In our Feature Game of Round 3 in the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup we visited The Camping World Community Stadium to witness four-times winners Crawley Town, take on high-flying Lancing. 

All eyes were on Crawley under caretaker management following the sacking of Gabriele Cioffi. Lancing on the other hand are making great progress in the Southern Combination Premier Division sitting third in the table. 

Lancing have never won the competition but were high in confidence already defeating Saltdean 3-1 in Round 1 and beating Hassocks 4-1 away from home in Round 2.

Crawley, however, always take the competition seriously having come runners up in 2017 and 2018 and did not take Lancing for granted, fielding a very strong side. 

Despite 97 places separating these sides in the football pyramid, The Lancers came into the game looking to really play football and give the game to Crawley. 

The Reds, however, put a real high tempo into the game but it took them until ten minutes before the break to open the scoring when Brian Galach slotted coolly past Matt Evans. 

Into the second-half and despite a spirited display by Lancing, Crawley wasted no time in seeing the game off with two quick-fire goals in 15 minutes; once again from Galach and then Gyliano Van Velzen with two brilliant finishes from outside the box.  

Lancing never gave in and dug deep to fine a goal back and they must have thought they had one when Mitch Hewins blasted past Luyambala into the top corner only for it to blown for offside. 

The Reds then added two more goals through Okoye and Boadu, again both striking from the edge of the box beating Evans. 

Shortly before the full-time whistle, Crawley added sixth and seventh goals through Mason Bloomfield and another for Okoye. Elsewhere in the cup, Peacehaven & Telscombe caused an upset over local rivals Whitehawk with a 3-1 victory whilst Worthing won impressively 3-0 away to AFC Varndeanians. 

Following their 5-0 win over Roffey in the previous round, Eastbourne Borough made it to the next round with a 2-0 win over AFC Uckfield Town. Finally, Horsham were taken all the way by Littlehampton Town eventually winning 4-2 on penalties. Reigning champions Bognor Regis Town play next week to Horsham YMCA along with runners-up Burgess Hill Town who face Brighton & Hove Albion. Chichester City play Lewes tonight following their impressive run in the FA Cup which came to an end on Sunday. 

For more information about County Cups, please contact:

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