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Brighton shine bright in cup replay success

Brighton shine bright in cup replay success

Shaun Pimley20 Feb 2019 - 20:33
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Women's weekend review - Bara’s goal and Jess’ saves leave East Grinstead in the dark

A second half goal from Bara Kavanova and some excellent goalkeeping from Jess Harris gave Brighton and Hove victory over East Grinstead in a Sussex Cup replay on Sunday.

The victory brought a sense of justice for Brighton, who join their clubmates the 2s in the semi-finals of the competition. EG had insisted on a replay after the lights went out in the original tie with Brighton 2-1 up and about to take a penalty corner with only a minute and 30 seconds left to go.

Women’s Club Captain Kate Kieran reports: “EG bought a stronger team but couldn't get past Jess Harris in goal who had an outstanding game covering for Amanda. Whilst EG had some good possession it was Brighton who had more of the play.

“EG’s influential midfielder was matched by Alice Heap with a strong and non-stop performance in midfield. It was finally a Bara penalty corner that broke the deadlock and Brighton played good and tactical hockey to win a game they had already won.”

Eastbourne 1s are in Brighton’s path to another potential final appearance while the 2s face holders Horsham 1s in the last four. Those ties will be played on either Saturday March 9 of Sunday March 10.

The cup success was some consolation for a 3-1 home defeat by Maidenhead the previous day in the South Club’s League when Brighton failed to make the most of their possession.

"A very disappointing loss not only because Maidenhead are bottom of the league but firstly because we had 70 per cent of the possession and secondly as we’ve notched up some great performances since Christmas, gradually working our way up the table," reports skipper Amanda Billington.

"The first two goals were scored in a similar fashion; a fast break and taking a shot before slipping the rebound around the keeper after their initial shot was saved. Brighton attacked again and again with shots peppering the outside of the goal. Finally Brighton scored from a great double switch between Alice Heap and man of the match Amber Patel before Fran Crossley put her shot away.

"The visitors started the second half with pace and put away a penalty corner with a deflection from the injector. Brighton held the ball for the rest of the game with the visitors making minimal entrances into our 23 but Brighton continued to put the ball wide of goal with nothing to show for their efforts."

The 2s go into their top of the table clash with Hailsham 1 on Saturday after a hard fought 2-0 win over Worthing 1s in the Sussex League premier division. The two sides are level on points but Hailsham's goal difference is 11 better.

"After a bit of a stressful journey that involved a face mask handover just off the A27 and a detour to pick up some shin pads, we all managed to make it to not so sunny Angmering to take on Worthing," reports captain Nivene Raafat. "They came at us straight out the blocks, moving the ball swiftly about the pitch, driving at us with plenty of pace and tying our midfield in knots.

"For the first 15 minutes, we struggled to make any sort of impression on the game, absorbing wave after wave of attack from Worthing. Amanda managed to successfully run down a few Worthing short corners and although we won a few set pieces of our own, we went into half time 0-0. Needless to say, Kenny was less than impressed but like so often this season, we saved our best for the second half.

"Kelly (nursing two very blistered feet) moved out to right wing and player of the match Sam came alive at centre mid. She ran tirelessly, distributing the ball with pinpoint accuracy to Kelly, Redders and Jo. We ran ourselves ragged in midfield, matching Worthing for pace and determination, and we were finally rewarded with a trademark deflection by Sumi on the right post.

"We got on the scoreboard again moments later, with a beautifully worked team move completed by Redders (two goals in two weeks!). We all ran our socks off and kept the pressure up right until the final whistle and although hungry for more goals, we couldn’t quite manage to add to our tally. We’ll have to carry that hunger over into next week when we take on top of the league Hailsham."

The 3s picked up a useful point in a 1-1 draw at Crawley 1s.

Skiing envy coloured the thoughts of Ellie Hehir as the 4s faced a trip to division one leaders South Saxons and lost 5-0.

"I've always daydreamed about a skiing holiday, the slopes, the mulled wine, the chalets... so when I got the call from skipper Bills you can imagine my emotions," reports Ellie. "Yes, receiving that invitation was like finding the golden ticket... are you sure Bills? Am I worthy? To captain in Hastings for a 10.30 push back whilst you tick off another item on my bucket list?! It's too much Bills, you're too kind.

