Peacehaven Comfortably Through Tricky Tie

Shaun Saunders brought Wes Taite back into the starting eleven to complement the pace of Jamie Brotherton. The home crowd were also buoyed by the announcement of Charlie Walker on the bench after his recent surgery.

This was the first time that Peacehaven had played in this competition, and right from the start Worthing were looking to spoil the party. Unusually for Haven they started slowly and were made to pay.

In the fourth minute, the impressive Dean Bowen broke down the left for Worthing, and put in a seemingly straight forward cross along the ground. Anthony Di Bernado allowed the ball to slip under his body, gifting an opportunity to George Hayward.

Almost embarrassed by the time and space afforded him, Hayward coolly slotted home for the lead.

Bowen repeatedly held the ball up well, bringing others in to the play. Right back Malachi Robinson also looked good for the visitors raiding down the flank.

Slowly the home side came back into the game, with Brotherton in particular going close a couple of times from chances he created with good footwork.

An injury and the resulting substitution on 40 minutes would ultimately change the game for Saunders’ side. Wes Millis received a heavy tackle and was replaced by the lively Lloyd Dawes.

At the break, Worthing hung onto their slim advantage

The second half began better for Haven. On 56 minutes, Steve Metcalf launched a speculative ball in from the right touchline that looked to be sailing over the bar. Incredibly it dropped into the far top corner, just beyond the despairing Worthing keeper to bring the home side level.

From there Peacehaven were in the ascendancy. Brotherton looked hungry and was unlucky after more good work on the edge of the box, to see his driven shot hit the upright.

Minutes later he was through on goal again, but this time his shot was desperately cleared off the line.

Haven’s pressure was rewarded in the 84th minute, when a Joe Dryer corner caused confusion in the Worthing defence, and Lloyd Dawes gratefully bundled the ball over the line.

Typically, Saunders demanded that his team continue to the final whistle which paid dividends in the 90th minute. Craig Richards found himself alone in the box and headed past the keeper to secure the win.