Brow 6-6 Saltdean – 1st leg match report
The Brow and Saltdean played out an entertaining first leg draw, with all to play for in the return fixture next week. The Brow relied on two late goals from Liam Kayondo to salvage the game, and Saltdean will surely be the happier side, with 6 away goals – including a George Davis hat-trick - to take back home, the Brow now needing a victory on their travels to win the tie.
The game was hyped well, with fans from as far as Australia turning out to watch the two sides do battle! Ex-Brow and now Saltdean regulars Josh Andrews and Calum Brashill were greeted with a chorus of boos by the home fans, but it was the ‘fifty-million pound man’ who quickly silenced the crowd after a well worked throw-in routine by Saltdean opened the scoring. The Brow responded quickly, with Aran Mckenna terrorizing Saltdean’s back line, having a hand in all 3 of his side’s first half goals, which saw the Brow go in 3-1 up at the break.
At half time, Saltdean heads were dropping and players were beginning to doubt themselves. Then stand-in skipper Jack Cox stepped up to the plate and delivered an inspirational half-time team-talk, which seemed to have immediate consequences on his team. After a lung-busting run from Tom Walker down the right wing, George Davis was on hand to reduce the deficit, before Jack Cox’s mesmerizing close control and left footed finish eluded Brow goalkeeper James Bergin to level the match.
Tackles were flying in and Saltdean were looking tired with no available substitutes, and the Brow took full advantage of this, pushing on to take a 4-3 lead. Saltdean seemed unphased, and it was Josh Andrews who found Jack Cox with a pinpoint corner, the latter nodding his side swiftly back into the game.
With the game locked at 4-4, frustration was setting in for both teams as referee Liam Ayto appeared to be unable to keep up with play at times, missing a series of handballs and tackles. The FA will investigate his performance to deem whether he will be able to referee the return leg.
Saltdean made the next breakthrough, with George Davis’ bold gamble paying off, as the Brow defence was exposed through a costly mix-up. The ball ran through, and Davis could not miss, to put his side 5-4 up with his second goal of the game. Saltdean continued to press, looking for that elusive sixth away goal, and the breakthrough came from captain Jack Cox, who’s long-range effort had the keeper beaten, before crashing off the bar straight to George Davis, who could hardly believe his luck and coolly slotted in again, to seal a very simple hat-trick that would make Nicolas Anelka proud.
The Brow did not have much time to respond, and players were pushed further and further up the pitch, including James Bergin being invited out from between the sticks into an attacking role. Liam Kayondo was pushed furthest forward, and did well to score after a Dan Laughton error in clearing the ball, to make the scoreline 5-6. Tom Walker’s Gary Neville-esque flying run was met with a cynical challenge from behind by Ryan Feek. The attacker stayed on his feet, showing honesty and respect, winning a corner that left Jack Cox rueing his missed chance: an open header straight at the goalkeeper. The Brow rode their luck, as Ryan Feek could have easily been given his marching orders by a stronger referee. After this chance, Saltdean were clinging on to their lead, but with the pressure mounting, Patrick Shergold was beaten again, again by Liam Kayondo, who slotted in his second of the game with just injury time left to play.
The two teams refused to sit back, but with the game hanging in the balance, the game was whistled to a finish, with both teams fairly happy with their performance. The second leg, to be hosted by Saltdean next week, will probably signal the return of crucial centre-back Liam Harris and first-team goalkeeper Fraser Hurley. With this boost, and having the second leg at home, Saltdean will surely be considered favourites to win the tie, but underestimating the Brow could prove costly.
Brow:
Cuiffe, McKenna, Older x2, Kayondo x2
Saltdean:
Andrews, Cox x2, Davis x3
Saltdean player ratings:
GK: Patrick Shergold - 5/10 - Not his finist game, at fault for a few of the goals. Possibly overcome by the sense of the occasion.
RB: Dan Laughton - 6/10 - Had a decent game, but concentration lapse towards the end of the game cost his side.
CB: Calum Brashill - 6/10 - Looked lost without centre-back partner Liam Harris. Put in some strong tackles, but was run ragged by Aran McKenna in the first half.
LB: Danny Race - 6/10 - Very quiet with very little attacking threat, possibly by design to avoid being exposed defensively. Solid.
RM: Tom Walker - 7/10 - Used his pace to get in-behind the Brow back line, setting up his team's second goal. Lacked defensive assertiveness in his first half wing-back role.
CM: Jack Cox (C) - 9/10 - The captain lead by example, both attacking and defending; playing some neat balls and mixing in some crunching tackles. Scored the goal of the game, but how costly will his free header missed prove to be?
CM: Josh Andrews - 8/10 - Looked isolated early on in the game, but his goal gave him the confidence to get involved, and worked very hard in the middle of the park against his former team.
LM: Dan Hawkes - 7/10 - Far too quiet in a first half defensive role, but came into his own in the second half, working well attacking down the left flank.
ST: George Davis - 8/10 - The often doubted centre-foward laughed off his doubters' criticism with a composed hat-trick, as he provided the focal point that Saltdean needed.