Little Common overcame their cross town rivals in a thrilling Peter Bentley League Cup first round encounter to record their first victory of the season following a 4-3 success against Bexhill United on Saturday. United, playing their first fixture of the season, lined up with four players who had played for Common last season whilst the Common manager, Russell Eldridge, made four changes to his starting line up with Lewis Hole, Paul Feakins, Jake Sherwood and Jack Woodward coming into the team. On a perfect afternoon for football and on a pitch superbly prepared by the Common groundsman Chris Eldridge it was the visitors who drew first blood opening the scoring through Linton Rogers in the 6th minute after the Common defence had attempted to play the forward offside. The Commoners looked more potent in attack with the return of Hole and the hard working Steve Morris complimenting each other well and it was the latter who went closest to an equaliser but saw his fierce drive blocked by a United defender. Eldridge saw a free kick claimed by the visiting keeper before Common found themselves level in the 19th minute when seventeen year old Paul Feakins picked up the ball on the edge of the area and calmly drove a shot into the far corner of the net. In an end to end encounter both teams looked capable of scoring and a long range United effort looped over Matt Cruttwell and hit the post before Josh Elliott-Noye had an effort ruled out for offside. It was the Commoners, however, who drew next blood following a quick free kick from Zac McEniry which released Hole who took one touch before slotting into the bottom corner of the net four minutes before the interval. It was the visitors who began the second half the brighter and they were soon on level terms when Dan Hill struck an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area which went in off the post. The match continued to swing from one end to the other and it was Hole who went closest to equalising but his effort was saved by the feet of the United keeper before Morris once again saw an effort blocked. It was was United who regained the lead in the 60th minute when a delivery into the box caused confusion at the back post before Sherwood was adjudged to have fouled leaving Hill to stroke in the resultant penalty. The Commoners stuck to their task and continued to press for an equaliser and twice saw efforts blocked whilst United continued to look dangerous on the counter attack. Common’s equaliser arrived ten minutes from time when a delivery into the box was handled by Hill leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Eldridge saw his penalty saved as the United keeper dived low to his right but Jack Woodward scored direct from the resultant corner to level the scores once again. With extra time looking a real possibility it was the Commoners who grabbed victory at the death with the ever impressive Cruttwell launching a quick attack to find Hole who made no mistake rolling the ball past the visiting keeper to set up a second round tie with Westfield.

Squad: Cruttwell, Sherwood, S.Mote, Eldridge, McEniry, Ammoun, Denny (Collier), Woodward, Hole, Morris, Feakins (R.Mote). Not Used: Wood.