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The Sussex Senior Cup Final
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1) 2 (Piercy, Hammond)
WORTHING (0) 0
Attendance 1,022
Think back to the last time we were in the Senior Cup final. Glorious sunshine, a trip to a decent ground, a few beers on the way up. Ok, now erase those thoughts and insert p!ssing rain, the Sussex FA’s eternal love-in with Eastbourne Borough FC and “dry” coaches. You get the picture now. Good.
Those travelling by coach had the dubious honour of being able to watch the mighty Withdean 2000 in action at Woodside Road prior to departure. It was easy to see how AFC Wimbledon have gone all season unbeaten as this really was an exhibition of some of the worst semi-pro football I have ever seen. We left safe in the knowledge that our game couldn’t be any worse than the one we had left behind.
We were on a hiding to nothing. The scenario was this – Brighton had made the play-offs and therefore were fielding players whose contracts were up for renewal (so they’ll be trying really hard), fringe first teamers who want to play in the play-offs (so they’ll be trying really hard as well), youngsters (who always try really hard) and David Lee. Worst-case scenario. What we needed were first teamers (that wouldn’t have risked injury by trying too much), those who had been told they were going at the end of the season (so couldn’t give a monkeys), those who had fallen out with Mr Magoo (and knew they’d never play again) and David Lee.
The venue was Eastbourne Borough, because they can do the post-match meal for the “blazers” in house as opposed to going to a local restaurant. There’s justice. The “tennis” draw (this means fixed) ensured a difficult path for those “difficult” clubs (i.e., us, Lose, Butlins, Horsham and Crawley) and a considerably easier one for the “easy” clubs.
In driving rain, the players were presented to a random “blazer” as we revealed why we wore white on Saturday. Our red shirts had been named and numbered in the Premiership-stylee and we had big-gun named and numbered shirts. We looked the part and fielded five players with first team Albion experience – Will, Sean, Ross, Dodge and Gavin.
The game opened up with us enjoying the better of the possession, while Brighton stood firm at the back. With Adam El-Abd outstanding, we never really looked like breaking them down and they were always dangerous on the break. Brighton opened the scoring as a Chris Dicker challenge on Chris McPhee was judged to be unfair by referee Chris Salt and a penalty was awarded which was despatched with aplomb by Albion enigma John Piercey who appears to be loved and loathed in equal measure by Seagulls fans.
Referee Salt, who has never enjoyed the best of games when officiating us, seemed initially awe-struck by the occasion and made a succession of curious decisions usually in favour of the stripes. Surprisingly he didn’t get round to booking Mark Knee (as is customary for him) but regular followers of Sussex non-league football will be glad to know he still referees in Kylie Minogue’s shorts. He was duly booed off at half time.
To be fair, we played really well but just couldn’t compete fitness-wise with the Albion boys. After all, our lads have all got full-time jobs, have played 67 games this season and have numerous other commitments outside of football. The life of a pro footballer is a great one and those lucky enough to be one should take a look at the dedication shown by non-league players and thank their lucky stars that they got a break.
Midway through the second half, Ben was brought on for a farewell appearance to rapturous applause. Clearly unfit, he did his best, as did Gavin and Beechy when they came on, but it was just not to be. The Sussex FA unnecessarily attached blue and white ribbons to the cup a whole 10 minutes from time but we just couldn’t break down Albion’s excellent defence. The best side won but we were far from disgraced – put it this way, Eastbourne Borough got hammered 7-1 by this lot and they’re a division above us.
We collected our losers medals to a great reception. We cheered and sang all the way through the game and this continued well after the final whistle. Ben got the send off (not the sending off, away fans!) he deserved and Dodge won man-of-the-match.
As the players trudged off the pitch, it was not the time to be disappointed. This season they have achieved so much and grown as both players and characters. Next season will be our best yet and I for one cannot wait for the season to begin.
Just as this season’s title hopes started and ended at Stag Meadow, our final game of 2003/04 and first pre-season game of 2004/05 will feature the same opposition in the strange symmetry that football can sometimes throw up.
Until we meet again…..
THE LIST OF CHARLIE BIG-POTATO SQUAD NUMBERED
NAMED SHIRTS FOR THE CUP FINAL –
1 Will Packham, 2 Sean Edwards, 3 Chris Dicker, 4 Owen Hill, 5 Clay Lamont,
6 Mark Pulling, 7 Ben Carrington, 8 Paul Rogers, 9 Sam Francis, 10 Nko
Ekoku, 11 Mark Knee, 12 Gavin Geddes, 14 Roy Pook, 15 Andrew Beech, 16
Ross Johnson, 17 Florian Mateos
AND THE RATINGS…
TEAM – Will Packham 8, Sean Edwards 9, Chris Dicker 7, Owen Hill 8, Clay Lamont 7 (sub Andrew Beech 6), Mark Pulling 7 (sub Ben Carrington 6), Paul Rogers 8, Sam Francis 6, Nko Ekoku 7, Mark Knee 7, Roy Pook 6 (sub Gavin Geddes 7) SUBS NOT USED Ross Johnson, Florian Mateos
MY MAN OF THE MATCH – Sean Edwards just ahead of Dodge. Impeccable performance in testing conditions against a class team.
7th Feb 2004