Win at Withdean secures spot in third round of Sussex Senior Cup

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Albion beat Varndeanians 1-0 at Withdean.

Nick Szczepanik

2024-10-09T22:00+01:00

Louis Flower put Albion in front, getting on the end of Sahil Bashir's pass. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion’s return to Withdean Stadium was a successful one as Shannon Ruth’s under-21 side progressed to the third round of the Sussex Transport Senior Cup, beating AFC Varndeanians thanks to a goal by Louis Flower after 21 minutes.

Although very few, if any, of Wednesday night's squad would remember, Albion’s first team played at Withdean for 12 seasons between 1999 and 2011, winning four promotions thanks to players who became club legends, such as Bobby Zamora, Leon Knight and Glenn Murray.

Shannon Ruth gives his side instructions during their 1-0 win at Withdean. 📷 by James Boardman.

Gary Dicker, the under-21s assistant head coach, made 51 appearances for the club there during his playing career, hitting the nets there on four occasions. There were also plenty among the crowd of 701 who were feeling nostalgic about returning to watch Albion at the Theatre of Trees.

Varndeanians, the present tenants of the Seagulls’ former home, are 11th in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League, in level nine of the football pyramid. They had won 5-3 at Arundel in the first round, but a similar glut of goals was never on the cards this time as they worked hard in defence to keep the game tight.

Albion made ten changes from the starting XI that beat Crystal Palace 10-0 in PL2 on Saturday, only right back Charlie Tasker keeping his place.

Aiden West tricked his way past several defenders in the opening seconds but was eventually crowded out, and the home side soon settled, forcing two free kicks that Albion had to defend in numbers.

But it was mainly Albion pressing and they were soon ahead. Sahil Bashir beat two men on an enterprising forward surge and slipped the ball forward to Flower. The former Chelsea forward took the pass in his stride and his flick with the outside of his right foot found the net despite goalkeeper Sonni Nealgrove’s attempt to block.

Nealgrove then made a brave dive into a crowd of players to punch the ball away from Bashir as both went for Tasker’s low cross.

However, it was by no means one-way traffic and the young Albion rearguard had to block a series of shots around the half hour. Ruth’s side knew they were in a battle, and Jacob Slater was the victim of a heavy challenge from Owen Benfell as the interval approached. Slater nearly made Varndeanians pay when his cross following the resulting free kick was nodded just over the crossbar by Jacob Vickers.

Skipper Jacob Slater congratulates Louis Flower on his goal. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion saw plenty of the ball in the early stages of the second half as the hosts seemed content to sit back and hope to feed off any scraps they could find on the break. Zane Albarus had to tidy up when it seemed their plan might bear fruit after Slater’s misplaced pass.

At the other end, Nealgrove had to punch clear again from West’s cross as Albion began to exert some sustained pressure. The goalkeeper then saved from Bashir’s angled flick after good work by Remiero Moulton.

Visiting goalkeeper Lorenz Ferdinand was a virtual spectator until the 67th minute, when he clutched Tommy Boyle’s shot from distance. But his opposite number, Nealgrove, was given a far stiffer test by Moulton’s shot but a strong hand defected his fierce effort over the bar.

Nealgrove was beaten 12 minutes from time, but Flower was flagged offside as he converted Yussuf Owusu’s pass. And in the end it was Ferdinand who saw Albion through to the third round by kicking away from Varndeanians substitute George Mitchell Phillips.