For the second Saturday running both Icklesham Casuals football teams were victorious – this time in cup fixtures.
The 1st team completed a remarkable comeback to defeat Division One Wadhurst United 3-2 in the 1st round of the Hastings Junior Cup.
Trailing 2-0 with 86 minutes on the clock, Icklesham’s Sean Baker then reduced the arrears, before Steffan Davies equalised in the 90th minute. With extra time looking certain, substitute Ian Oliver struck the winner in the last seconds of the match.
The 2nd team recorded an excellent 4-2 win away to St Leonards in the 1st round of the Hastings Lower Divisions Cup. The away side went 3-1 up thanks to goals from Lee Pierce, Mick Richards, who back heeled the ball into the net following a corner, and Dan Russell, with the St Leonards’ reply coming from a disputed penalty.
Russell then had the chance to make it 4-1 when he beat the St Leonards goalkeeper to a through ball. But his subsequent shot lacked power, and a St Leonards defender got back to clear before the ball crossed the line. St Leonards then reduced the arrears in the 52nd minute of a 56 minute first half with a fine finish!
Both teams created opportunities in the second period with Pierce and Russell going close for Icklesham, and Casuals goalkeeper Elliot Upton pulling off a number of fine saves.
But the highlight of the game came in the 66th minute when an Icklesham corner was cleared to the halfway line. Centre back Jon Fitton met the ball on the half-volley and his bullet-like shot sped into the roof of the net to secure a deserved win.
Photo supplied by David Mayne