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’The Sports’ returned to The Enclosed Ground, East Brighton Park for the 1st time since the County League days in the Quarter Final of the Sussex Senior Cup.
The weather was atrocious for football, a strong swirling wind, diving rain on-and-off, and the pitch sloping and heavy. But with the conditions equal for both sides Boro started brightly attacking down the hill. In the opening 15 minutes Andy Atkin had a header saved and the ball in the net from an Andy Ballard cross; ruled out for offside; and Matt Crabb shot wide from 18 yards.
Aaron Gunn tested Lee Hook from distance before Nathan scored his 1st of a hat-trick on 25 minutes, firing past Ross Standen from 12 yards. 5 minutes later Nathan headed past the keeper for his 2nd, finishing a pin-point cross from brother Matt. Nathan’s 3rd came on 39 minutes when Whitehawk failed to clear their lines and the Boro No.10 volleyed home from 12 yards out.
At half-time Scott Ramsay made a welcome return to the Boro side following injury, replacing Atkin, and both benches made further changes in the opening exchanges. Hook almost allowed ‘The Hawks’ a goal back when his ground kick clearance found Tommy Pattenden’s head close range but the ball rebounded wide of the goal. James Bentley’s long range effort was gathered by Hook before Paul Armstrong saw a 25 yard free-kick turned over the bar after 65 minutes. Adam Wilde chipped the ball onto the bar with Standen beaten and on 78 the home keeper rushed out to save at the wingers feet but 7 minutes from time Boro ‘scored’ the final goal of the tie. Ballard combined well with Nathan Crabb wide right. Nathan tore down the right-wing before delivering a deep cross for Ramsay. Contrary to the initial report the final touch was in fact off a Whitehawk defender but it was cruel on the home side who had worked hard in the 2nd half to limit Boro’s chances.
5 minutes from time there was a halfhearted appeal for a penalty as Darren Budd was pulled down in the box but the final score remained 4-0 and a semi-final berth for ‘The Sports’.
Match Details - Webmaster.
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