Icklesham Casuals 1st team reached the semi-final of the Hastings Junior Cup with a 3-0 win away to Bexhill United II last Saturday, February 16, thanks to goals from Liam Sayer, Steffan Davies and an own-goal.
They have a tough assignment in the semi-final against Wadhurst United who are currently unbeaten in Division One of the East Sussex League and who have also reached the semi-final of the Sussex Junior Cup.
The 2nd team came back from 2-0 down to defeat Sedlescombe Rangers III 5-2 at the Recreation Ground to earn three league points and make it a good weekend for the club.
In the fifth minute Michael Watson in the Casuals goal pulled off two excellent saves, firstly saving a shot from the edge of the area before recovering to block the follow-up effort but was helpless to prevent the ball from being headed into the net by Gary Underhill.
Sedlescombe looked dangerous going forward and doubled their lead on 17 minutes when they broke from an Icklesham throw at the other end for the ball to be crossed from the left wing and excellently finished by the left foot of Edward Manford Keen.
It took the Casuals just three minutes to respond when a corner bounced through to Sean Baker at the far post, who headed the ball home and they were level four minutes later when Solly Cooke’s cross reached Joe Maylam and his shot found the roof of the net with the help of a deflection. Despite both teams continuing to look better going forward than in defence the score remained at 2-2 at the interval.
The second period saw Icklesham have much the better of the game and a three-goal burst in eight minutes mid-way through the half settled the match. On 67 minutes Maylam finished from close range after good work by Sam Garner and then scored a lovely solo goal to complete his hat-trick. The scoring was completed in the 75th minute when George Barrow’s tremendous 25-yard effort came back off the crossbar and Baker headed in the rebound for his second goal.
The team lie fifth in Division Four having lost just two of their previous eleven league matches after being defeated in the opening five games of the season.
Icklesham Casuals is holding a Charity Golf Day at the Weald of Kent Golf Course in Headcorn on Thursday, May 16 with the proceeds being divided between the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Parkinson’s UK. The event is for teams of two players and will begin around lunchtime with 18 holes and finishing with a curry and prize-giving around 6:30 p.m. The cost is £40 per person for tea and coffee, 18 holes of golf, a selection of curries and a contribution to the charities. There will also be other fun and fundraising events on the day. Anyone interested in taking part please email the club at ickleshamcasualsfc@hotmail.com.
The club is also looking for a sponsor for each of the 18 holes, either from businesses or individuals and will be running a ‘Bus Stop’ which will be drawn on the day. Tickets for the ‘Bus Stop’ are £5 each with several excellent prizes already confirmed. Further details of the ‘Bus Stop’ and prizes as well as hole sponsors will be placed on the club facebook page in due course.
If anyone would like to support the charity fundraising by sponsoring a hole or purchasing a ‘Bus Stop’ please email the club on the above address.
Image Credits: David Mayne .