Town’s impressive run in the John O’Hara League Cup finally came to an end when Crawley Down won a scrappy semi-final at Shoreham Football Club.
Seaford had beaten 4 other Division One sides on route to this stage, winning on their opponents ground in 3 of the ties, but some slack defending cost them dearly this time and it will be Crawley Down who take on Peacehaven & Telscombe in the Final on Good Friday.
Bob Laundon was faced with a big decision in the build up to the game because Captain Sean Brownell was suspended for picking up his 5th booking against Peacehaven 3 weeks earlier, and he chose to play Dan Pollard alongside Adam Kneller at the heart of defence. Martin Eldridge returned at left back, while Dean Paston retained his place after a series of impressive midfield displays since being called into the side.
On a poor surface, and in a bitterly cold wind it was Down who started quickest, with Dan McDonnell having to rush from his line to block a run from Tony Reid, and Reid had another effort which flew narrowly wide. The Chris Stanyard had a chance at the other end but his effort was blocked.
Down took the lead after 23 minutes following a corner after McDonnell had saved well at the foot of his post. Unfortunately no-one picked up Sam Cane when the corner was swung in and he had a free header from 6 yards which he converted with ease.
Both sides were finding conditions difficult and struggled to play any reasonable football with dead ball situations providing the best route to goal, and Town almost snatched an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Eldridge’s inswinging corner was scrambled off the line.
After the interval Town became the dominant force and with the wind at their backs they slowly began to take control of the game, with Kneller the biggest threat with his free kicks. Probing runs by Stanyard and Ben Dartnall came to an abrupt end in good situations and Kneller forced good saves from Shayne Goldsmith in the Down goal on each occasion.
Stanyard was beginning to cause problems at the back for Down and he shot just wide after breaking into the area, then suddenly and against the run of play Down caught them napping at the back and increased their advantage. Tony Reid forced his way through 2 challenges to create an opening for himself and slid the ball wide of McDonnell for 12 yards.
If the Division 1 side thought they had done enough they were soon brought back to reality as Town struck immediately after the restart. They were awarded a free kick wide near the centre-line and when the ball was played high into the area Goldsmith fumbled as he went into a crowd of players and Seb Kazemi hooked the ball in from 12 yards.
It was a goal Town deserved but despite continuing to press they were unable to find another way through and it was only a miraculous clearance on the line by Eldridge that prevented Down from restoring their 2 goal lead.
There was plenty of disappointment at the end as the Crawley Down side were not the best they have faced and hopes were high of reaching the final. Now they are able to concentrate on the league and with 18 games still to be played they will be in action at least twice a week until the season finishes on 1st May.

Team: D.McDonnell, Jones, Eldridge, Pollard, Kneller, B.Dartnall, Paston (Logan), Kazemi (Callaghan), Greenall, Breach, Stanyard.
Man of the Match: Adam Kneller (Important in defence and always dangerous with the dead ball)