FT Sedlescombe – 6

St Leonards Social – 0  

Sedlescombe Rangers opened their account for 2020 in the best possible way, progressing to the quarter finals of the ESFL Challenge Cup (Premier and Div 1) after beating St Leonards Social 6-0.

Rangers were delighted with the result; in a competition they are currently the holders of, after last season’s cup success.  

St Leonards started arguably the brighter of the two teams, however it did not take long for Rangers to settle into their rhythm, which would have pleased manager Phil Smith after a long spell with no games due to the winter weather.

With Rangers in control Ryan Edwards opened the scoring on 17 minutes, which he added to with a 25-yard free kick on the half hour mark. Edwards popped up again five minutes before the break to make it 3-0 with a well deserved first half hat trick.  

Half time

Sedlescombe – 3

St Leonards Social– 0 

The second half continued much the same as the first half with Rangers in control and looking to add to the score line.  

Edwards scored again on 53 minutes to make it 4-0 with this time Ben Steadman providing the assist.

The Sedlescombe front pairing of Pip Hatch and Josh Pickering both added to the score line just after the hour mark, scoring two minutes apart and completing a very assured display.  

First team manager Phil Smith had this to say after the match: “I’m very happy with the result and performance from the team, showing how much progress is being made on and off the field. I’m proud too of the young lads who stepped up into the first team today for the first time, and great to see the energy and intensity levels were still high despite not having played since November!” 

The team will now turn its focus to this coming weekends ESFL Premier Division fixture against Bexhill Town.  

The LCS Roofing and Cladding Man Of The Match was awarded to four goal hero Ryan Edwards.  

Sedlescombe XI – Austin, Carroll, Gardner ©, Noonan, Lovick, Thomas, Edwards, Monk, Steadman, Pickering, Hatch,  

SUBS – Burton, Howard, Pool.