Brennan Dickenson’s late strike secured the development squad’s place in the Sussex Senior Cup Final, with a dramatic 3-2 win over a determined East Preston.Goals from Charlie Oatway and Solly March gave the Seagulls a two goal cushion at the break but a Joe Shelley goal reduced the deficit shortly after half-time.
March then saw red for Albion, before Preston drew level with five minutes to play, but with the game poised to head to extra-time Dickenson’s sublime lob gave Luke Williams’ side the win.
East Preston almost provided their own downfall within ten minutes, when Jordan Clark nearly turned the ball into his own net but for the agility of Ben Rose.
Albion’s keeper Grant Smith then showed his class when he beat away a decent header from a Preston corner.
The Seagulls had better control of the game but it was the energetic Richard Hudson who nearly broke the deadlock for Preston, with a deflected strike that trickled into Smith’s side-netting.
But it was Williams’ side who got their noses in front as Oatway Jnr opened the scoring direct from a corner against his former club. His in-swinging delivery proving too much for Rose to handle as the ball bundled over the line.
March doubled the Seagulls’ advantage before the break as a well worked corner teed up the midfielder, who drove a low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Albion were in the driving seat but East Preston had not given up hope and enjoyed a perfect start to the second half. Shelley finding the bottom corner after winning the ball off Yaser Kasim; the first goal the Seagulls have conceded in this year’s competition.
Chances were few and far between, with Dickenson forcing Rose into a decent stop at his near post before up the other end of the pitch, Smith was once again alert to tip over Hudson’s curling free-kick, which evaded everyone apart from the Albion stopper.
With 20 minutes left East Preston were thrown a lifeline as March was dismissed for an off the ball incident.
And after a period of pressure without creating an opening Preston forced an equaliser. After failing to clear a free-kick the ball fell for Alex Duncan who tapped in from close range.
Albion upped the tempo immediately and in the first minute of injury time Dickenson latched onto a long ball and sealed the Seagulls’ place in the final as he magnificently lofted the ball over Rose.
Albion: (4-3-3) Smith (GK); Barry, Jones, Ince, Hunt; Richards, Kasim (Rea 75), Oatway; March, Agdestein, Dickenson. Subs not used: Walton (GK), Battipiedi, Goodwin.
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March then saw red for Albion, before Preston drew level with five minutes to play, but with the game poised to head to extra-time Dickenson’s sublime lob gave Luke Williams’ side the win.
East Preston almost provided their own downfall within ten minutes, when Jordan Clark nearly turned the ball into his own net but for the agility of Ben Rose.
Albion’s keeper Grant Smith then showed his class when he beat away a decent header from a Preston corner.
The Seagulls had better control of the game but it was the energetic Richard Hudson who nearly broke the deadlock for Preston, with a deflected strike that trickled into Smith’s side-netting.
But it was Williams’ side who got their noses in front as Oatway Jnr opened the scoring direct from a corner against his former club. His in-swinging delivery proving too much for Rose to handle as the ball bundled over the line.
March doubled the Seagulls’ advantage before the break as a well worked corner teed up the midfielder, who drove a low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Albion were in the driving seat but East Preston had not given up hope and enjoyed a perfect start to the second half. Shelley finding the bottom corner after winning the ball off Yaser Kasim; the first goal the Seagulls have conceded in this year’s competition.
Chances were few and far between, with Dickenson forcing Rose into a decent stop at his near post before up the other end of the pitch, Smith was once again alert to tip over Hudson’s curling free-kick, which evaded everyone apart from the Albion stopper.
With 20 minutes left East Preston were thrown a lifeline as March was dismissed for an off the ball incident.
And after a period of pressure without creating an opening Preston forced an equaliser. After failing to clear a free-kick the ball fell for Alex Duncan who tapped in from close range.
Albion upped the tempo immediately and in the first minute of injury time Dickenson latched onto a long ball and sealed the Seagulls’ place in the final as he magnificently lofted the ball over Rose.
Albion: (4-3-3) Smith (GK); Barry, Jones, Ince, Hunt; Richards, Kasim (Rea 75), Oatway; March, Agdestein, Dickenson. Subs not used: Walton (GK), Battipiedi, Goodwin.
Original article