Burgess Hill 2 - Ringmer 4

AT 5 o'clock on Tuesday night, Ringmer were fretting. They hadn't assembled a full squad for one of their biggest games for years after three players promised from Worthing withdrew.

AT 5 o'clock on Tuesday night, Ringmer were fretting. They hadn't assembled a full squad for one of their biggest games for years after three players promised from Worthing withdrew.

But just four short hours later, a mish-mash of new recruits, youngsters, old boys and unknowns were on their merry way to a first major final in a decade of trying.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The most incredible aspect on a dramatic day of Sussex football was the doom and gloom that preceded it. Chairman Richard Soan was so convinced of his side's demise that he suggested that, 'we'll take our cricket scorecard and hope we don't embarrass ourselves!'

And his predictions could be forgiven as a frenetic build up was one of pantomime proportions. Hoilidays, injuries, suspensions, funerals, work commitments, illnesses and a car breakdown all conspired against The Blues and a number of failed approaches in order to paper over the cracks began to heap the odds in favour of the champions to be.

Some last ditch wheeler-dealing did snare Darren Gearing from Withdean 2000 and boss's mate Herbie Smith, who also brought 'a friend from London' Ally Rissatt!

Yet just six minutes into a game that was supposed to be the Gorings Mead massacre, something amazing happened Ringmer scored. Damion Dobbyn's now familiar style of corner kick was met by Shaun Grice's downward header to strike dumb the Hillians' vocal support.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A lucky escape on 33 minutes, when a searching ball from Gary Callingham was nodded onto the post by Daren Newman with 31-goal Phil Churchill piling in, served to prove that this could be Ringmer's match after all.

But soon, bad memories from The Blues' last semi-final disaster in February were revived. Tony Holden was apparently felled by Richard Waters whilst attempting to skip round the keeper but no penalty was given. A similar decision against Holden cost Ringmer dear versus Arundel on that fateful night too.

A half time 1-0 lead surpassed expectations, and tremendous let-offs like that from Tom Levitt on 53 minutes paved the way for more miracles. A speculative drive from ex-Hillian Grice (pictured below) somehow found its way past Waters and into the net for 2-0.

Then, another goal from the in-form Graham Martin sent Ringmer into the stratosphere. Gaps started appearing in the yellow-shirted defence like never before and with 13 minutes to go, Holden, another former darling of Leylands Park, revelled in a golden fourth triggering a mass exodus from shocked supporters.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The world of Burgess Hill has not been built upon accepting defeat easily and a close range reply from Darren Kilpatrick followed by a soft penalty converted by Churchill, back at his old club ground, suddenly changed things.

Heroically Ringmer finished the better side and will face hosts Horsham YMCA in an unlikely Good Friday final pairing.

Assistant manager Adam Brown managed to shed some light on The Blues' outstanding exploits, 'we were all laughing in the changing room beforehand because I didn't know everyone's names for the teamsheet. I think it helped take the pressure off!'

Sometimes football can be a great game.

RINGMER: Cheal, Rissatt (King 54), Dobbyn, Davies, Cox, Gearing, M. Geard (Cummings 82), Martin, Grice, Holden, Smith. Sub (not used): Lawson. MOM: Glenn Davies.

qRingmer entertain Wick on Saturday and Saltdean United on Tuesday night as they attempt to strengthen their league position, and continue their run of victories.