Haywards Heath Town and Worthing United knock Horsham YM and Steyning Town out of RUR Cup

Haywards Heath 3 Horsham YM 1

by Martin Read

Two seasons ago YM beat Haywards Heath in the final of this Sussex RUR Charity Cup, winning 11-10 on penalties.

But, despite seven victories on the bounce this time and being third in the Southern Combination Premier table, they visited Heath as underdogs on Tuesday night, runaway all-conquering Heath sitting six points clear in the league after 15 straight successes.

YM had a score to settle having lost 3-0 at Heath’s ground in the league two months ago, but, much improved since their previous visit, again they were thwarted

YM started brightly, Noel Fisher’s free kick curling past the post, followed by two corners, but Heath took the lead through skipper Jack Barnes in the ninth minute. YM responded, Heath keeper Lucas Stendela-Goetine blocking with his feet before Fisher equalised, bending a YM free kick into the top right.

Heath were awarded a disputed penalty, but it crashed onto the bar and ballooned over. Then Fisher, one on one blazed wide and then shot adrift, the score remaining 1-1 at the break.

Resuming, it was all YM, with several chances going begging, until Heath were twice wayward from close quarters. But, midway through the second half the game changed when Leon Fisher was sent off, and with a sin binning, YM were reduced to nine men – a huge disadvantage against such powerful opponents.

Heath immediately took advantage, Ryan Warwick dribbling the ball home past keeper Harry Haines’ grasp. From then on YM had little possession, Heath twisting the knife with sub Mark Goldson’s last gasp goal, to win by a somewhat flattering 3-1 margin.

YM boss Liam Giles told the County Times: “We didn’t get the run of decisions tonight and I feel sorry for the boys because they tried so hard. Heath are very strong at the back and losing a player made it tough for us. We’ll now re-double our efforts in the league.”

On Saturday YM travel to 15th-placed Crawley Down Gatwick.

Steyning Town 1 Worthing United 2

by Lauren Hawker

A return to the Shooting Field brought a sense of occasion as Steyning Town hosted Worthing United in a derby with a place in the RUR Cup semi-finals on the line. It marked Steyning’s first home outing in two weeks, their last appearance producing a convincing 4-1 win over Bexhill in this very competition.

Since then, the Barrowmen had impressed on their travels, grinding out a 1–0 victory at Crawley Down Gatwick before edging Bexhill 2–1 in the league.

Captain Dion Jarvis again led a Steyning side expected to impose themselves against a Worthing United outfit sitting fourth in Division One and eager to spring an upset.

Steyning looked lively from the whistle, creating the first real chance inside five minutes. Evan Hoarty delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Alex Plummer couldn’t apply the finishing touch, the effort pushed behind for a corner.

Just minutes later the pressure continued, Tegan Freeman skimming the bar with a powerful strike before Joe Benn drove low from distance, his effort drifting wide of the left post.

On 11 minutes another sweeping move from Steyning saw a cross cleared only as far as Benn, who struck the rebound over. Worthing replied with their first attempt a minute later, Dean Sherwood firing from range but pulling his shot well wide.

Despite the early chances, Steyning soon found themselves struggling to connect passes in the final third. Worthing held their defensive line firmly, and as the half wore on the game began to level out.

Then, on 33 minutes, the visitors struck. A corner swung into the box picked out Dan Hills, who rose above the Steyning defence to nod in the opener, putting Worthing 1–0 ahead against the run of early play.

Steyning searched for a response before the break, but a Tad Bromage free kick floated into the area on 41 minutes was comfortably claimed by keeper Blue Abbott, summing up the hosts’ frustration.

A late yellow card for Worthing’s Harry Butler on 44 minutes broke up play, and moments later goalscorer Hills required treatment for a head clash but was cleared to continue.

The half ended with Steyning trailing 1–0, ruing missed chances and with plenty to address after the restart.

Steyning came out hunting for a response, and within three minutes of the restart captain Dion Jarvis delivered a threatening corner that found Tad Bromage, whose header flashed over the bar. The momentum stayed with the hosts as Evan Hoarty drove a low effort on 53 minutes, following in for the rebound before Worthing keeper Blue Abbott gathered bravely.

The game’s rising intensity soon showed in the book. Joe Benn was cautioned on 55 minutes for a harsh challenge, followed swiftly by a yellow for Worthing’s Hills two minutes later.

Steyning continued to push. On 59 minutes Jarvis found space on the edge of the area, but his strike went straight into Abbott’s gloves. Two minutes later Finn Daniels-Yeoman sent another effort the same way, the Worthing keeper dealing comfortably as the pressure mounted.

By the 70-minute mark Steyning were firmly on the front foot. A superb ball from Jarvis picked out Stan Bridgman, whose glancing header was cleared desperately by the visiting defence. Moments later Tad Bromage produced an outstanding recovery tackle to halt Marcus Pudderphatt on the break, preventing further damage.

The chances kept coming. In the 78th minute Bridgman, Steyning’s most reliable finisher this season, was denied one-on-one by Abbott, before Hoarty fired wide seconds later.

Abbott was booked soon after for time wasting as Worthing clung to their narrow lead. With Steyning pouring forward, Jared Rance sent in a pinpoint delivery on 81 minutes, Bridgman again rising but Abbott responding with yet another clean catch.

Three minutes later the keeper produced his best save of the match, turning Rance’s driven shot wide.

Steyning came agonisingly close again a minute later, but a scramble in the box ended with Worthing once more hacking clear. And then came the sucker punch. On 86 minutes Danny Kingston struck a superb effort from distance, curling it into the keeper’s top-right corner to give Worthing a stunning 2–0 lead just as Steyning threatened to equalise.

The hosts finally found the net in the 89th minute through Stan Bridgman, who bundled home to give Steyning late hope but Worthing’s defensive resilience and Abbott’s outstanding goalkeeping ultimately saw them through.

In added time, Steyning could not break the visitors down, and the game ended 1-2, seeing Steyning out of the RUR Cup.