Crawley edge into final

10:13pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

Comments (2)   Have your say »

Eastbourne Borough 0, Crawley Town 1.

A second-half goal from Pierre Joseph-Dubois earned Crawley a place in the final of the Sussex Senior Cup.

Manager Steve Evans adopted the role of spectator for the game at the Dripping Pan, leaving assistant Paul Raynor to run the team.

Evans had already said he does not care less about this competition but there was plenty to excite Reds followers as they dominated the opening half.

Showing only one change from the side pipped in the league at Grays on Saturday - Bradley Thomas replacing the injured Jamie Stevens - their pace and sharpness kept Borough on the back foot.

But they squandered a golden opportunity on 13 minutes. Dean Lightwood fouled Dannie Bulman in the penalty area but the reserve goalkeeper - in four Lee Hook - made amends when he saved Jon-Paul Pittman's spot kick.

Lightwood made a series of stops from Ryan Hall, twice, Thomas Pinault and Pittman.

Injury-hit Borough could themselves be excused for a lack of interest in the cup given their chase for promotion from Blue Square south but they battled well.

Unfortunately, Garry Wilson's men lacked a cutting edge. Andy Atkin never looked like adding to his 27 goals for the season and their lone opportunity came when Paul Armstrong failed to connect properly with an inswinging free-kick from Matt Crabb.

The tie was decided 20 minutes from time when Joseph-Dubois controlled a ball through the channel to rifle across Lightwood and into the far corner.

Eastbourne Borough: Lightwood; Baker, Jenkins (sub M.Crabb 31), Budd, Austin, Ballard, Harding, Armstrong (sub Douglas 79), Atkin (sub Archibald 79), Lovett, Wilde. Subs not used: Maynard.

Crawley Town: Bayes; Thomas, Thompson, Blackburn (sub Carter 83), Hall, Bulman, Pittman (sub Nayee 90), Pinault, Murphy, Joseph-Dubois, Kranse. Subs not used: Cook, Barton, Raynor.

Referee: Mr F Meilack (Wadhurst).

Man-of-the-match: Pierre Joseph-Dubois.