FIRST TEAM MATCH REPORT

RUSTINGTON REACH FIRST EVER SENIOR FINAL

RUSTINGTON Football Club are through to their first senior final after an excellent win over holders Wealden on Wednesday. In an outstanding first-half display at Shoreham's Middle Road ground, Blues led 2-0 at half-time before they sealed the victory in the closing stages.

They will now meet Littlehampton or Peacehaven in the final on Good Friday.

It will be their seventh cup final appearance in four seasons, and their third appearance in a Good Friday final in the past four years.

Rustington striker Andy Smart blazed a great opportunity to give his side the lead over the bar on seven minutes, before Blues keeper Andy McCarthy slid out to deny Paul Eaton at the other end seven minutes later.

On 24 minutes, Rustington took the lead. James Butt clipped a ball over Wealden's defence for Sean Duffy. He cut onto his left foot but his scuffed effort was only parried by Wealden keeper Adam Laundon, and Andy Boxall gleefully tapped home from eight yards.

Within a minute, Eaton had an equalising chance cleared off the line but Blues were beginning to take control.

They doubled their advantage on 36 minutes. Wealden's defence stood and watched as Boxall leaped to head Richie Hellen's cross over Laundon for his eighth Rustington goal of the season.

Blues were getting up a head of steam, similar to when they destroyed Newhaven 4-0 in the Division 3 Cup semi-final at the same ground in 2006. They led 4-0 at half-time in that game, and Adam Bibb almost put them three-up on 39 minutes but glanced his header just wide.

Wealden, who won the Cup with a 2-1 win over Steyning Town last season, always looked dangerous when striker Danny Curd was on the ball but he failed to test McCarthy with two long-rangers.

Two minutes before half-time, Wealden twice went close to getting right back into the game. McCarthy punched Darren Gearing's free kick only to Pete Christodoulou, 15 yards out, but the defender's first-time half-volley crashed back off the bar.

Within a minute, Curd's low drive was well stopped by McCarthy, diving low to his right.

Blues had to dig in at the start of the second half to keep their two-goal lead intact.

They were let off when Eaton screwed an effort wide from 10 yards, and then Curd's 20-yarder came back into play off the post.

Curd then headed straight at McCarthy and Blues sealed their victory with eight minutes to play. Smart put Lee Gibbs through, and he coolly lobbed Laundon from 20 yards.

Referee Nigel Baker somehow found nine minutes injury-time to add on, and in the fourth minute, he awarded Wealden a penalty after Brett Neal was adjudged to have brought down Curd.

But McCarthy, Blues' penalty shoot-out hero in their Division 3 Cup success in 2006 and Vernon-Wentworth Cup glory in 2007, dived full-stretch to his right to keep out Gearing's spot-kick.

Rustington manager Gareth Davies said: "I'm delighted. We've been threatening that kind of performance for a while."

"We're going to our first senior final, and I'm so proud. For me personally, it means everything."

"It's going to be our seventh cup final in three years and I'm delighted for everyone at the club."

Wealden boss Andy Gander said: "It was our first game for two weeks because of postponements, but we can have no excuses."

"Things could have been different if one of our two shots which hit the bar went in."

"But we looked jaded and sluggish in the first half, and Rustington were worthy winners."