Late Drama Sees Sussex Edge Past Under 18s
Essex 1-2 Sussex, Saturday 10th December 2016, Kick-Off 2:00pm, Len Forge Centre, FA County Youth Cup Third Round.
Essex’s Third Round hoodoo remains as a last-gasp defeat to Sussex brought an FA County Youth Cup exit at that stage for the fifth successive season.
After trailing to Tom Climpson’s headed opener on 76 minutes, Essex skipper Toby Aromolaran looked to have sent the tie to extra time when he popped-up to level two minutes into added time. However, there was still time for Sussex to throw a knockout blow as Joel Daly sprinted clear to win the contest.
Daly’s late intervention on the artificial surface at the Len Forge Centre in Southend set-up a Quarter-Final tie for his county away in Cornwall as last season’s runners-up look to go one better this time around. Earlier the visitors had twice been denied by the crossbar, but Essex enjoyed opportunities too in what was an entertaining last-16 tie.
The first chances went the way of the home side as Tom Dance’s cross was headed over by Max Watters and Solomon Ogunwomoju fired over. As Sussex started to threaten themselves, Alfie Rogers poked a shot into the gloves of Jai Lewis and Billy Barker saw an angled effort blocked wide before James Thurgar thumped a long-ranger against the underside of the crossbar.
Opportunities swiftly switched to the opposite end as Essex’s Watters brought a decent save from visiting goalkeeper Dan Rose before a ball over the top from Kieran Gore found the run of Watters, who couldn’t quite execute his lob and watched his effort gathered by Rose.
Shortly after the re-start a dipping, 25-yard attempt from Essex’s Reece Latimer brought an excellent save from Rose, who tipped the ball over and, moments later, Aromolaran burst forward but his poked, angled shot nestled into the side netting.
Sussex’s Rogers turned in the area only to see his low shot neatly kept out by Essex ‘keeper Lewis before the crossbar was rattled again as Sam Murrell-Lemon’s effort cannoned back into play before being cleared to safety. Essex responded with Aromolaran’s dipping strike dropping inches over the top.
But the next action saw the visitors grab the lead as Murrell-Lemon’s free kick was nodded in by Climpson amongst a crowd of players. Essex didn’t give up. Watters fed a fine ball through to Aromolaran, who was denied excellently by Rose, but he levelled two minutes into added time. Watters was again the architect as his low centre was stabbed in by Aromolaran at the near post.
Heartbreak was only just over another minute away, however. Daly found himself racing clear on goal before sliding a cool finish beyond Lewis to win the tie. Essex had a further chance through Ogunwomoju, who brought another good save from Rose, but there wasn’t enough time to create a further opening as Sussex clinched a dramatic win.
Essex: Jai Lewis (Rowhedge/Brightlingsea Regent), Sam Adcock (Hullbridge Sports) (Reece Latimer [Hullbridge Sports], 14), Tom Dance (Hullbridge Sports), Kieran Gore (Thurrock), Olamiji Ayoola (Barking Abbey School), Jesse Amoh (Harris Academy) (Misha Djemali [Barking Abbey School], 75), Jayde Abraham (Barking Abbey School), Toby Aromolaran (Tilbury), Solomon Ogunwomoju (Aveley), Godfrey Kambaza (Barking Abbey School) (Warren Kayembe [Aveley], 78), Max Watters (Thurrock). Unused Substitutes: Ibrahim Ugradar (Barking Abbey School), Afolabi Moronkeji (Thurrock).
Sussex: Dan Rose (Hastings United), Emmanuel Osei-Asomah (Lewes), Joel Colbran (Loxwood), Adam Lovatt (Eastbourne Borough), Josh Tuck (Burgess Hill Town), Tom Climpson (Hastings United), James Thurgar (Worthing) (Joel Daly [Lewes], 61), Luke Emberson (Whitehawk), Alfie Rogers (Lewes) (Rhys Smith [Lewes], 90), Billy Barker (Whitehawk), Sam Murrell-Lemon (Worthing) (Charlie Williamson [Worthing], 83). Unused Substitutes: Tom McAlpine (Burgess Hill Town), Marshall Ball (Worthing).
Bookings: Sussex: Thurgar (57, dissent), Murrell-Lemon (77, dissent), Rogers (78, dissent), Williamson (88, foul), Daly (90+5, foul).
