Cricklefield Stadium Sunday, October 2nd, 2011   FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Attendance: 175         Walthamstow 0-3 Eastbourne Borough
2011 /12

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02.10.2011 at 15:00 Cricklefields Attendance: 175 Waltham Forest 0 - 3 Eastbourne Borough (Elphick (71) Watson (84) Rook (90+2)) Referee: I.Cooper FA Cup-match Forest’s cup dream is over for another year, but The Stags left the competition with their heads held high and will be full of confidence as they look to build on their fantastic start to the league campaign. In sweltering conditions, the large crowd enjoyed a competitive match played in the best of spirits. As early as the ninth minute Forest thought they had taken the lead. Josh Bonnett’s corner was headed into the back of the net by Richard Shittu, but the referee penalised the powerful front man for a foul in the area. With the wind behind them, Forest were causing their Blue Square South oppositions a whole host of problems. Manu Dagher went close with a rasping shot, and Ben Gracey forced a good diving save from Banks in the Borough goal. Despite their dominance, Eastbourne did have a couple of good chances in the first half themselves. Elton Sackey comfortably cleared a Borough effort off the line after a good corner, and Hart should have done better when heading unmarked from just outside the six yard box. With the wind behind them, Eastbourne took total control of the second half. Forest were put onto the back foot, and had it not been for the excellent defending of Ben Gracey and Antone Douglas, the final score could have been higher. That is not to say that Forest didn’t threaten in the second half. Douglas, Bonnett and Joel Palmer all wasted good set-piece opportunities. On 62 Eastbourne took the lead through Gary Elphick, who headed in well at the front post from a corner. However, Forest felt slightly hard done by, as many felt that Tashan Nicholas was fouled in the run-up to the corner. There was also an air of controversy around Borough’s second goal. A long ball out of the away defence was flicked by Gaz Dauti into the path of Ben Watson, who had been in an offside position when the first pass was made. However, Watson showed good strength to hold off Gracey and curl the ball home. As Forest went for broke, Eastbourne sealed their third goal. A deep cross found once £10,000 man Carl Rook who headed in coolly at the back post. With moments to go Forest did think they had found a consolation goal, but Dauti’s effort was cleared off the line. Eastbourne Borough progress to the next round along with the tidy sum of £4,500 to help them on their way. Next up for Forest is an FA Trophy tie with Tilbury, which will be played on Sunday 9th of October. Forest’s matches with Thamesmead (4-10-11) and AFC Sudbury (15-10-11) have now both been postponed to our opponents continued presence in the FA Cup. Waltham Forest: Aaron Omand, Elton Sackey, Ben Gracey, Tashan Nicholas, Antone Douglas, Manu Dagher, Gazmend Dauti, Lukman Mojeed, Joshua Bonnett, Richard Shittu, Joel Palmer Substitutions: Billy Healey Joshua Bonnett (71) Mbive Lokando Lukman Mojeed (76) Kardan Campbell Tashan Nicholas (86) Eastbourne Borough: Rikki Banks, Darren Baker, Sam Cole, Matt Smart, Ollie Rowe, Gary Elphick, Steve Brinkhurst, Simon Johnson, Eddie Hutchinson, Gary Hart, Matt Crabb Substitutions: Carl Rook Matt Smart (32) Ben Watson Steve Brinkhurst (68)