MATCH REPORT: HAILSHAM TOWN

Jack Turner on the ball: Image credit: Will Hugall

Rotherfield were knocked out of the SCFA Intermediate Cup losing 1-2 to SCFL Division Two high flyers Hailsham Town.

The contest started out fairly evenly with both sides having good spells with the ball, but Hailsham having a number of half-chances dealt with cleanly by the Green defence of Carbune, Turner, Ridley and Kerslake and keeper Sumner.

However, 35 minutes in, it was the visitors that took the lead through Toby Brett but Rotherfield didn't panic and on the stroke of half time, Sumner hit a long ball from his hands down the middle of the park. The defensive header rebounded off of Jack Spampanato and the loose ball fell gratefully to Ethan Zimmerman who slotted the ball past the Hailsham keeper.

1 - 1 at the break and all to play for.

Rotherfield held their own in the second half for 20 minutes until Ola James took the lead again for Hailsham. Rotherfield had the majority of the ball for the remainder of the half and Dan Gray nearly equalised for the Greens but only to see his effort go over the bar.

Despite the result, this was a decent performance overall against a strong Hailsham side.