The 1st team of Icklesham Casuals reached the final of the Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 9-1 victory over Catsfield in the semi-final on Saturday March 10.
With both Catsfield’s pitch and Icklesham Recreation Ground being unfit the match was switched to Tilekiln and it was Icklesham who got off to a flying start with two early goals. In the 5th minute Steffan Davies was brought down on the edge of the Catsfield area and picked himself up to fire home the free-kick and he then doubled the lead seven minutes later, finishing from a flicked ball across the box from Sean Baker.
Catsfield had a chance to reduce the arrears but Casuals keeper Michael Watson saved at his near post before a four goal burst in an eleven minute spell before half-time ended the contest. Jack Hobden netted in the 32nd minute after being played in by Charlie Cornford and Cornford got his first of the game two minutes later, finishing in style after Davies cut the ball back. Another Davies cross was converted at the far post by Hobden after 37 minutes and Cornford scored again two minutes before half-time to give Icklesham a 6-0 interval lead.
Baker converted a penalty in the 51st minute awarded when Hobden was brought down by the Catsfield keeper having taken the ball round him before Catsfield pulled a goal back three minutes later when Adam Barham headed home a corner. They could have added to their tally but for some good saves from Watson in the Icklesham goal.
Cornford completed his hat-trick just before the hour when he scored from an excellent cross from Hobden and Kieran Dighton completed the scoring in the 79th minute firing into the roof of the net following a corner.
The final against either Sovereign Saints or Victoria Baptists will be at the Pilot Field on a Monday evening in April.
The 2nd team match away to Robetsbridge United II was postponed.
This Saturday the 1st team are in cup action again when they take on St. Leonards Social II in the quarter final of the Hastings Junior Cup with the match being played at Bexhill Road. The 2nd team have a league game against AFC Hollington also at Bexhill Road.
Photos: David Mayne