Bosham boss Probee: Cup win makes up for league letdown

The player-manager said the trophy – secured with a resounding 3-0 win over neighbours Sidlesham in front of more than 300 fans at Pagham – went a long way to making up for the disappointment of their failed bid to win the title.

Goals from Dave Storey, Nick Edgington and Matt Docherty won the cup for the Robins against a well-below-par Sids side, who are instead left to celebrate promotion to county division two.

Probee told the Observer at the final whistle: “I’m ecstatic. I’ve been out there playing for 90 minutes so it’s hard to express myself, but the lads have done us proud.

“The management team – Neil Redman, Graham Vicke and I – had meetings and more meetings about how we were going to win the game. We played our big centre-half (Nick Edgington) just behind the front men and they didn’t have a clue what was going on.

“It took them a long time to find out what was going on and by the time they had picked up what was happening, we were 2-0 up.

“Our hard work paid off. Sidlesham are a very good team but I think our tactics won us the game.

“Dave Storey’s finish for the first goal was phenomenal. He works hard and he’s been doing that all season for us.

“It’s been a long season but winning this cup has made it all worthwhile. We’d love to have won the league and if I’d had the selection dilemma I had for this final throughout the season, I reckon we would have won that league.

“We must aim to build on this next season. I’d love to keep us as a successful county division-three team that everyone goes away from saying ‘What a great club’.”

Downcast Sids boss Gary Jefkins reflected on a strange end to the season which, before the cup final, had seen his team miss out on the Sussex League division-three title but secure promotion thanks to finishing second.

He said: “It was a season that promised so much but ultimately we have come up just short in both the league and cup.

“We drew too many games early on in the season but the boys have been brilliant all season for me– a pleasure to work with.

“We have had our ups and downs but since Christmas I couldn’t fault them in the league. Unfortunately we saved our worst performance of the season for the cup final but we will learn from that and come back stronger next season.

“They have worked extremely hard for me and I look forward to leading them, and hopefully a few new additions, in county division two next season.”