Burgess Hill Town Winners

Potter double sinks Worthing

Burgess Hill Town 3-2 Worthing

Austin Potter scored two goals, including an injury-time winner as Burgess Hill Town Juniors fought back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 and clinch the Sussex Stan Beattie Memorial Trophy (Under-15s) against Worthing.

Worthing was moments away from winning the cup before Potter grabbed an equaliser after a fierce volley from the centre of the penalty area in the in the last ten minutes.

But more drama followed.

The striker, introduced in the second half, was then emerged from the far post as he poked home his second and the winner. It was a fitting end to a brilliant final.

Worthing had taken the lead ten minutes in with Cameron Gibson's composed finish into the bottom corner.

But the score was level thanks to Burgess Hill's lethal winger combination as Joseph Overy picked out Theo Maryon, who dispatched the ball into an open net.

Worthing's Jack Carter produced fine saves from Dylan Hurst and Malik Mundoma's efforts.

The second half could not have started any better for Worthing. Frankie Spiteri put Worthing ahead in the 47th minute with an audacious long-range effort that only McGrath could watch. A goal worthy of winning a cup final.

Burgess Hill could have replied with another equaliser five minutes later after midfielder George Rawlingson found himself one on one with Carter but failed to hit the target.

That could have come back to bite them after Spiteri again found himself with a massive opportunity to extend Worthing's lead, only to be denied off the line once he rounded the keeper.

Burgess Hill saw two quick-fire chances denied after Maryon's long-range strike, then Charlie Clayton's well-struck volley from the edge of the area refused again by Carter.

After constant pressure, Burgess Hill got their well-earned goal after Carter made a mistake in his area, which allowed substitute Potter to thump into an empty net. With five minutes remaining, we looked to head to extra time.

Fletcher Fane had a chance to win it for Burgess Hill with a fantastic free kick but could only manage to hit the crossbar.

But Burgess Hill kept on coming. A lovely move down the wing resulted in a cross across goal, and striker Potter snuck in at the back post to score his second and the dramatic winner for Burgess Hill.

Manager Gary Mansell was delighted with the team’s mentality after being behind for majority of the final.

“We’ve got a really strong-minded group. We knew even when we were behind, we knew we’d stay calm, kept playing, we’d knew get back into it,” he said.

“We knew we had goals in us, and the boys proved it in the end.”

He also mentioned the wonderful performance of super-sub Austin Potter and how special this moment was for him, being from Worthing.

“When we spoke to the boys in the beginning, it wasn’t about the eleven starters. It was about the 16 players and all 16 players would need to have an impact on the game in able to win it and Austin certainly did that,” he said.

“He’s a Worthing boy so he knows a lot of the opposition so for him, it’s even more special and we’re really pleased for him."

Burgess Hill vs Worthing YouTube
Burgess Hill Town vs. Worthing (Under-15s) - 20-03-22
Full highlights of the Sussex Stan Beattie Memorial Trophy Final (Under-15s) - powered by Your Instant Replay.

(A selection of photographs can be found on Facebook - courtesy of Simon Roe Photography)
(Video highlights are available above and on YouTube - courtesy of Your Instant Replay) 

Stats: (Burgess Hill Town -Worthing): Goals (3-2); Shots (28-10); Shots on target (7-5); Offsides (1-1); Fouls 8-10); Yellow Cards (1-0); Red Cards (0-0)

Burgess Hill Town: McGrath, Eaton, Fane, Clayton, Sale, Dalley, Rawlingson, Hurst, Overy, Mundoma, Maryon.
Subs: Furling, Potter, Williams, Furner, Thornton, Bonwick-Adams.

Worthing: Carter, Collier, Downie, Bryant, Stairs, Fairham, Ericson, Rowley, Gibbson, Spiteri, Manchester.
Subs: Mujic, Warner, Justice, Fidler, Stevens.

Match Report by Girvane Bila

Related Match Reports

View All