East Sussex have reached the National Over-60s FA Cup final after a 3-2 victory over Lincolnshire.
After defeating the reigning champions in the group phase, and overcoming tough quarter-final opponents on penalties, they were drawn against arguably the toughest of all the possible semi-final opponents. Lincolnshire have reached the final of each of the past three competitions, winning the trophy twice before losing narrowly to Oxfordshire last year.
The northerners won their quarter-final 6-0 and were at full strength, including ten players who had represented England at over-55 and over-60 level, whereas East Sussex, who had already lost the attacking threat of Dave Bridges and Kevin Clee through injury, then lost centre-back Wayne Partridge during the pre-game warm-up to the recurrence of a long-term injury.
However, the men from East Sussex are made of the sternest of stuff. Once again, when faced with what appeared to be the toughest of challenges, they responded with more than enough of what it takes to win.Every East Sussex player who played any part in the game, performed heroically; giving all they had to give, without exception.
Lincolnshire started well. Slick passing, clever movement, dominating possession and territory. In open play, East Sussex were solid and well organised defensively. Bob Smith and John O’Meara timed their tackles impeccably and covered each other calmly and intelligently.
Full-backs Steve Burge and John Fraser also defended well making crosses difficult to execute and preventing key passes from reaching their intended targets. Skipper Andy Williams, Paul Elphick, Keith Chamberlain and Steve Turner all made life very difficult for their opponents in midfield, meeting the physical challenge presented by their opponents with at least equal measure.
This was a National FA Cup Semi-Final. Of that there was no doubt. There were a fair number of spectators who had ventured out to support their team in the biting, chilling wind and rain.
Although missing the creative spark usually provided by Bridges and Clee, the lethal strike duo of Colin Riggs and Alan Osman were to take their toll on their opponents before the end of the game and as always, the East Sussex midfielders delivered to them sufficient telling passes to unleash their ruthless finishing skills.
Lincolnshire’s main threat came from set-pieces. They delivered corners into the heart of the six-yard box and free-kicks that were often difficult to defend. Although the discipline of East Sussex marking was watchful and persistent, it was inevitable that some chances would be created.
Desperate blocks and last second diversions thwarted the men from the north and when they did manage to get a shot away, Koosha Movevagh, the incomparable East Sussex ‘keeper was at his imperious best.
The East Sussex woodwork was struck on three occasions in one particularly frenetic goalmouth scramble, but Koosha and his defenders reacted quickly enough on every occasion to deny the northerners a clear goal scoring opportunity.
Throughout the 90-plus minutes, Koosha’s handling of crosses was assured and faultless. Every choice as to when to catch and when to punch was executed decisively and effectively, his catching of fierce drives rather than parrying and risking a score on the rebound added to the confidence and belief of the defenders around him.
Koosha’s courage was demonstrated time and again, diving at the feet of onrushing attackers and reacting to lose balls with greater speed and agility than any of the outfield players nearby, time and again.
One spectacular save, midway through the second half is worthy of the greatest of praise.
A low, expertly struck twenty-yard drive was destined for the bottom left-hand corner of Koosha’s goal when somehow in a double movement without pause, Koosha dived one handed to claw it away before pouncing on the loose ball.
Having been dominated throughout the first twenty minutes of the game, East Sussex began to counter-attack in their usual, threatening fashion.
It seems that no team can cope with the movement of Riggs and Osman, the direct runs of Turner and the accuracy and timing of the through balls from Williams, Elphick and their fellow midfielders. The men in orange and black always score and they always score two or more.
Osman reacted first to a deflected shot that hit the Lincolnshire crossbar to nod East Sussex into the lead and a few minutes later, after two of his shots had been blocked by the Lincolnshire keeper, Riggs skilfully placed a looping header into the empty net.
The remainder of the half played out with East Sussex on top. At half time, contrary to the predictions of those not familiar with the capabilities of this East Sussex squad, the men in orange and black were two goals to the good.
Knowing that it was now ‘all or nothing’ for them, Lincolnshire made some tactical changes at the start of the second half, and this led to them becoming a greater threat in open play.
Early in the second period, the northerners got the vital breakthrough, and it was ‘game on’ at 2-1.
During the next twenty minutes, every East Sussex player put their bodies on the line to prevent the equaliser. Riggs and Osman were battling in midfield, making tackle after tackle as the Lincolnshire defenders joined their midfield and strike force, driving forward relentlessly.
Centre-back O’Meara suffered a dead leg midway through the second half but just continued unabated, completing a magnificent performance together with his partner Smith. The pair’s contribution, together with that of Koosha’s will never be forgotten by their teammates.
The midfield warriors of Williams, Elphick, Chamberlain and Turner met force with force and met guile with guile and began to use their limited possession to greater effect. Garry Cooper and David Brooks came on to provide fresh legs.
Soon came the best moment of the match. Williams freed Osman down the left and Riggs put everything into providing support in the box, with a late run.
Osman looked like he was going to hold it near the left-hand corner flag and draw the foul but instead his touch took him away from the three surrounding defenders, the last of whom approached, having chosen to leave Riggs unmarked, not imagining that Osman would pick him out.
Osman drove in a low, perfectly timed cross to meet Riggs’s arrival at the near post. Riggs was aware that he had just run beyond the near post, and that he was alone in the box, so he allowed the ball to pass by his front foot and with sheer brilliance, back-heel flicked the ball into the near post bottom corner of the net.
A goal worthy to win any game of football of any standard, anywhere.
You could sense that both teams knew this was the turning point, but although visibly deflated, Lincolnshire did not accept defeat and kept putting balls into the box and looking to get on the end of second balls and knockdowns.
On another breakaway, East Sussex may very easily have been awarded a penalty when a Lincolnshire defender used a hand on the goalline to prevent an Elphick shot from extending the lead, but unfortunately, although the Lincolnshire players later admitted the handball, the referee was not able to see it.
Lincolnshire did get the ball in the net again with 40 seconds remaining, but this was the final act, a mere consolation, as the final whistle blew almost immediately afterwards, signalling the East Sussex players’ joyous celebrations as they reached their first-ever National Cup Final.
It should also be noted that the referee had a very good game.
The match to determine who will become this year’s Over-60s champions of England will take place on 19th April at Alton FC’s ground.
Meanwhile, on Sunday 8th March, East Sussex host England Over-60s in a prestigious friendly at Bexhill College, kick off at 1pm.
