MATCH REPORT: Ifield FC vs Reserves

Sussex County FA Junior Cup

The Reserves achieved their first win of the season despite once again not having a specialist goalkeeper, Saturday morning disruption as a consequence of illness & still with notable absentees.

The initial phases of the game were equal with both teams trying to assert their play but struggling with the hard but satisfactory pitch. Then the home side broke the back line of the greens on two occasions only for Oskar Furman to make good saves with his feet as he closed down the attacker.

Nathan Milroy showed some classy touches in the attacking third to unlock the home defence but shots from Jacob Prince, Elliott Wilkins & Milroy himself were just off target.

Rotherfield started to get some joy from their high press with Rich Holman & Jack Birdsall getting to grips with the home sides rotation in midfield as confidence started to replace the apprehension generated by three consecutive defeats. On 30 minutes a high press won the ball back with Birdsall feeding Milroy. A drop of the shoulder, a jink to the right & space was created for a shot from 20 yards that nestled into the top corner.

The boost in confidence to all was evident & Rotherfield started to purr but their lead at the break was thanks another solid save from Furman.

Half time saw a tactical tweak with player manager Holman moved to right back to contain the growing threat from the Ifield skipper Hobbs, & the introduction of 16 year old Jasper for his debut in adult football into the engine room.

The second half saw the home side press but for 25 minutes the greens were resolute with Craig King & skipper Owen Ridley the beating heart of a defensive action. Furman made a couple of important albeit unorthodox saves & the home side had clearly left their shooting boots in the cupboard as they wasted a few golden chances as the ball ricocheted around the visitors goal.

However a bit of luck for the honest, hard working Rotherfield players was the least their application deserved. Multiple substitutions were made to try to present different questions for the home side & some more to relieve aching limbs.

Then with 20 minutes left the home side equalised when a loose ball was forced home from close range.

The home side sensed their opportunity & cheered on by increasingly partisan beer drinking supporters pitch side they pushed forward. Tackles, clearances & the occasional foul were greeted with vociferous shouts from the surrounds as the temperature turned up. More good chances were wasted by the home side as composure disappeared & then a glorious moment more akin to the Generation Game arrived.

85 minutes had elapsed when 16 year old Jasper won the ball in midfield before skipping around his marker. As he looked up he saw the recently reintroduced Wilkins making a typical run just inside the home half. The pass was superbly weighted into the veterans run. The home team were pressing but even so the arrogant defender thought he could cope one on one with the 42 year old, a decision he regretted as whilst the temples may be tinged with grey Wilkins powered away before shooting left footed into the net as the keeper advanced.

The final stages of the game ,including significant injury time despite limited stoppages, was well managed by Rotherfield as they secured their first win of the season.

Squad: Furman, Provins, King, Ridley (c), Sutton, Wilkins, Prince, Milroy, Birdsall, Holman, Boynton.

Subs all used: Butterfield, Fothergill, Jasper, Thomas

Sub not used: Jukes

Player of the match: Furman

Final score Ifield FC 1 - Rotherfield Reserves 2