Newhaven joint-manager Andy Cook hailed the ‘fantastic effort’ from his players as they booked their place in the final of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup for a second consecutive season.
The current holders are now just one win away from retaining the trophy, after ending Crowborough Athletic’s impressive 32-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory in the semi-final on Tuesday night.
“We more than matched the opposition who are a top side,” said Cook. “To go to their place in a cup semi-final, with all the odds stacked against us, coming up against a team who were unbeaten for 32 matches stretching back to the beginning of September, and come away with a win and a clean sheet was top class.
“Me, Breachy and Kieran [Ridley, U21 manager] went to watch their match on Saturday to do our homework and we identified a few things we thought we could exploit. However, we expected the team facing us would be much changed considering their big FA Vase game on Saturday.
“Well, to our surprise, it wasn’t, and with only a few players rested it showed they had given us, and the competition, due respect. But in some ways this was fine by us as we had a fair idea of their strengths, and perhaps a few weaknesses, from our scouting mission.
“We took a slight gamble as well, throwing players in who weren’t fully fit in Adam Kneller, Dave Altendorff and James Rhodes. However, they are big game players with the experience needed and the decision to play them was fully justified as all three were magnificent.
“So we had a game plan and a formation we wanted to play which was slightly different to how we normally set up with Lee Robinson played wider, Ryan Walton through the middle and Elliott Wood and Dave playing in front of Rhodesy in the midfield three. Apart from the first ten minutes, when we took a little time to settle, we then got our shape and looked organised.
“We played on the counter attack and despite few clear cut opportunities at both ends in the first half we were content at half time.
“In the second half the game became a bit more open and Elliott and Dave started to win the midfield battle which was key. We started to get the Robbos in the game out wide and it was the younger of the two who had a great opportunity to give us the lead when he hit the post when played in on the left of the penalty box. This seemed to give everyone another lift.
“The goal came soon after and we stressed in the team talk before that set pieces could be the difference between winning and losing the game. We tweaked the corner routines a bit to freshen it up and an inch perfect delivery from Rhodesy found Knighty, who timed his run to perfection and gave himself a free header on the six yard box. It was deserved.
“However, the main hard work then came in the last twenty minutes as Crowborough threw everything at us. This is where Bussy and the back four were outstanding. They defended superbly, keeping their shape and concentration and throwing everything in the way.
“It was a fully committed display and thoroughly deserved – me and Breachy were over the moon with them.
“Everyone was excellent but a few deserve a special mention. Conor Sidwell didn’t put a foot wrong all night, Elliott Wood has been like a new player recently playing in the centre of the park and his energy around the pitch has been just what we needed. And then Bussy, Knells and Knighty held us strong through to the end. But as I say they all deserve a slap on the back.
“And so another cup final and our fourth in three years. We want to retain the RUR Cup and now we have something to look forward to later in the season.”
Joint-manager Sean Breach echoed Cook’s thoughts, describing his team’s defensive performance as ‘magnificent’.
“Me and Cooky are now into our third full season and to reach our fourth senior football cup final is really special and something that a club like Newhaven should be proud of,” added Breach.
“We’ve only been in senior football for four and a half years and some clubs have been in the Premier Division (formerly Division One) for over ten years and have never reached a final, let alone win two out of three. Let’s hope that is three out of four come May. This has all been done on limited resources and no budget, which makes it even more amazing really.
“Personally, I am delighted for everyone involved at the club. The chairman [Martin Garry], the coaches, the committee, the volunteers and the fans that come to watch us all over the place. A massive congratulations has to go out to all the players, though, and they deserve all the plaudits.
“It’s been a tough season with lots of changes on the pitch from last season. A fair few players have left the club for different reasons when things weren’t going well, but the lads we have here now are a credit to the club and Tuesday night showed that when we have the majority of the squad available we can compete with the best sides at this standard.
“It was a fantastic performance all over the pitch. They were on a run of 32 games unbeaten which is an incredible record at any level, but to be honest we never discussed that with the lads. We set up a game plan, changed our system slightly and were confident in the lads that they would do it. And luckily that faith was very much repaid to me and Cooky.
“Defensively it was a magnificent performance. Considering Knells played through an injury, Felipe has only played three times in two months, and Sidders has played three times in five months, they snuffed out a side with the likes of Attwood, Carrington, and Trevelan and limited them to very little clear cut chances.
“Bussy didn’t have many big saves to make but was busy and dealt with everything superbly. All four along with Knighty were fantastic and I can’t praise them enough.
“We had a few decent chances ourselves before the goal but we were delighted to score from a set piece, something we don’t do enough of. Everyone put in a big shift which is all we ask, but they matched their effort with performance.
“Crowborough were very direct and relentless in this but in stages we really played some great football. A special mention goes to Dave Altendorff who we threw straight in after being out injured since the beginning of December, and he lasted the whole 90 minutes which we really wasn’t expecting. He was fantastic.
“So we all have a cup final to look forward to against either Crawley Down Gatwick or Pagham. To be honest I’m not fussed who we face. The way this season has gone, at this moment I’m just happy to be there. It keeps our season alive now which is important and gives the players something to play for. However, in the two seasons we’ve had in this job we have won something in both, so we have a taste for it and want to keep winning titles.
“Finally, I wish Crowborough the best of luck for Saturday in their Vase game and their promotion push. With the squad they have I believe they can go all the way to Wembley, and win the league.”
Newhaven will find out their final opponents on Saturday 11th February when Crawley Down Gatwick host Pagham.
Then the final itself will be played at Sussex County FA headquarters in Lancing, on Wednesday 3rd May and will kick off at 7.15pm.
