Bexhill College Secure A Place In The County Cup Final With A 3-2 Victory Over Worthing College

27 March 2023

Bexhill College Men’s 1st team, in association with Chelsea Football Club Foundation and in partnership with Eastbourne Borough Football Club secured a place in the Sussex Schools County Cup Final following a 3-2 victory against Worthing College.

In gusty conditions, both teams displayed great attitudes and application in a hard-fought contest. In a frantic opening to the game and playing against a strong wind, Bexhill started well, attempting to build from defense where possible but it was Worthing who took an early lead following a scramble from a long throw and were unfortunate to not extend their lead when striking the Bexhill post.

Bexhill managed to recompose themselves and leveled the tie through an excellent goal from Fletcher Holman, rifling the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from the left edge of the penalty box. This appeared to spur Bexhill on and Holman was tripped inside the box for a penalty which he duly converted to give Bexhill a 2-1 lead. Bexhill goalkeeper Shay Hollobone produced an excellent save on the stroke of half-time to preserve the advantage much to the appreciation of the watching crowd. 

Bexhill started the 2nd half strongly and Holman completed his hat trick, racing onto a long Hollobone clearance to lob the Worthing keeper and extend the lead. Bexhill then spurned the opportunity to finish the game as a contest when Holman and Gibson got in each other's way when clean through on goal before Gibson was brilliantly denied by the Worthing keeper with the ball heading towards the top corner. Worthing mounted a comeback and halved the deficit from another set piece to set up a tense finale with the Bexhill penalty area under pressure but with Hollobone not being tested.

The final whistle was greeted with great celebration from the watching students to set up a final against Bede’s School in late April.

Bexhill Coach Sean Noble reflected on the result; ”We are extremely proud of this talented group of players who produced an excellent battling display in a tense and tough encounter. The team spirit and togetherness today was there for all to see, combined with flashes of individual excellence from Fletcher Holman. Credit must go to the whole team for excellent defensive display to limit our opponents to a small amount of chances.”

Player of the match

Fletcher Holman - For a match-winning display with his hat trick of goals to take his tally to 27 in 15 matches this season.

Bexhill Team

Hollobone, Collings, Duah, Moir, Tarrant, Cuison, Pollitt, Simmons, Gibson, Holman.

Subs

Howard, Peterson, Prodger, Mcmanus, Karapetyan.

 

For more information about the Football Academy, please visit https://www.bexhillcollege.ac.uk/docs2/about/sports_academy.shtml