|
Eastbourne Borough U18’s started the FA Cup campaign with what can only be described as a dominant display in front of a large and vociferous crowd at Priory Lane.
The Sports were out of the traps early with a couple of chances for Darren Lok in the 1st 10 minutes. Ethan Strevett forced his way to the edge of the visitors 6 yard box but his effort was slightly scuffed as he maintained his balance, the ball drifting beyond the left hand post. Kyle Ptochopoulos dropped a left-wing corner onto The Deres cross-bar after 11 minutes and Kevin Barden beat Michael Catlin on 12 only for his chipped effort to be cleared off the line. The resultant corner from the left-wing flashed across the 6 yard box, captain Dean Brooks arriving a fraction of a second too late for the telling touch. Brooks and Jack Fry at centre-back were very much the 1st line of attack as The Sports threatened to completely overrun the visitors in the 1st half. The pair played constructive passes to feet and to Michael Ridgeway and Josh Flaherty all evening; the side playing attractive football at pace and on the deck that mesmerised at times. Visiting keeper Catlin was playing extremely well and kept his side in the fixture when saving a Strevett near-post effort; but the Boro No.8 should have converted a Flaherty cut-back on 16 minutes, the shot high under no pressure. Kevin Barden drew a save from Catlin on 27 minutes and 2 minutes later Simon Johnson was also denied by the keeper. It appeared that all the home pressure would come to naught but The Deres finally cracked on 33 minutes. Ptochopoulos delivered a angled ball to the far right-hand post after out pacing the right-back. Barden had lost his marker and slid in to finish for a well deserved lead, 1-0 Boro.
Barden could have added another on 37 minutes but as the ball dropped to him he leant back; the shot high and handsome. Without anything to do all night an error of judgment saw a long ball reach Ollie Barton; who handled just on the edge of his 18 yard box, the free-kick straight at the wall and cleared. Johnson, Strevett and Brett Patton had barely allowed the visitors a touch in the midfield up to now and a Strevett free-kick through the defensive wall was spilled by Catlin allowing Patton to beat the defence to the rebound and finish for 2-0 on 42 minutes.
There were no changes at half-time and the 2nd half started as the 1st ended with Ridgeway being denied by Catlin, but the visitors had taken the opportunity to reorganise during the break and The Sports found The Deres harder to break down. Erith were restricting the home sides efforts on goal but still could not mount a serious attach on Bartons clean-sheet. Lok drove an effort just wide on 62 minutes and Brooks headed a corner off target 10 minutes later. Flaherty had a late effort gathered by the busy Catlin but Boro could not extend their lead but went through courtesy of 2 1st half efforts against a side who they out-classed at times but never gave the hosts an easy ride and continued to compete right until the 90 minutes were up.
Boro will be at home in the next round when they face a Haywards Heath side at a date and time to be confirmed.
Match Details - Webmaster.
|
