Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Camping World Community Stadium for this Sussex Senior Cup Third Round tie between Isthmian Premier Division side Horsham and Isthmian League South East outfit Chichester City!
Both teams reached this round through resounding victories in Round Two – Horsham seeing off Midhurst & Easebourne with a 3-0 win away from home, and Chichester also comfortably winning on the road as they thrashed Newhaven 5-0.
Both teams will look one step closer to replicating past successes, as they have both won this competition – Horsham being seven-time winners, and Chichester’s sole win being in the 1925/26 season. The last time Chi reached a final was in 1966 – when they lost 5-1 to Eastbourne United. Horsham last reached the final in 2006 – where they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Lewes.
We also have some team news for you…
Dom Di Paola makes six changes from his starting eleven that drew 3-3 in a frantic game against Barnsley in the FA Cup on Friday night to give game time to other members of his squad – the standout change being their top scorer this season Daniel Ajakaiye (who has seven in all competitions) dropped to the bench.
Lewis Carey, who made the second-highest number of saves from any goalkeeper who played in the FA Cup First Round, makes his 20th consecutive start for the Hornets.
Miles Rutherford makes only two changes to his side that lost 1-0 to Sevenoaks Town last time out – with Joe Clarke and Kaleem Haitham replacing Conrad Honroe and Steve Hutchings.
Goalkeeper Keiran Magee, who kept 14 clean sheets for Chi last season, makes his 61st consecutive start in between the sticks.
The teams are now entering the pitch and we’re just mere moments away from this Sussex Senior Cup tie from getting underway! Who will advance through to Round Four? We’re about to find out.
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MIN 1 – And we’re off…
MIN 10 – Been a very slow start to this game, Chichester looking to take the sting out of the Hornets game by keeping the ball moving on the edge of their area.
MIN 24 – Promise I’m not forgetting to type anything, it’s just been that dull so far. 0-0.
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THERE’S THE OPENER! After Lucas Rodrigues was able to fire a low cross into the area, it fell for Kadell Daniel who laid it off delicately for Hester-Cook to turn in from close range into the bottom right corner. 1-0 Horhsam.
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HESTER-COOK AT THE DOUBLE! Following a corner from the left-hand side from Lee Harding looped to the back post, Jack Brivio was able to head it back across the box, which fell to Hester-Cook and he smashed his effort beyond Magee to double his tally for the night. 2-0 Horsham.
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IT’S GOALS GALORE AT THE CAMPING WORLD COMMUNITY STADIUM! Two in double-quick time for the Hornets, after Daniel’s fantastic through ball set Rodrigues through one-on-one with Magee, and he makes no mistake and tucks it under the goalkeeper. 3-0 Horsham.
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MIN 43 – Now it’s Horsham who are frustrating Chichester by keeping the ball on the edge of their area, setting the game at their own pace. Only a few minutes left of this first half and the Hornets are cruising.
MIN 45 – One minute of added time.
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Where was that for the first 25 minutes? Horsham are flying here, and they still look as if they have a few more gears to go into. Hester-Cook has been by far the standout performer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went on to get another goal or two in this game.
Chichester on the other hand haven’t even got into first gear. They’ve rarely ventured forward and when they do, they don’t do much with it. It looks as if they have already accepted their crashing out of the Sussex Senior Cup tonight.
Back out come the teams and we’re minutes away from starting this second half!
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MIN 46 – We’re back underway at the Camping World Community Stadium.
MIN 48 – First chance of the game from Chichester as Ryan Davidson stings the palms of Carey with a long-range effort. Much brighter from the visitors.
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IT’S A HESTER HAT-TRICK! Again the number 10 finds the back of the net, after a loose pass from Magee allowed Tom Richards to nip in and steal the ball to make his way into the box, which eventually fell to Hester-Cook, who on the turn fired his effort into the bottom corner to get his third. 4-0 Horsham.
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MIN 55 – Horsham make their first change as Brivio is replaced by Danny Barker.
MIN 66 – Two more changes for Horsham as Daniel and the hat-trick hero Hester-Cook make way for Ajakayie and Charlie Harris.
MIN 70 – Off the post! Isaac Bello has a rare shot on goal for Chichester as his shot from inside the area cannons back off the woodwork.
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AJAKAIYE GETS IN ON THE ACTION! Only six minutes after being brought on as a substitute, Ajakaiye gets his 8th goal this season after Harding’s through pass played him in one-on-one and he slots it in through the legs of Magee at a tight angle. 5-0 Horsham.
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MIN 75 – Horsham make another double change as Harvey Sparks and Jack Strange make way for Alex Malins and James Hammond.
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BEAUTIFUL FINISH FROM HARRIS AND HORSHAM HAVE HIT CHICHESTER FOR SIX! Fantastic work from Tom Kavanagh who wins the ball high up the pitch, and after a neat exchange between himself, Ajakaiye and Harris, the latter guides his left-footed shot in off the post. 6-0 Horsham.
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MIN 88 – Almost a seventh for Horsham after some dazzling footwork from Ajakaiye sees him nutmeg the defender and get his cross into the area, but Hammond’s effort is well wide.
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And there you have it! Horsham cruise into the Fourth Round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 6-0 win over Chichester City, who never got going at all in the game.
Horsham now look forward to their next game, as they host Hashtag United on Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division, where they’ll look to make it six games undefeated in all competitions.
I’ve been Freddie Humphry-Wakefield, and I’ll see you next time!
