Chailey & Newick Colts took home the Sussex C P Mason Cup (Under-14s) following a hard fought 2 -1 victory over AS Eastbourne at Culver Road on Sunday afternoon.

The clubs first ever trophy was secured after goals from Max Hammond and Archie Draper were enough to see off a second-half comeback from Eastbourne.

Noah Fuller’s second-half strike gave Eastbourne hope, but they couldn’t find the second goal to force the game to penalties.

The game may well have gone differently if not for the early intervention of Colts goalkeeper Jake Rhodes. A cross from the right found Eastbourne’s Ethan White at the back post, his header deflected off defender Dom Budgen forcing Rhodes to change direction and dive across his goal to keep it out.

Eastbourne started the brighter of the two, however they were picking the ball out of their net in the eighth minute. A ball over the top of the defence saw Max Hammond race onto it, the ball bounced over the onrushing keeper and Hammond poked it in for the opener.

The Colts were buoyed by the goal and ramped up the pressure, a brilliant ball from Toby Pitt released Henry Grice but his shot was saved smartly by Eastbourne keeper Alban Xhogu.

In another sliding doors moment, Eastbourne had a chance of their own. Finlay Fraser-Smith flicked on a header for Kenny Stubbs to run on to, he showed great composure in the box by picking out White, but the winger could not get a good connection on his shot with just the keeper to beat.

The Colts went straight up the other end and won themselves a penalty after it was adjudged there was a shirt pull in the area. Archie Draper made no mistake from the spot, placing it in the top right-hand corner.

Despite finding themselves two nil down, Eastbourne were a threat. 

Gabi Storey was pulling the strings from the base of midfield with several pinpoint long balls releasing players down the wings, while Fraser-Smith was a threat in attacking midfield. Just before the break he lined up a left footed shot, but a Colts body got in the way to divert it wide.

Eastbourne came out on the front foot in the second-half, White had a stinging shot saved and Fraser-Smith was unable to put in the follow up.

They had their reward not long after though. A through ball set Stubbs away on goal and he waited until the last moment to pass to Noah Fuller who knocked it in from a yard out.

Eastbourne continued to press, pushing the Colts back. Frasier-Smith was causing trouble in the midfield, he worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the box and unleashed a shot from outside the area which the keeper had to tip over the bar. 

Things were starting to become desperate for the All Stars as they piled on the pressure. A late corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble. Frasier-Smith had the initial shot from 5-yards-out, but it was blocked, and after a number of challenges the goalkeeper Rhodes came out with the ball in his hands.

While Eastbourne shaded the second-half, Chailey & Newick were brilliant defensively. Charlie Barber and Frankie Sallis marshalled the defence from centre-back while Hammond, who played up-front in the first-half, moved to defensive midfield for the second where he added physicality.

The Colts manager, Neil Smith, was delighted with the win and his team’s performance:

“We definitely had the best of the first-half, but the All Stars played well second-half. 

“I think the boys deserved it, they battled so hard throughout. They worked hard and played some nice football; I’m just thrilled for the boys!”

(Video highlights are available above and on YouTube - courtesy of Your Instant Replay)

(A selection of photographs can be found on Facebook - courtesy of Simon Roe Photography)

Stats (AS Eastbourne-Chailey & Newick Colts): Goals (1-2); Shots (10-4); On target (6-3); Corners (6-5); Offsides (0-0); Fouls (4-3); Yellows (0-2); Reds (0-0).

AS Eastbourne: Xhogu, Storey, Fraser-Smith, Shehu, Nones, Smeeton, Neves, Stubbs, Venus-Smith, White, Fuller.
Subs: Purvis, Moore, Harney-Rogerson.

Chailey & Newick Colts: Rhodes, Barber, Wickwar, Hammond, Gray, Hilton, Grice, Draper, Pitt, Budgen, Sallis.
Subs: Duff, Amosu, Godwin, Stevens, Tomkins.