Mid Sussex League 3-1 Spartan South Midlands League (Div 2)
The FA Carlsberg National League System Cup
Preliminary Round
Saturday 17 March 2007
Leylands Park, Burgess Hill Town FC

The FA National League System Cup is a competition open to leagues at Step 7 of the National League System and invited associations including Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The competition winners go on to represent England in the prestigious UEFA Regions Cup.

On Saturday afternoon the Mid Sussex League advanced to the First Round after beating the Spartan South Midlands League (Division Two) at Burgess Hill and they now face an away tie against the Essex Olympian League.

The Mid Sussex League won 3-1 on a dry and sunny afternoon, all of their goals coming in a crazy three-minute period at the end of the first half. The visitors, represented by club side "The 61 FC (Luton)", pushed hard to get back into the match in the second period but could only manage one goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

The SSML were first onto the attack and kept home 'keeper Stuart Morgan (East Grinstead United) on his toes as players with nicknames like "Sausage", "Toast" and "Gravy" hit hopeful balls into the box on a bone-hard pitch. But the MSL settled down after all this catering and started to put some pressure on the visitors' defence, particularly through the forceful runs of striker and skipper Matt Lloyd (Wisdom Sports).

The SSML's young 'keeper, Peter Gray, was brave to the point of recklessness and kept the scoresheet blank until the MSL broke through just before the break - not once, but three times.

The first goal on 43 minutes was controversial, Phil Lewis (Old Varndeanians) volleying in as Gray grabbed at Kevin Lock (Willingdon Athletic)'s lofted ball into the goalmouth.

The disgruntled SSML players seemed to lose concentration in midfield a minute later, failing to challenge as a ball was played behind the defence for Rory Newby (Willingdon Athletic) to run on and roll the ball past Gray and into the far corner. It got even worse for the SSML in injury time at the end of the half, Dave Phillips (Old Varndeanians) thumping the ball in from close range to make it 3-0.

The visitors threw caution to the wind, probably their only option, and forced a succession of corners as they desperately tried to reduce the deficit. But they found Morgan in inspired form and with so many efforts blocked on the line, must have realised that it wasn't going to be their day. Adam Tiley's consolation goal was followed almost immediately by the final whistle.

The MSL will now meet the Essex Olympian League in the First Round.