Match Report: Eastbourne Town 2-0 Little Common (FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)

The 2024-25 season has finally arrived for Eastbourne Town! Former SCFL rivals Little Common were the visitors on a very overcast Saturday afternoon at The Saffrons in the FA Cup.

The game started with a flurry of corners for the new-look Eastbourne Town donning their fresh kit straight off the press from Macron. Anesu Sisimayi and James Stone both firing towards the goal from Leon Greig’s corner but the Little Common defence stood firm. More pressure followed from Jude’s side with quality link-up play down the right flank between James Hull and Leon Greig, nearly resulting in an own goal after the low-driven cross deflected off Liam Ward and just over the bar.

More corners would follow and a goalmouth scramble after some terrific work from Kory Scott, found Sisimayi whose left-footed strike hit the Little Common defender from close range and prompted handball appeals to no avail.

Twenty minutes gone, James Stone received a pass from Sisimayi in the box, controlled the ball well, turned, and was bundled over. Penalty to The Town. James Hull stepped up confidently and fired home into the bottom right corner. Following the goal, the rain we had expected earlier in the week decided to show on matchday and would stick with us up to half-time. Town went in at the break a goal up.

The second half started much the same as the first only with the weather conditions pushing supporters further and further under shelter of both the Roger Addems and Sid Myall stands. Not to mention Nathan Hover nearly pulled off an overhead kick but his effort sailed over the bar.

For the final half-an-hour, Town took control of the possession and chances. However, in the 90th minute, it was very nearly an FA Cup replay on the cards, which would have been held at The Saffrons on Tuesday! The crossbar stopped that after a first-time strike had Chris Winterton beaten. Town responded appropriately. Freddie Warren and Leon Greig linked up down the right-hand side with Leon firing in a low driven cross to James Waters’s feet. Waters released the ball to Sonny Walsh on the edge of the box but a late challenge would see the referee point to the spot. Waters stepped up and just like James Hull in the first-half fired home into the bottom right corner.

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