TD travelled to into East Sussex for this 3rd round tie Vs AFC Ringmer having lost the last 2 league outings to the two top sides in the SCFL. Performances had been marginally better than in previous months, but changes were made to give some opportunities to those that haven’t seen a lot of action recently. Mark Fox returned in goal after a holiday, Joe Ranson & Tom Cousins came into the back 3 to make their first starts since September, Millard came in on the left to replace Lovett and Matt Slater started in his preferred position on the right. Chris Neatherway was moved up top and Mark Cave came back into the side to form the striking partnership. Jermaine Beer, Micky Neatherway, Jack Ranson, Jerome Johnston & Adam Charvill made up a very strong bench.

TD flew out of the blocks in the initial stages and didn’t allow Ringmer to settle into any rhythm. An effective use of pressing high and winning plenty of second balls meant TD could enforce their dominance on the game and created countless numbers of attacks down the hill. Chris Neatherway and Mark Cave were linking up well and if it wasn’t for Joe Whiting in the Ringmer goal it really could have been 5 or 6 in the first half. Some poor finishing, untimely bobbles and some good saves meant TD only went in 1-0 up at the break courtesy of Chris Neatherway in the 9th minute. Some good work from Cave down the left saw a blocked cross fall kindly 12 yards out and via a slight deflection Neatherway grabbed his first goal since returning to the club from Roffey in October. Ringmer’s best opportunity of the game came through a mistake from Cousins at the back but Redley was able to get back on the cover and block the shot. HT 0-1

The second half was a much more even affair with the ball staying in the middle of the pitch for long periods, but Fox was still untested in the TD goal. Although dominating the ball, real chances were few and far between in the second half but this time the finishing was more clinical when the chances were presented. Cave made it 2-0 latching onto a Sullivan through ball as he neatly lobbed the keeper from 30 yards with a hand from the crossbar. Jermaine Beer was introduced, and it didn’t take him long to get on the scoresheet when a cross from the right wasn’t properly dealt with and he made no mistake crashing his volley into the back of the net. Again, some poor finishing meant the lead was not increased when both Hunter and Beer had been sent through, but the quality of the cut backs and the eventual shots were lacking in quality. All in all, a good result on a tricky surface and sets up and Quarter Final tie with local rivals West Chiltington. FT 0 – 3

TD – Fox, Slater, Millard (Charvill 76), Ranson, Redley, Cousins, Hunter (Johnston 76), Sullivan, Cave, C Neatherway (Beer 58) Unused – M Neatherway, Ranson

AFC RINGMER – Whiting, Walsh, Johnson, Martin-Cramp (Frost), Whiting, MacNeill, Earle (Milburn), Forward, Burton (Watson), Strutt, Le Cras Unused - Gardner, Manning

MAZZA MAN OF THE MATCH – Clarke Byrne