Herstmonceux -23 unlucky in cup defeat

Curtis Eyres in action for the -23's

After having a very long period of no games due to weather not playing since the 2nd of december it was 5th time lucky for this cup game against rivals Hampden Park!! So the game kicked off and Hampden Park started off flying coming out of the blocks and hitting a rusty ceux hard scoring in the opening ten mins with a penalty conceded by dave Russell who started the game at cb and Hampden Park went 1-0 up, putting on the pressure with attack after attack Herstmonceux could not find there feet in the game, and it would show how long it has been since the team had played as Hampden Park scored a further 3 times in the space of 20 mins taking a resounding lead at 4-0 up within 35 mins but with two changes ceux tightened up and talked changing the game slightly creating chances and seeing more of the ball richard Russel also a debutee coming on at cb suring the back line and giving the midfield a chance to play and Bennet showing his pace on the left wing with 2 very direct runs but the half time whistle blew with ceux coming in at 4-0 down, re shuffling and lifting the sport of the boy Tutty changed to playing two up top and straight away keeping the ball on the deck Herstmonceux took control and started to play there game and once we settled down and moved around it was within ten minutes ceux struck with a move down the right hand side Richard Dummer pushing forward from cdm and gliding a ball over towards the debutee David Russell who headed the ball Home and it was on the comeback was there, dave and Len forcing the Home team back working well and hard pressuring the back line and allowing the midfield to support high pressing the ball with the ceux defence on the half way line boxing Hampden Park in there own half and the pressure showed with another ball in the air dave took a lovely chest touch and rifled the ball into the top corner 2 goals in 15 mins it was game on and Tutty knew this making change, it was the midfield battle that ceux dominated that changed the game Richard dummer tom budd and James jarvo Jarvis dominating the midfield in the second half with there work rate, and Within 20 mins of the second half ceux found themselves 1 goal behind from a long throw and a flick on from dan Gregory panicking the Hampden Park players who flung a leg at it and put it into his own net.. Tom budd being the experienced player he is kept the boys grounded and settled and we pushed on creating chance after chance but couldn’t find that 4th to take it into extra time but with so much pressure Hampden Park counted a few times and it was second debutee Matt akehurst who made some excellent saves and stayed big and strong making excellent one on one saves showing why he is a great asset to the side, ceux pressed and pressed for that equaliser but it just wasn’t coming with the game heating up as ceux we’re not going to give up creating chance after chance but time ran out and ceux just couldn’t find that equaliser.. Manager jack Tutty would like to commend the whole team for there second half performance showing fight and passion but there were two players who stood out for the whole 90 mins and they richard dummer for his work rate and passion even being 4-0 down he never stopped running and tom budd for the same and also not losing a single challenge in the middle of the park all game. Next week we go back into the league and with games in hand look to close the gap on the teams above them with a trip to hollington in a game we look to bounce back and win. UP THE CEUX!!!