Good evening, I’m James Clement and welcome back to this live blog. Tonight I’ll be taking you through the Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final, as current holders Horsham chase a historic double against Littlehampton Town at the American Express Stadium here in Brighton.
One division currently separates the sides – whilst Horsham’s dramatic final day title win will see that become two next season. A 5-1 victory at home to Hashtag United last month earned The Hornets the title by just one goal difference, as Dom Di Paolo’s men will compete at Step Two of the non-league pyramid for the first time ever next season.
Littlehampton Town have had a more muted season in the South East Division of the Isthmian League, finishing 18th. An impressive 2-1 win over National South outfit Eastbourne Borough, however, earned The Golds safe passage to tonight’s showdown at the Amex.
Horsham have made one change as Jake Elliot comes on for Isaac Philpot in central defence. Dom Di Paolo’s side are otherwise unchanged from their dramatic title-clinching 5-1 victory over Hashtag United 12 days ago.
Littlehampton Town have made two changes, with captain Jordan Layton and Marshall Ball coming in for Scott Kirkwood and Marcel Powell.
Horsham earned their 8th County Cup honour last season. Tonight they defend it from a Littlehampton Town side that hasn’t taken this trophy home since 1970 – and haven’t featured in a final since 1991.
Both sides have a good number of supporters here to witness a showpiece final at a Premier League stadium.
1: Referee Jonathon Wilks blows his whistle and the 135th Sussex Senior Cup Final is underway here at the Amex!
2: An industrious tackle by Nic D’Arienzo in the box earns Horsham the first corner of the game.
3: Horsham have the ball in the net from the corner, but Danny Barker was in an offside position in doing so. 0-0 it remains.
6: Reece Myles-Meekums receives a pull-back from James Hammond on the edge of the box, but his effort is blazed over the Littlehampton goal.
9: Ola Ogunwamide gets beyond his man down the Horsham right and finds James Hammond in space in the box. The Horsham captains sees his effort valiantly blocked by a Nic D’Arienzo.
10: Referee Jonathon Wilks produces the first yellow of the contest for a late tackle by Thomas Butler on Lucas Rodrigues.
11: Horsham have certainly had the better of the opening exchanges, with gaps already showing in the Littlehampton midfield.
14: Reece Myles-Meekums has a curling effort from 20 yards wide left saved by James Binfield.
15: James Binfield is able to get fingertips to the resulting corner to divert it to safety.
18: Nic D’Arenzio with the best chance so far for Littlehampton as his header is blocked in the six-yard box.
20: Stoppage in play as both Lucas Rodrigues and James Binfield are down in separate incidents. The latter is being seen to by a physio. Both players are eventually back to their feet as play resumes.
23: James Binfield is once again down following a drop kick and it appears that the Littlehampton Town ‘keeper cannot continue. On comes Mac Chisholm in his place.
24: Rousing applause for James Binfield as he limps off the Amex turf looking notably distraught.
25: CHANCE! Littlehampton fashion an opening which sees captain Jordan Layton enter the box. A combination of Jake Elliot and Lewis Carey are able to smother the ball and hook it to safety.
28: Littlehampton have certainly grown into the contest. Mitchell Hand’s men are battling well and beginning to work some promising openings in wide areas.
31: Jordan Layton loads up another long throw to no avail. The Littlehampton captain is struggling with the consistency of the length of his secret weapon.
32: Some spice is added to the contest. Marshall Ball of Littlehampton appears to clash with a member of the Horsham coaching staff but the situation soon diffuses with no action taken by the officials.
35: Some great foraging by Lucas Rodrigues dispossess Nic D’Arenzio in a dangerous area. After good wing play by Ola Ogunwamide the ball finds the feet of Rodrigues once more in the box, but a superb last-ditch tackle by Thomas Butler denies him a shooting opportunity.
37: GREAT SAVE! Harvey Sparks was slipped in down the left in acres of space and squares to Charlie Hester-Cook. His effort from 10 yards was saved well by Mac Chisholm for his first meaningful impact from the bench.
39: Horsham are well and truly pressing the issues now. After some quick feet by Reece Myles-Meekums to earn a yard, his cross narrowly evades the head of Ola Ogunwamide from a matter of yards out.
41: It’s last ditch stuff at the back for Littlehampton. Fleetness of foot from Lucas Rodrigues gets him past his man, but for an imperious tackle by Nic D’Arienzo as he approaches the six yard box from the right. Horsham earn a corner.
43: Littlehampton will be praying for the half-time whistle as the Horsham onslaught continues with more sustained possession.
44: Thomas Butler once more has to have his whits about him to divert another Harvey Sparks cross.
45: Tempers almost flared on the brink of half-time as George Gaskin puts in a robust challenge on Jake Elliot much to the chagrin of many in Gold and Green. The referee awards only a throw-in as the situation calms.
