Common celebrate county cup glory

The Commoners clinched the Macron Store Sussex County Football League Reserve Section Challenge Cup with a 4-1 victory over Mile Oak in the final last night (Tuesday).

Common manager Chris Eldridge wrote on social media site Twitter afterwards: “Made up with a cup final win. Massive thanks to every player that has played for me this season and to the supporters who watched tonight.”

In a match spoiled by the blustery conditions at Eastbourne United AFC’s Oval ground, it was Common who took a first half lead through Stuart Collier and Lewis Hole added a second with 20 minutes remaining.

Two super goals from Jordan Wood secured the victory. Wood finished off a fine team move to make it 3-0 and after Reserve Section (Premier) team Oak pulled one back, the same player found the top corner of the net to put the icing on the cake.

Common midfielder Dom Bristow was named man of the match in what was the last ever Sussex County Football League fixture before it’s renamed the Southern Combination Football League for next season.

Winning the competition was a fine achievement for a Common side which finished ninth in Reserve Section (East).

Common have won six Reserve Section Challenge Cup matches in total stretching way back to the autumn, all of them against West Sussex clubs. They beat Clymping 2-1, Ferring 11-2, Sidlesham 2-0 and Pagham 4-3 before edging out Wick & Barnham United 1-0 in the semi-finals.

Aided by the first team finishing its campaign on Easter Monday, Common have won all of their last seven games in all competitions, scoring 27 goals and conceding just three in the process.