The wonderfully named Hangover 96 marked their debut season with a county cup as they overcame league rivals Physics Athletico in the Sussex Sunday Challenge Trophy Final.

The final was in the balance at the break, but a brace from substitute Connor Martin put distance between Brighton-based Hangover and the side from Seaford after the interval. 

Karl Thomas headed in a late consolation for Physics, but it was to no avail as league-title chasing Hangover got the better of their opponents for the third time in four meetings this season.

Hangover player - manager Jordan Rudwick said: “We formed at the start of this season as a bunch of local lads were playing for different sides, we wanted to be playing regularly together so formed a team of our own. 

“We’ve come so far in such a short space of time, we’ve got a good chance of winning the league and have another cup semi to play so want to push on now. 

“This is the biggest trophy you can win at our level so I’m delighted and so happy for the guys to be able to do that - many will be surprised by what we’ve done but I know that they are good players and maybe now we’ll get the recognition we deserve - it’s a cliche but I’m over the moon.” 

Rob Jones headed wide for Physics early on before 96’s combative midfielder Ross Tasker was fortunate to escape censure after he appeared to raise an arm in the face of opposite number Mike Hawes. 

The 96’ers took the lead after twenty-four minutes out of nothing when Harvey Gillam swept the ball home from close range through a posse of players. 

Rudwick and Levi Pettit both went close from distance in quick succession, but Athletico hit back and equalised eight minutes shy of the interval. 

96 captain Fred Rowland slipped and allowed Craig Pooley to burst through and cut the ball back for Jones, who nipped in to score for the fourth round in succession. 

Parity lasted barely a minute through, as Hangover restored their advantage in scintillating style. Tasker collected the ball on halfway, drifted away from his marker and slammed a thirty-yard piledriver off the underside of the bar and beyond the despairing dive of Dan McDonnell for an advantage his side would not relinquish. 

Gillam flashed a shot wide and Tasker had another effort ruled out for handball, but Hangover then looked to have the tie beyond the reach of Steve English’s men. 

Martin - who had come on shortly before half-time, seized on a loose ball and lofted the ball from fully thirty-five-yards over the head of the frantically back-pedalling McDonnell. 

George Rudwick - no relation to namesake Jordan - rattled the post and Martin then added gloss to the scoreline with his second and Hangover’s fourth.

Jamie Foskett saved well from Rob Frost and Jones fired wide, before Thomas reduced the arrears in the final minute having headed in from a Jack Mason corner. 

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

Stats: (Hangover 96-Physics Athletico)
Goals: 4-2; Shots: 11-5; Shots-on-target: 5-3; Corners: 4-6; Fouls: 6-6; Offsides: 1-1; Yellow cards: 3-0; Red cards: 0-0.

Hangover 96: Foskett, Hibbit-Morris, Rowland ©, Smith, Clarke, Tasker, Warren, G. Rudwick, Pettit, J. Rudwick, Gillam. 
Subs: Davis, Patchett, Hurley, Martin, Stearman. 

Physics Athletico: McDonnell, Pooley, McGovern ©, Woodward, Hawes, I. Harkness, Nicholls, Mason, Thomas, Frost, Jones. 
Subs: Shoulders, Paston, Ellis, C. Harkness, Spicer. 

Match report by Jamie Spoor