Will it be third time lucky for Cowfold in Intermediate Cup final?

Beaten finalists twice and with numerous quarter and semi-finals defeats to their name they overcame Sidlesham 3-2 to set-up a showdown with local rivals Roffey in this year’s final.

The hosts did have a good chance of their own when Ben Hands was sent clean through only to scuff his side-foot shot wide.

Some poor defending saw Sids take the lead on nine minutes as Thomas Jefkins met a square pass with a fantastic strike to find the bottom corner.

Cowfold pressed for an equaliser and on 27 minutes the Sidlesham keeper spilled a shot and then forced Chris Spiers’ effort over the bar.

Luke Parsons headed against the bar and Hands’ follow up was again pushed out for a corner which was then cleared off the line.

Two minutes into the second half, Spiers’ delightful lobbed flick found the feet of Hands and he smashed home to make it 1-1.

Cowfold’s dominance was reward just before hour as Spiers played a ball through for Greg Brabon whose unerring finish put them ahead.

Sidlesham, who are third in Division 2, however showed their capabilities as a lapse of concentration by Cowfold saw them snatch an equaliser in the 86th minute as John Philips notched.

Cowfold won the game with just 70 seconds of added-time remaining as Hands ran to the byline and drove a ball low across the six yard box where Nigel Smith side-footed home.

Cowfold assistant manager Paul Curtis said: “It was a fantastic team performance which has got us to a our third county cup final this time against local rivals Roffey who put out run away league leaders Bosham with an identical scoreline.

Cowfold: Marshall, Easton, Hatton, Deane, Dalton, Parsons, Brabon, Edmonds (Nash 55), Sullivan, Spiers (Smith 75), Hands. Unused: Mitchell-Harris.