. Worthing were reduced to ten men when Pattenden was shown a straight red card when, as the last man, he barged Ifill over as he ran in on goal. The resultant free kick was comfortably saved and it was Brighton who lifted the trophy shortly after the final whistle. Credit to Worthing though who played their part in what was an entertaining and open game of football, but ultimately the extra skill and speed of the young professionals probably made the difference this evening.
Video highlights of the match can be viewed by clicking here
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