Last week Rye Town Football Club added further silverware to its trophy cabinet after their recent League success. The League champions clinched the Hastings & District FA Junior Cup with a 1-0 win over Sedlescombe Rangers II on Monday April 24 after a second-half strike from Charlie Stevens proved the difference between the teams.
On May Day, Rye clinched a magnificent treble in its first season after winning the East Sussex Football League Division One title and Hastings & District FA Junior Cup. The treble was completed when Town clinched the Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup, beating Division Two champions Bexhill AAC in an entertaining final at The Pilot Field.
Rye played some good football during the first half and created several chances but it was Bexhill who took the lead in the 20th minute after Alex Williams tapped in following a mistake by Ridgers in the town goal. Rye thought they had equalised when Joe Fraser put the ball into the Bexhill net only for the linesman to flag offside – a decision which could have gone either way. Alex Williams then put Bexhill 2-0 up following a really good finish. Ridgers kept town in the game with an excellent save just before the break.
Rye came out for the second half looking for an early goal and three minutes later Dom Cruttenden provided this following a magnificent 25-yard free kick. Cruttenden was then inches away after another free kick rattled the crossbar. Rye continued to press and create chances and in the 73rd minute their persistence paid off when Weller slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-2. Five minutes later leading goalscorer Charlie Stevens grabbed the winner with not the cleanest of shots but the ball beat the keeper and nestled in the far corner. Bexhill almost grabbed an equaliser but the ball struck the far post.
It was a tense last five minutes with the extra time added by the referee but eventually the final whistle went and Rye Town FC were able to celebrate a magnificent treble. The Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup was then presented to Captain Sam Henham. Dom Cruttenden was awarded Pikes Cleaning man of the match.
Rye Town: Ridgers; Wilson, Cruttenden, Willis; Heffernan, Henham, Hurley (Gould), Skinner, Fraser (Foulkes); Weller, Stevens. Subs not used: Ball, Osborne, Walker.
Photo: Charmaine Ridgers
Well done to all involved, in the present setup of Rye Town, and the amazing success in your first season,representing the town, in our no 1 Game.