Referee: Lee Venamore (Maidstone)
Assistant Referees: Zoltan Konkoly (Maidstone) and Matthew Pollington (Maidstone).
Attendance: 61.
After trailing to Tom Climpson’s headed opener on 76 minutes, Essex skipper Toby Aromolaran looked to have sent the tie to extra time when he popped-up to level two minutes into added time. However, there was still time for Sussex to throw a knockout blow as Joel Daly sprinted clear to win the contest.
Daly’s late intervention on the artificial surface at the Len Forge Centre in Southend set-up a Quarter-Final tie for his county away in Cornwall as last season’s runners-up look to go one better this time around. Earlier the visitors had twice been denied by the crossbar, but Essex enjoyed opportunities too in what was an entertaining last-16 tie.
The first chances went the way of the home side as Tom Dance’s cross was headed over by Max Watters and Solomon Ogunwomoju fired over. As Sussex started to threaten themselves, Alfie Rogers poked a shot into the gloves of Jai Lewis and Billy Barker saw an angled effort blocked wide before James Thurgar thumped a long-ranger against the underside of the crossbar.
Opportunities swiftly switched to the opposite end as Essex’s Watters brought a decent save from visiting goalkeeper Dan Rose before a ball over the top from Kieran Gore found the run of Watters, who couldn’t quite execute his lob and watched his effort gathered by Rose.
Shortly after the re-start a dipping, 25-yard attempt from Essex’s Reece Latimer brought an excellent save from Rose, who tipped the ball over and, moments later, Aromolaran burst forward but his poked, angled shot nestled into the side netting.
Sussex’s Rogers turned in the area only to see his low shot neatly kept out by Essex ‘keeper Lewis before the crossbar was rattled again as Sam Murrell-Lemon’s effort cannoned back into play before being cleared to safety. Essex responded with Aromolaran’s dipping strike dropping inches over the top.
But the next action saw the visitors grab the lead as Murrell-Lemon’s free kick was nodded in by Climpson amongst a crowd of players. Essex didn’t give up. Watters fed a fine ball through to Aromolaran, who was denied excellently by Rose, but he levelled two minutes into added time. Watters was again the architect as his low centre was stabbed in by Aromolaran at the near post.
Heartbreak was only just over another minute away, however. Daly found himself racing clear on goal before sliding a cool finish beyond Lewis to win the tie. Essex had a further chance through Ogunwomoju, who brought another good save from Rose, but there wasn’t enough time to create a further opening as Sussex clinched a dramatic win.
Essex: Jai Lewis (Rowhedge/Brightlingsea Regent), Sam Adcock (Hullbridge Sports) (Reece Latimer [Hullbridge Sports], 14), Tom Dance (Hullbridge Sports), Kieran Gore (Thurrock), Olamiji Ayoola (Barking Abbey School), Jesse Amoh (Harris Academy) (Misha Djemali [Barking Abbey School], 75), Jayde Abraham (Barking Abbey School), Toby Aromolaran (Tilbury), Solomon Ogunwomoju (Aveley), Godfrey Kambaza (Barking Abbey School) (Warren Kayembe [Aveley], 78), Max Watters (Thurrock). Unused Substitutes: Ibrahim Ugradar (Barking Abbey School), Afolabi Moronkeji (Thurrock).
Sussex: Dan Rose (Hastings United), Emmanuel Osei-Asomah (Lewes), Joel Colbran (Loxwood), Adam Lovatt (Eastbourne Borough), Josh Tuck (Burgess Hill Town), Tom Climpson (Hastings United), James Thurgar (Worthing) (Joel Daly [Lewes], 61), Luke Emberson (Whitehawk), Alfie Rogers (Lewes) (Rhys Smith [Lewes], 90), Billy Barker (Whitehawk), Sam Murrell-Lemon (Worthing) (Charlie Williamson [Worthing], 83). Unused Substitutes: Tom McAlpine (Burgess Hill Town), Marshall Ball (Worthing).
Bookings: Sussex: Thurgar (57, dissent), Murrell-Lemon (77, dissent), Rogers (78, dissent), Williamson (88, foul), Daly (90+5, foul).
Referee: Lee Venamore (Maidstone)
Assistant Referees: Zoltan Konkoly (Maidstone) and Matthew Pollington (Maidstone).
Attendance: 61.
