Rye Town entertained Bexhill Rovers on Saturday, February 4, in the quarter-final of the Hastings and District FA Junior Cup with both sides receiving byes in the previous round due to Pebsham Sibex and Ticehurst being unable to raise teams.
Town were quick off the mark with Sam Henham netting after just two minutes making it 1-0. Rye went into the break 2-0 up with a goal from Alfie Weller in the 43rd minute.
It was 3-0 shortly after half time after a foul in the Rovers’ penalty area saw a penalty awarded to Rye which was despatched by Town’s leading goalscorer Charlie Stevens in the 55th minute. Four minutes later Weller got his second of the game and Rye’s fourth as he made it 4-0.
James Kelly pulled one back for Rovers in the 77th before netting his second in the 82nd minute with Iain Stewart Powell rounding off the scoring in the 86th minute making it a nervy end to the game with Rye holding on to win 4-3. The man of the match was Sammy Henham
In their next match Rye Town face Westfield II at home in the Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup quarter-final on February 18 before getting back into league action, needing five points from their remaining three league games – against Wadhurst United, Icklesham Casuals and Bexhill – to make absolutely sure of finishing in one of the two promotion places.
Photo: Dan Lake