45+2: Half Time: Horsham 0-0 Littlehampton Town
HT: A game devoid of much quality so far. Both sides have earned themselves promising openings, but Horsham certainly ended the half on top. Given the gulf in divisions, Mitchell Hand will likely be content with his sides’ performance so far.
46: Referee Jonathon Wilks has us back underway at the Amex!
49: Luis-Tijan Sparks is down after having the ball rifled into his midriff by a teammate. I think every man in here felt that… He’s back to his feet now.
53: An initial advantage is brought back as a yellow card is produced for George Gaskin for a foul on Ola Ogunwamide.
54: Harvey Sparks delivers a good cross after a short corner, but Marshall Ball gets a faint touch to send it behind for another. The resultant corner is flapped at by Mac Chisholm to go behind for a third in quick succession.
55: SAVE! Reece Myles-Meekums does well to find a yard in the box, but his powerfiul strike is tipped over by Mac Chisholm.
56: POST! The resulting corner finds the head of Lucas Rodrigues. His header goes back across goal and agonisingly onto the post.
57: Scott Faber is the third Littlehampton Town player into the referee’s book for a late challenge in midfield.
60: After ending the first 45 on top, Horsham have raced out of the blocks in the second.
63: Littlehampton make a substitution. Off comes the recently booked Scott Faber for his namesake Scott Kirkwood.
66: It’s Horsham’s turn to enter the referee’s notebook, as Danny Barker sees yellow for a poor challenge on the oncoming Scott Kirkwood
69: Luis-Tijan Sparkes recieves treatment for what appears to be cramp.
70: Substitution for Horsham. The bright Ola Ogunwamide has run his race, as Shamir Fenelon comes on in his place.
71: Littlehampton have – even if momentarily – broke up the rhythm of Horsham. The game is devolving into a procession of petty fouls.
72: Another Littlehampton substitution. Kyle O’Brien replaces captain Jordan Layton.
74: Mac Chisholm breathes a huge sigh of relief as a Horsham cross eventually bobbles fortuitously into his grateful hands.
75: CHANCE! The best move in 20 minutes sees Kieron Pamment cross onto the head of George Gaskin. The pace of the cross was too much for the Golds’ striker, as his header fizzes wide at the near post.
76: Another Horsham change, as Lucas Rodrigues makes way for Chris Dickson.
79: Despite the drop in quality as both sides tire, both sets of supporters have been in superb voice throughout.
80: Serious concern here for Littlehampton Town as backup ‘keeper Mac Chisholm is down and receiving treatment. If unable to continue, we could see an outfield player take up a berth between the LTFC sticks…
81: Horsham make their third change as Jack Brivio replaces Charlie Hester-Cook. Mac Chisholm appears to be soldiering on for now.
83: A high foot for Lee Harding earns him a yellow card, despite a bellowing crowd insisting on a card of a different colour.
86: Another booking for Littlehampton Town as Kyle O’Brien halts a breakaway following a rare Littlehampton Town corner. Cynical but necessary at this stage of a cup final.
89: Horsham make another change, as Jake Elliot departs for Daniel Ajakaiye.
89: CHANCE! Horsham have their own flurry of corners, with the final one meeting the head of Jack Brivio. From yards out the substitute heads over.
89: Today’s attendance is announced as 3,055. A splendid turn out for a County Cup final.
90: Six minutes have been added. A reminder that this would go straight to penalties if we can’t find a winner before those six minutes are up.
90+3: Boos ring around the Amex as Mac Chisholm collapses on the ball and takes his time in distributing it. It’s fair to say one side would take penalties over the other at this late stage.
90+4: Marshall Ball becomes the latest man to earn a booking from the busy Jonathon Wilks after a late scything tackle.
90+5: LTFC make one last change, as Matthew Storm replaces Luis-Tijan Sparks. Perhaps a change with penalties in mind?
90+6: Last chance for Horsham as James Hammond stands over a free-kick from 25 yards out to the left. He couldn’t, could he?
90+6: GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!! HE COULD! WHAT A STRIKE FROM JAMES HAMMOND! THE HORSHAM CAPTAIN HAS SURELY WON THE SUSSEX COUNTY CUP IN THE LAST MINUTE OF ADDED TIME!
90+8: Full Time: Horsham 1-0 Littlehampton Town
FT: Ecstasy for Horsham, agony for Littlehampton.
Thank you very much for joining me for the Sussex Transport Senior County Cup Final tonight from a now rather chilly Amex Stadium. In a game devoid of any real quality, it was a moment of pure genius that decided the contest. Captain James Hammond will remember that strike for a long, long time. Credit to Littlehampton, who, for the gulf in quality battled well. But Horsham have earned themselves a historic double, in what must go down as the club’s greatest ever season.
