Sub-edited by James Bishop
Eastbourne Town comfortably dispatched of Midhurst & Easebourne 6-0 to progress to the Second Round of the Sussex Senior Cup, with 16-year-old Leke Ademola the standout. Read on for the live blog on all of the important moments of the tie.
Hello and welcome to Eastbourne Town where the hosts will be hoping to progress in the First Round of the Sussex Senior Cup against Midhurst & Easebourne. With an eventual place at the Amex up for grabs when the final beckons, both sides will be keen to start what could be an historic cup run. Eastbourne, a division above Midhurst, are the favourites, but the beauty of cup football suggests we could be in for an enthralling affair…
Not long to go until kick-off here now, with the line-ups on their way. How do you see this one going? Personally, I can’t see past a routine victory for Eastbourne, who will want to dispel any notion of an underdog story from the off…
TEAM NEWS
1’: KICK-OFF – We’re underway here at Eastbourne, where we look destined for goals!
2’: NEW BALL! That didn’t take long, did it? Chris Winterton’s boot flies over the stands and likely into someone’s back garden with any luck. And if not, I’m sure a few fans will be out in their search parties later on…
7’: The difference in quality here has been obvious from the off. Eastbourne, the side in the SCFL Premier, look increasingly likely to push their opponents to one side.
11’: GOAL: 1-0 (DAN ROGERS): And there it is! It has been coming. Eastbourne deservedly lead through Dan Rogers who bundles the ball home following the fantastic work of Aaron Hopkinson to evade two challenges and flash an effort across the face of goal. In the end, Josh Bird’s touch only helped Rogers to tap into the back of the net.
15’: GOAL: 2-0 (AARON HOPKINSON): It’s two in the space of four minutes for the hosts and what a goal it is, with Hopkinson once again causing the Midhurst backline all sorts of problems before getting on the scoresheet himself with a delightful chip. Caught in no man’s land, Bird will be frustrated to have conceded in such avoidable fashion. The visitors now have a mountain of work to do if they want to come back.
20’: GREAT SAVE! If it carries on like this, we could have any score by the time the final whistle is sounded. Just five minutes after the second, it should be three, with Louis Venti’s effort palmed away by Bird to keep the score 2-0. The Eastbourne number nine may feel as though he should have done better.
30’: GOAL: 3-0 (LOUIS VENTI): Bird denied him the first time, but at the second time of asking, Venti gets his goal after the most calamitously basic defending from the visitors. A simple ball slices Midhurst apart, allowing Venti to run through and coolly slot home. Midhurst have had 30 minutes to forget.
37’: Things have calmed down somewhat now, as Eastbourne take a breather and, in turn, hand Midhurst some much-needed reprieve.
HALF-TIME: Eastbourne Town 3-0 Midhurst & Easebourne
And that’s the half! Barring any major mishaps, Eastbourne should cruise into the next round from here, with the gap in quality clearly too much for Midhurst. Goals from Dan Rogers, Aaron Hopkinson, and Louis Venti see the hosts lead 3-0.
46’: Back underway here in the First Round of the Sussex Senior Cup. One change to make a note of is the introduction of 16-year-old Leke Ademola, on for Veneti. It would be great to see the youngster find the back of the net here.
49’: GOAL: 4-0 (LEKE ADEMOLA): HE’S DONE IT! Four minutes since coming on as a half-time substitute, Ademola has got his goal in a way that perfectly encapsulates Midhurst’s night, with the youngster’s rebound off the post falling straight back to him for the finish. What looked likely to be a comfortable victory, is now becoming a rout.
55’: The chances of this fixture eventually becoming known as ‘Midhurstanbul’ are extremely low, but the visitors have, at the very least, had their first chance through Marcus Bedford. The forward can only shoot wide, however, with Winterton’s clean sheet at little risk.
60’: GOAL: 5-0 (JACK SAMWAYS): GOAL OF THE NIGHT. What a strike from Jack Samways. Bird comes out of his before skilfully lobbing over an incoming forward much to the surprise of the on-watching fans. A reality check soon comes his way, however, as he loses control, allowing Samways to eventually receive the ball and drive home into the empty net from a seemingly impossible range. Catastrophic from Midhurst. Superb from Samways and Eastbourne.
63’: OFF THE POST! It could have so easily been six for the hosts and it would have been, but for the post. Ademola was the player causing problems once more, breaking in behind before slamming his effort against the woodwork.
68’ GOAL: 6-0 (FLETCHER HOLMAN): I said he was causing Midhurst problems and, having hit the post just minutes earlier, Ademola turns creator to put the ball on a plate for Holman to tap home. It was superb from the starlet, carrying the ball in behind before rounding Bird and having the wherewithal to spot the unmarked Holman.
74’: Eastbourne now seem content to just keep possession and let the clock run down in a tactic that will suit Midhurst as well. The visitors, who were the underdogs coming into the tie, haven’t been given a chance by the hosts, who have been incredibly professional all evening.
80’: Into the final 10 minutes now and, have to say, the standout has been Ademola. Despite only coming on at half-time, the way the 16-year-old has played is a joy to behold. Eastbourne have themselves a rare gem.
86’: Speaking of Ademola, the curse of the commentator strikes again! The youngster has the easiest of tasks to tap home for his second of the evening to round off an excellent display, but somehow, someway manages to clear the bar with his effort!
FULL-TIME: Eastbourne Town 6-0 Midhurst & Easebourne
What an evening for Eastbourne! Goals from Dan Rogers, Aaron Hopkinson, Louis Venti, Leke Ademola, Jack Samways, and Fletcher Holman made it a comfortable tie for the hosts as they cruised to a 6-0 victory. Midhurst would have been well aware of the gap in quality before the game, but would not have been expecting a thrashing of such manner.
On that note, this is where I sign off! I hope you enjoyed the games, and the number of goals as much as I did. Have a good evening!
