Match 1. Peacehaven & Telscombe v Banstead Athletic

Saturday 11th August 2012 @ 3pm
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE 2-1 BANSTEAD ATHLETIC 

The Sports Park, Piddinghoe Avenue

Admission: £6
Programme: £1 (28pp A5)
Attendance: 80
Food: £2.70 Egg & Bacon Sarnie, £1.20 Chips
Drink: £3 Carling Shandy

I had a restriction of 90 minutes from home so chose this FA Cup tie on the Sussex coast.  Luckily I left in plenty of time as I got caught up on the M25 for 45 minutes due to an accident tailing back from Jct 9.  I still arrived at 2.35pm in the sunny and warm Sports Park in time for a refreshing drink before kick off.

Outside the ground there is a bowling green, skateboard park and car park (full), and I parked on the access road to the ground without any problems.  The turnstile entrance is built onto the Main building, which has covered standing accommodation in front, with the clubhouse, tea bar and changing rooms behind.  The seated stand and dugouts are on the opposite touchline, with hard standing throughout the railed pitch.

The lineups on the blackboard included numbers 17 & 20 among the stating 11.  Is this squad numbers down at Step 5?  Also the Banstead squad were entirely devoid of caucasian players, something I don't think I have seen in England before.  A few of the players looked as if they needed a couple more weeks of pre-season to get rid of the summer excesses, but the game was played at a lively pace with Peacehaven particularly taking control from start to finish, restricting Banstead to 3 shots in target in the whole match, while having at least 2 dozen shots on goal.  On 20 minutes, a free kick from the left was crossed over to Ashley Reece, who volleyed in from 8 yards without a challenge.  On a rare attack 5 minutes later, a through ball over the top allowed the Banstead No9 to run on and dispatch the ball past the keeper into the corner.

In the second half, Peacehaven had many opportunities to go in front and should have had the game sewn up before scoring the winner on 75 minutes.  A shot was deliberately handled by the defender, who was cautioned.  The penalty was converted straight down the middle of the goal by Ryan Bigley.  I was impressed by the home sides build up play and they could be successful this season if they find their shooting boots.

Local fan invades the pitch!