 |
| Saturday 09 September 2006 East Court 6 Cuckfield Town II 3 Right winger Ben Sunderland helped himself to four goals as East Court notched up a second straight victory at Notre Dame. The home side were forced into making two changes to the team that beat Lindfield II the week before with centre-back Mark Champion and centre forward Ross Kelly both unavailable. Skipper Simon Nickols replaced Champion with Adam Shillibeer coming in up front for Kelly. Cuckfield enjoyed more of the possession in the early stages as East Court took their time to find their rhythm but despite being on top the visitors were unable to break down a well-organised home defence. Gradually East Court got into the game and Sunderland opened the scoring with a sublime finish after the ball ran to him on the right side of the box. The lead didn't last long, Hayes gave the ball away cheaply in the centre of the pitch and Cuckfield were able to force a corner. The ball was delivered from the Cuckfield right and was met by an unmarked striker who forced the ball home. East Court regained the lead from a corner of their own, Billy Denyer delivered from the left and Carl Zimmatore met the ball at the near post and guided his header into the back of the net. The home side were beginning to find their feet and started to take control of the match. Zimmatore set up Sunderland for the third before Sunderland completed a first half hattrick as he took advantage of a mistake by the visiting keeper. Cuckfield started the second half brightly but Court were still creating the better chances. Carl Buckler thought he had scored after lobbing the keeper but could only look on as the ball came back off the crossbar but were undone by some sloppy play at set pieces. Two more Cuckfield corners saw the lead reduced to one goal, a Cuckfield midfielder rose highest to head home a second goal for the visitors before they scrambled home a third as East Court struggled to deal with the aerial threat. Every time Cuckfield were able to force a set piece around the box there was a sense of nervousness in the home defence but Cuckfield failed to use this to their advantage. At the other end Denyer hit the post and a defender put the ball just wide after the far post after a surging run from centre-back Dan Medcalf but it was left to Nizam's man of the match Sunderland to make the game safe. Carl Buckler crossed the ball from the left and Sunderland fired home his fourth of the game. Shillibeer headed the sixth into an empty net after Denyer played the ball into him. Team: D.Lamprell, A.Wright, N.Palmer, R.Hayes, D.Medcalf, S.Nickols, B.Sunderland, C.Zimmatore, A.Shillibeer (P.Bishop), B.Denyer, C.Buckler |