Hello I’m Lachlan, I’ll be live blogging tonight’s fixture. Welcome to this live blog of the 2025 Sussex Transport Senior Cup Final between Horsham and Littlehampton Town.
Tonight’s showpiece takes place at the American Express Stadium, the home of Premier League football in Brighton & Hove, where stars like Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka have graced the pitch. But tonight, it’s all about the local heroes, as The Hornets take on The Marigolds under the Brighton lights.
Horsham come into this looking to end the season on a high after the heartbreak of their playoff defeat against Chatham Town. Manager Dom Di Paola said the result was a “real kick in the teeth” and will be desperate for silverware to lift the mood. Having already clinched the Isthmian Premier Division title, the Hornets are aiming to make it a historic double and become the first side since Brighton U21s in 2017 to win back-to-back Sussex Senior Cups .
Littlehampton, meanwhile, are hoping to cause a cup upset. Their path to the final has shown grit and character, traits they’ll need in abundance tonight against a side two divisions higher. This marks their first appearance in the final for 34 years, and with joint managers George Gaskin and Mitch Hand both former Horsham players, there’s a personal edge to their underdog story.
It’s worth noting, Horsham last lifted this trophy in 2024, while Littlehampton’s most recent triumph was in 1970, a rare opportunity for both sets of fans to witness history at a Premier League ground .
There’s a healthy crowd in tonight, with both fanbases bringing the noise and colour to this final under the lights. The scene is set; let’s see who’ll write their name into Sussex folklore.
1’: We kick off with Littlehampton taking it straight to Horsham but nothing comes of it.
3’: Horsham win a corner via Charlie Hester-Cook which sees Horsham after a struggle manage to place it in the back of the net but goal scorer Danny Barker is ruled offside.
8’: Horsham win a corner after a successful attack but Littlehampton are able clear it with no issue.
9’: Littlehampton concede a free-kick after Thomas Butler fouls Rodrigues. Butler received a yellow card for his challenge.
13’: Rodrigues cuts inside to see his shot saved by Binfield.
14’: Littlehampton counter attack immediately and see their cross by Faber go wide.
16’: Littlehampton win a free kick on right corner just outside the box.
19’: A collision between both Binfield and Rodrigues sees them both need attention on the field while the rest of the squad take a short water break.
22’: Binfield cannot continue and is replaced by Mac Chisholm.
23’: Jordan Layton sees his shot blocked by Jake Elliot.
28’: Josh Short wins a throw in for the Marigolds outside of Horsham’s Box.
31’: Marshall Ball runs into Sami El-Abd who doesn’t give the ball back immediately leading to a brief squabble between the pair.
35’: Lucas Rodrigues is brought down by Thomas Butler in Littlehamptons box but play continued on as Horsham fans in attendance pleaded for a penalty.
36’: Rodrigues crosses the ball into box where Hester-Cook sees his strike brilliantly saved by Chisholm.
38’: Harvey Sparks overlaps Rodrigues and squeezes in a tight cross as the ball narrowly misses Ola Ogunwamide head.
44’: With Half-Time approaching the match officials have added two minutes on.
HALF TIME: Horsham 0-0 Littlehampton Town
45’: The second half kicks off, let’s see if Horsham are Hungry Like The Wolf.
51’: George Gaskin receives a yellow for a challenge on Ogunwamide.
53’:Hammond crosses a ball in from the corner but Chisholm scrambles it in the box to concede yet again another corner.
The Hornets have an excellent offensive display as Rodrigues works a good ball into Meekums but Chisholm with a great save keeps Littlehampton in the game.
56’: Rodrigues hits the post and is balling like a White Iverson right now. Littlehamptons Defence is falling apart but the game remains 0-0.
56’: Quite literally falling apart now as Faber becomes the third player to receive a card. The Marigolds certainly aren’t playing for the Gold nor the silverware right now.
60’: Hester-Cook delivers a peach of a cross. Rodrigues rises… but heads wide. Inches away, and you can hear the collective gasp from Horsham fans ripple through the Amex.
63’: Change for Littlehampton. Kirkwood makes way for Faber. A fresh set of legs for the Marigolds.
65’: Tempers flare just slightly. Barker becomes the first Hornet in the referee’s book. A smart foul, perhaps, one for the team.
71’: A third sub for Littlehampton; Leyton replaces O’Brien. A reshuffle. A gamble.
72’: Horsham respond. Ola off, Fenelon on. A forward change; they’re going for it.
74’: Harding whips in a devilish cross. Rodrigues again! But no… can’t convert. You sense something’s coming.
75’: Oh my. Gaskine, two yards out, heads over. That had to be the moment for Littlehampton. But it isn’t.
82’: Harding joins the card club. Another yellow; nerves on edge now.
85’: O’Brien sees yellow too. The final’s heating up, not just in temperature but temperament.
88’: Brivio twice threatens. First deflected for a corner, then a gilt-edged chance from a Sparks delivery, but somehow it stays out. Horsham knocking, the door stubbornly shut.
90’: The fourth official raises the board. Six minutes of added time. Enough for drama.
94’: Ball flies into the tackle studs-up. The referee gives yellow. Some call for red. Controversy stirs.
96’: GOAL!!!
James Hammond. Take a bow. A thunderbolt of a free kick. Top corner. Net ripples. The roof, quite literally, comes off the American Express Stadium.
One-nil Horsham. Pandemonium.
