East Sussex Football League
Division 3

Pebsham Sibex 0 

South Coast Athletico 7

South Coast Athletic got its season underway in emphatic style at the weekend routing Pebsham Sibex seven goals to nil.

The game got off to a fierce start as Pebsham looked to put a physical authority on the game with some hard early challenges taking man and ball. The Chopbacks however were not to be bullied and were more than happy to throw in a firm challenge when required.

The opening 15 minutes brought half chances for both sides but nothing concrete to show who was ready to take command of the game.

There was a moment of worry for the South Coast bench as Connor Smith went down from a clash of heads. The right back was slow to his feet and seemed out of sorts from then on, battling on for a short while before being replaced by Jack Bloomfield.

A combination of heat and poor pitch surface began to take its toll on Pebsham as they started coming second best to 50/50 and second balls.

The rigorous preseason fitness the South Coast squad had ben pit through was already showing dividends and they began to command the middle of the park and on the 40 minute mark the breakthrough came.

A 30 yard strike by Brad Owens was poorly dealt by the Pebsham ‘keeper and South Coast found themselves one up.

Three minutes later Luke Darvill provided a cross which allowed Connor Easton to beat the scrambling ‘keeper and poke the ball home for number two.

The second half started as the first finished and with just 45 seconds gone and Easton turned provider, rolling the ball across the face of goal for Darvill to cooly place home, The Chopbacks were three – nil up and the game was really over as a contest.

The midfield began to enjoy mass freedom as Pebsham could only chase shadows. Wave after wave of attack from the Chopbacks forced Pebsham to try and break up the play and give away free kicks.

They did just that on 57 minutes and were punished by Callum Homewood who launched the ball from ten yards inside the Pebsham half over the head of the ‘keeper for goal number four.

South Coast were not done yet and Darvill found himself on the scoresheet for a second time before a left footed curler from Owens and a well driven shot from Dom McGurk rounded off all the scoring.

The chopbacks have announced their presence in Division 3 with a result sure to make those around them sit up and take notice.

Team manager Neil Sutcliffe said after the match: “South Coast are not here to make up the numbers, in the form we showed today and in our pre-season warm-up matches, it will take a very good side and a lot of luck to beat us.”