Casuals take on tough opposition

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The 1st team of Icklesham Casuals picked up a useful point on Saturday against a Wadhurst United team who had beaten them twice previously this season.

A soft penalty converted by John Penny put Wadhurst 1-0 up at half-time and they had chances to increase the lead, hitting the woodwork and having a number of other goalmouth scrambles. Icklesham battled hard and with eight minutes to go Bradlee Mepham put Martin Tytherleigh through who chipped the Wadhurst keeper as he came off his line to equalise.

With two minutes remaining the ball broke to Mepham on the left, who hit a superb shot from 30 yards into the left corner of the net. Then, with barely 30 seconds of the game to go, Wadhurst got the luck that had deserted them all afternoon when a shot from John Penny was deflected and looped over goalkeeper Jack Davies into the net. There was just time to restart before the referee blew the final whistle.

While it was disappointing to concede such a late equaliser, the team did ride their luck during the match. With Martin Tytherleigh having played over 900 games for the club and Mepham being just 16 years old, a record may well have been set for having the oldest and youngest goalscorers in the same game!

The 2nd team match at home to Hampden Park United was frustratingly called off following the heavy overnight rain on Saturday.

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