Brighton & Hove Albion v Crawley Wasps
Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup Final
Date: Thursday 23rd March 2017
Kick-off: 7.15pm
Venue: Sussex County FA, Culver Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 9AX
Unsurprisingly, Brighton have dominated the Sussex Cup competition in recent seasons and will be looking for their fifth win in six years and their third in succession when they face Crawley Wasps in a repeat of last season’s final, reports sussexfa.com.
In 2016, the Seagulls were 5-1 winners although Wasps manager Paul Walker said: “We learned a lot from that match and have a much stronger squad this season but you can’t take anything away from Brighton – they are the class team in the county and we have the utmost respect for what they have achieved as a club.
“All I can say is that tactically we’ll be better prepared and if we’re still in it after 25 minutes, who knows.”
“This year is particularly special for us as we celebrate 25 years as a girls and ladies football club only.”
After a sluggish start to their league season, Wasps have improved considerably thanks to the addition of a few players from a higher level and the blossoming of some of the youngsters coming up from their reserves.
They have gone 15 games unbeaten in the London & South East League Premier, winning 13 of them and although likely to be overhauled by Leyton Orient, who have games in hand, are still in with a chance of the treble.
For Albion’s interim manager George Parris it is something of a juggling act at the moment as he awaits to see what fixtures are lined up for the first team and the development squad.
“It would be good to be able to tell you that we’ll be putting out our first team for the final but that will depend on whether there is a first team game against Doncaster arranged for the following Sunday. We have DS fixtures to consider as well and also have six girls away on international duty at the moment.”
But whatever team Parris puts out, it promises to be a highly competitive affair and a good advert for women’s football.
Entry prices for the final are as follows:
£5.00 Adult (17+)
£3.00 Concession (65+ and students with valid student ID card)
FREE Child (16 and under)
