After a long week at work I came in a relatively short trip down through Lewes to Eastbourne to watch an FA Vase tie, between Eastbourne United AFC of the Southern Combination Premier Division and VCD Athletic of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

The two sides have made differing starts to the season, with Eastbourne United sitting seventh in the table, with four wins in their last five games. Callum Barlow has led the scoring charts with four league goals and five cup goals already this season, supported by Hayden Beaconsfield with three league goals and four cup goals. The goals and the performances have seen attendances at the Oval raised up to an average of 187 so far this season as manager Anthony Storey has led the team to play some attacking and entertaining football.

VCD Athletic however, are currently in a disappointing fifteenth place, just a season after relegation from the 4th tier, Isthmian League South East Division. Joint managers Danny Joy and Ross Baker would have been looking for FA Vase success today and would have looked to top scorers, Leman Osideko (3 goals) and Jeff Duah-Kessie (3 goals) to provide them with the fire power required up front today.

As kick off dawned the weather was bright and sunny on the coast with a slight breeze. The Oval ground had attracted a decent crowd and the two grandstands and one covered standing area, were all quite full. The grass pitch was in good condition and both sides looked set for an entertaining game. An injury to Eastbourne United’s Mason Crease in the warm up, ruled him out of the team.

The first half saw both sides create chances. Eastbourne United AFC went really close on 20 minutes when a side footed shot was blocked on the line.

VCD Athletic created pressure towards the end of the half but as the whistle blew for the break, the game was locked level at 0-0, with everything still to play for.

The second half was played in much the same style with VCD Athletic counter attacking while Eastbourne United AFC applied much of the forward pressure.

Just as both teams were preparing for penalties, a free kick from the halfway line was hit long by James Broadbent, the Eastbourne United keeper. The effort caught both me filming and Dan Colmer, the VCD Athletic keeper, out. Colmer went to trap the ball but missed it, allowing the ball to slip gently under his foot and into the net, giving James Broadbent an unlikely goal and what looked to be the winner. It also turned out that this was Broadbent’s second goal of the season, which must be something of a record for a keeper!

VCD threw everything into a last gasp effort in the final five minutes but at full time it was the home side who celebrated and who progressed into the next round after a 1-0 victory. James Broadbent, with his goal, was undoubtedly man of the match!