United triumph in the rain

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Peter Bentley cup quarter finals beckon once again.

Tuesday night was a potential banana skin for United as they travelled to the Withdean in an absolute deluge of rain.

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Several regulars were cup tied or unavailable, and after 4 minutes the entire defence was caught flat footed as Varndeanians' Ezra Roeg snuck in at the far post to make it 1-0. In all truth, it took United 15 minutes to get over the shock and to steady the boat, without ever looking in danger.

Once United established dominance, it was one way traffic for the remainder of the half as Ingram Hopkinson and Ball terrorised the Varndeanians defence without managing to land the killer blow. Just before half time Max Thompson broke free but headed agonisingly wide.

A heavy Withdean pitchA heavy Withdean pitch
A heavy Withdean pitch

Anthony Storey brought out the half time hairdryer ( useful in the circumstances) and the second half started at a fierce tempo. The rain was just starting to ease when Alfie Headland pulled up injured, replaced by 16 year old Arthur Grout. This brought about a change of formation for United and Euba departed to be replaced by six foot nineteen Josiah Kallicharan, again just sixteen years old!

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Charlie Ball had been lively all evening and it was fitting that when Ingram once again took the defence apart, it fell to Ball, who rarely misses an opportunity, 1-1 after 70 minutes. Kallicharan was causing panic in the defence, and Grout and Patton had the freedom of the midfield, but it was with just six minutes left that Charlie Ball got another chance and again, put it away to deal the win.

United move on to the quarter final draw, but first they have their first home match at the newly opened Oval Arena on Saturday as they entertain Shoreham in the League.