Southwick won the Sussex RUR Charity Cup for the first time in 26 years after beating Sidley United 2-1 at Lancing.

The Wickers, who were the first ever winners of the competition in 1897, won the cup for the tenth time in their history thanks to a 68th minute strike by Tony Holden.

It was the third time manager Sammy Donnelly had lifted the trophy but he admitted it felt just as good as the first time.

Donnelly said: "I am absolutely delighted to have won it, it was very important for us to have won some silverware.

"I always said that Tony Holden was a big game player and that proved to be the case.

"I thought Sidley were lively in the first 20 minutes but after that we were the side more in it and we thoroughly deserved to win."

Sidley, who were appearing in the final for the first time, dominated the early stages and should have been ahead with just six minutes gone.

Shae Spreafico slipped a through ball into the path of Wes Tate who was clear on goal but he fired his shot high over the bar.

Despite United pressure it was Southwick who took the lead on ten minutes thanks to a freakish strike by Mark Burt. Stuart Garrod laid the ball back to the Wickers defender who mis-kicked a cross a good 30 yards from goal which looped over the head of Matt Shoesmith in the Sidley goal.

The advantage lasted just a minute however as Tate again linked up with Spreafico who calmly slotted under Phil Reid.

Donnelly added: "You could say our goal was lucky but you need that sort of luck sometimes. Those goals happen and it was an important one for us because they were on top at the time.

"They showed how dangerous they were with a great goal straight after but from then on we were the better side."

United continued to pour forward and almost scored twice in a four minute spell. Dave Ward saw his 20 yard effort smack against the cross- bar, then on 19 minutes Owen Ball sliced wide from close range after Russell Eldridge's low cross had eluded the Southwick defence.

The Wickers hit the woodwork themselves on the stroke of half time when Simon Funnell's curling free kick was pushed on to the bar by Shoesmith.

Having soaked up Sidley's pressure in the first half, Southwick looked a different proposition after the break. Funnell had a goalbound shot charged down by a last gasp tackle by Ball, then moments later Holden saw a close range header blocked by Chris Copley.

They got their reward when Holden ran at the Sidley defence, side stepped Ball and rolled a shot just out of reach of Shoesmith's outstretched arms.

United tried to respond a minute later and carved out a good chance for Ward but he volleyed horribly wide from the edge of the box.

Sidley threw men forward but as in the first half they lacked the finishing touch to trouble Reid.

Spreafico threatened on 81 minutes but delayed his shot and was crowded out by the Southwick defence. Then in injury time Paul Balch summed up United's night when he ballooned a volley over the bar from five yards.

outhwick: Reid, Ash, Kazemi, Burt, Webber, Garrod, Milford, Smith (Dunk 41), Martin, Holden (Rook 79), S. Funnell. Subs not used: Donnelly, Read, Howe.

Sidley: Shoesmith, Ball, Eldridge, Morris (Balch 60), Wood, Copley, Ward, Finch (Watson 75), Tate, Day (Rose 84), Spreafico. Subs not used: M. Funnell, Duffell.

Referee: Carl Brook (St Leonards).