"So with high expectations we dragged ourselves out of bed, full of cold and bitterness to face top of the league in Hastings. I don't want to sound too bitter so let's not discuss the first 20 minutes of the game. I'm fairly sure it was at the same time that Bills was hitting the powder or eating her breakfast with ridiculously stunning alpine views.

"Anyway... to cut a long story short. I don't want to speak about the first 20 minutes but it ended up with us conceding four goals and a Hastings player breaking a finger. And boy was it broken... we're talking 90 degree angle broken. So I pulled a motivating pep talk during the broken finger drama out the bag and the game changed for the better. I'm not saying that I'm better than hitting those fresh slopes in the morning but I'm pretty darn good!

"The game was a hard one. We ran. We ran a lot. We also got bumped and elbowed and every time one of the Fours hit the ground I winced at the sound. Each time I couldn't help but think, 'wouldn't it be nice to fall on freshly laid snow rather than this pitch that is reminiscent of concrete.

"The first half was long. Longer than Bills' final run down the slope. It ended in the never-ending short corner which was just a incredible example of how dirty the game was. Oh this is our chance to score, oh wait they've fouled us, oh another short let's go for a... nope they've barged us before we got a chance to hit the... Oh hang on another foul... Yep that went on for five short corners... thankfully the ruddy whistle went shortly after otherwise the Saxons' midfield would have had asthma attacks from running back.

"Oh wait one did in the second half.. probs about the time Bills was having her first sip of beer..

"The second half was a classic Fours game. We worked hard, angered the oppo with our possession and skills (not quite as skilful as Bills on the snowboard but still ruddy good) and managed to maintain possession. Second half we lost 1-0 which was more indicative of the game. Grazed, bruised and out of breath we just couldn't get that ball in the goal but we walked away with high hopes of next week when the captain would be back with her weird goggle tan to lead us to victory.

"It was a good game. Just don't mention the first 20 minutes and whatever you do don't show me the holiday pics Bills - I got out of bed early on a Saturday for that game.

And Drinky continued the skiing theme with the 5s, who lost by the odd goal in 5 at Southwick 1s.

“When Bills mentioned skiing I thought it was a mid-season outing for all the team,” she reports. “You can imagine my excitement at telling them. A 4s and 5s ‘school’ ski trip. But no. As I lie here looking at her wonderful skiing photos I can’t help but reminisce about what I was doing instead.

"We packed up the cars early and took the winding roads to Steyning to face Southwick. We went a little off piste this week with a change in midfield and a little something different up front. Despite another week of digging deep and giving it out all, climbing every mountain, we still couldn’t get a win.

"This match was like a tricky black diamond run from the start and ‘Wick’ were Olympic scoring early goals. I’m sure by now Bills had spent most her day falling on the slopes but just like us she would bounce back up time and time again.

"A few icy sliding patches for ‘Wick’ saw us find our rhythm. We carved up the pitch like skiing through that fresh morning snow. There was no avalanche of goals from us but a big enough of a dump to get us back in it. I’m sure by now Bills has face planted a few trees and lost a ski but just like us she would keep going.

"We hard packed, hit our edges and rode the moguls. But in the last section of the game ‘Wick’ moved to the easy nursery slopes and just kept the ball. They shut us down like the chair lifts at the end of the day. We were left gently swinging in the breeze with nothing more we could do.

"By now I’m sure Bills has been dragged humiliatingly up a button lift by her ankle but just like us she would get herself up again, dust herself off and enjoy the rest of the trip.

"Time was not on our side. We tried every trick, every jump in the half pipe. We climbed to the highest altitude and took the hardest route down. There is no stopping our desire or deflating our determination. If you are not failing you are not learning and every week our experience grows. A win is coming! I must thank the squad again for never giving up.

By now I’m sure Bills is on her fourth hot wine and can’t string a sentence together so for us it’s time to hit the apres hockey and celebrate how awesome we are every week and how we will fight to the end to stay in this league which we deserve to be in."

The 6s climbed into fourth place in division two with a 5-2 win over Mid Sussex 2s while the 7s went down 3-2 to high-flying Eastbourne 4s.

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