The 1st team of Icklesham Casuals reached the third round of the Sussex Junior Cup with a 6-2 victory over Watersfield at the Recreation Ground on November 5.
It was the visitors, having made the long journey from West Sussex, who started the brighter and went ahead in the 10th minute when a cross from the left was finished at the far post.
The Casuals hit back and equalised eight minutes later when Dave Pugh’s 20 yard strike was excellently touched onto the bar by the Watersfield keeper only for Steffan Davies to head in the rebound. Steffan Davies then had a couple of chances to put Icklesham ahead before Jack Hobden played the ball forward to Charlie Cornford whose lovely first touch saw him round the opposing defender and run on to finish low past the advancing goalkeeper.
Watersfield continued to knock the ball around nicely and levelled the scores in the 36th minute when a pinpoint ball over the home defence was rewarded with an equally neat finish. Going into the final minute of the half a Watersfield corner was cleared to Cornford who showed his strength in running from the halfway line, holding off a defender, cutting back and slotting the ball home to give the Casuals a 3-2 lead at the break.
Icklesham controlled the game better in the second period although the visitors were still a threat going forward. The fourth goal came in the 62nd minute when Hobden knocked the ball into the net following a good save from the Watersfield keeper and Hobden made the game safe in the 69th minute finishing well when put clean through. In the 84th minute Adam Sully intercepted a clearance and played in Cornford who unselfishly laid the ball across the area for Val Newman to knock in.
The next round will see a trip to Preston Park in Brighton on December 2 to take on Diversity United from Division One of the Brighton Worthing and District League.
The second Iclesham team recorded another good victory, their third in the last four matches, with a 2-1 success against West Hill United II at William Parker School. The goals were scored by the two full-backs with a cross come shot from left-back Nick Bellhouse and a 25 yard screamer from right-back Jon Fitton. All the goals in the match came in the first half.
Photos: David Mayne