Two out of three ain't bad... FA Cup dreams stay alive in Eastbourne

Langney Wanderers boss Alex Walsh spoke of his pride in his players as they became one of two Eastbourne-based teams to keep their FA Cup dreams alive.
By Kevin Anderson
Published 4th Sep 2020, 07:00 BST
Langney celebrate one of the goals that earned them Cup progress against Tower Hamlets / Picture: Lydia RedmanLangney celebrate one of the goals that earned them Cup progress against Tower Hamlets / Picture: Lydia Redman
Langney celebrate one of the goals that earned them Cup progress against Tower Hamlets / Picture: Lydia Redman

The Priory Lane outfit overcame Tower Hamlets 3-1 to reach Saturday week’s preliminary round, while Eastbourne Town are also through after winning by the same score at Saltdean.

Langney will be at home to Harrow in the next round while Town go to Faversham.

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But Eastbourne United failed to make it three from three for the town as they lost at home to Horley.

Eastbourne Town on the way to victory over Saltdean / Picture: Joe KnightEastbourne Town on the way to victory over Saltdean / Picture: Joe Knight
Eastbourne Town on the way to victory over Saltdean / Picture: Joe Knight

Langney struggled in the first half and went behind before coming back strongly.

Walsh said: “We knew we had to do better. But our team spirit is phenomenal and we just came out battling.

“We had been letting Hamlet dominate us, and we just needed to be strong on the ball and dictate our own game. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

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Above all, the cup games were a milestone on the road back for local football. At Priory Lane, paying spectators, with a crowd limit of 300, were permitted back for the first competitive football since March.

Wanderers had looked anything but winners early on. On the half-hour the visitors took the lead through a penalty after a trip in the area. Wanderers had much to do.

Within minutes of the second half starting Wanderers were pressing the Londoners back, and on 52 minutes, from a towering corner, Gary Ingram smashed the equaliser through a melee of players.

Just past the hour, talented midfielder Broughton seized his chance with a wonderful opportunist strike, swerving away from the keeper to give his side the lead.

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Mohammed Ali Mekawir added a third, securing a first major cup tie win for Wanderers.

John Lambert’s Eastbourne Town army won st Saltdean.

Dan Rogers looped a superb header in for the opener before Brad Pritchard’s cross-shot flew in.

Saltdean’s Paul Rogers converted a late penalty to make it nervy but Town finished it with a fine goal from George Taggart.

Sadly Matt Crabb’s Eastbourne United failed to make home advantage pay, Horley snatching a single-goal victory in the the second half.