East Sussex League Divisions Two/Three Cup Final
The Pilot Field, Hastings
Admission including Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 100 (estimate)
Match Rating: 4
This evening was the first of this season's East Sussex League cup finals, occasions I always look forward to and enjoy supporting, watching clubs from levels I do not often encounter, on their big night out at a showpiece event.
As usual, all of this season's East Sussex League Cup Finals are being staged at the Pilot Field, home of Isthmian League club Hastings United. It is always an enjoyable ground to visit, and one that sadly may not be around for much longer, as the club plans to relocate in the coming years. As always, the pitch was immaculate and worthy of hosting any cup final - flat and very well maintained. An 8 page programme was available free of charge, containing brief introductions to both clubs, "roads to the final", league table, competition winners over the years, and predicted line-ups.
It could be considered a good achievement that both of these clubs had reached this evening's final, considering that this competition is open to clubs in Divisions Two and Three - both finalists ply their trade in the lower division. Both clubs have already completed their League fixtures for the season, with South Coast Athletico finishing in second place, following 11 wins and two draws from their 16 league games, and so will be promoted to Division Two for next season. Victoria Baptists finished in third place, following eight wins and three draws from their 16 league games, outside of the official promotion berths. When the two teams met in the league. South Coast Athletico won 4-6 away in September, whilst the return fixture in February ended in a 2-2 draw.
On a dry, clear evening which became very chilly towards the end, this was a game of two halves, with Victoria Baptists having the upper hand during the first half, before South Coast Athletico were the stronger after the break. With 3 minutes on the clock, Victoria Baptists saw a shot following a corner blocked on the line, but they took the lead on 14 minutes, when a free kick was headed on, and Gary Walker headed the ball back across the keeper and inside the far post. Both sides had presentable chances during the remainder of the half, but the scoreline remained 1-0 at the break.
South Coast Athletico slowly imposed themselves on the game after the break, without managing to create real chances until the 70th minute, when they equalised. After the Baptists keeper did excellently to parry a close range shot, the loose ball was eventually smashed home by Dayle McGurk. South Coast looked much the likelier to grab a winner, although Victoria Baptists also had a chance. But neither side could find a way through within 90 minutes, and so the game went to extra time.
Despite a couple of good chances during the first half of extra time, there were no further goals until the second minute of the second half, when the ball was lumped through the middle for Connor Easton to bundle his way through midfield before striking the ball home. And South Coast Athletico all but secured the win on 112 minutes when a diagonal ball forward sent Easton clear down the middle, and although he seemed to overrun the ball slightly as he approached the keeper, the ball spilled and Easton struck the ball from quite a tight angle, hitting the far post and Ryan Penny tapped the ball home. Victoria Baptists battled hard to try and get back into the game, but that didn't look likely, and it was South Coast Athletico who lifted the cup on the pitch shortly after the final whistle.
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