Eastbourne Borough 5 Three Bridges 1: Bridges bow out of Senior Cup

Eastbourne Borough 5 Three Bridges 1

Bridges were taught a lesson in fitness and skill as Vanarama National League South club Eastbourne Borough deservedly progressed to the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final.

played on a very cold and windy evening on a pitch in good condition after all the recent heavy rain.

Goalkeeper Kieron Thorp was unavailable and his place was taken by versatile outfield player John Lansdale.

Both teams were beginning to settle down when after 10 minutes, Mark Pulling was fouled in the penalty area and Hakeeem Adelakun made no mistake with a well placed shot.

From an Eastbourne corner, Nigel Brake headed the ball powerfully away and then from another corner, the crossbar saved Bridges and the ball was eventually cleared.

A through-ball from Allan Tait to Abu Touray was only foiled by brave goalkeeping.

The equaliser came after 23 minutes, Dan Mobsby blocked a shot from Elliott Romain but the rebound fell to Ryan Worrall to score from close range.

Eastbourne then began to dominate the game, the brilliant Gavin McCallum was causing mayhem with his fast runs and shots and it was only the post and crossbar which stopped him scoring.

Just on half-time, Eastbourne had the chance to go ahead, when a penalty was awarded, but surprisingly the referee changed his mind after speaking to his assistant and awarded a free-kick to Bridges.

The second-half got underway with a flurry of substitutions and cautions, as Eastbourne began again to dominate.

Borough took the lead after 71 minutes, when poor defending allowed Nathaniel Pinney to run through a slot the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Bridges were restricted to long shots from Dan Mobsby and Ben Godfrey.

After 78 minutes, Eastbourne scored a free-kick taken by Nathaniel Pinney, his fierce shot was not held by the goalkeeper and Kane Haysman side-footed the ball into the goal.

Lansdale failed to cleanly catch a fierce shot from Gavin McCallum, who followed up to score.

A final penalty was awarded after 84 minutes for a foul on Gavin McCallum, which was converted by Nathaniel Pinney as the second half ended.

Bridges: Lansdale, Mobsby, Brake, Pulling, Cooney, Crellin (Capt), Touray (Casselman 79), Sargent (Godfrey 64), Tait, Adelakun, Dollery (Whitehead 54).

Aerotron Man of the Match: Nigel Brake