Steyning Storm Past AFC Varndeanians with 5-0 Cup Triumph
report by Lauren Hawker.
Steyning maintained their unbeaten run with a dominant 5–0 win over AFC Varndeanians on home soil. The victory secured their place in the third round of the Peter Bentley Cup, a competition the hosts lifted just two years ago. Coming off a resounding 5–0 FA Cup triumph against Lancing, Steyning carried their momentum into the cup tie.
The hosts set the tone early, dominating possession and pinning Varndeanians deep inside their own half. Their pressure paid off quickly when in-form striker Bridgman, already with 13 goals this season, struck again to put the hosts 1–0 ahead within the first minute.
The visitors struggled to find a foothold, though a rare break was halted by Steyning goalkeeper Bromage, who was quick off his line to snuff out the danger. At the other end, Steyning’s intensity occasionally spilled over, with midfielder Honore receiving a yellow card on 16 minutes for a heavy challenge.
The game was briefly halted in the 24th minute after a concerning collision left Blencowe needing treatment for a head injury, following a high boot from Varndeanians No.6 — an offence that earned a yellow card.
Steyning quickly regained their momentum, doubling their advantage two minutes later when Oladokun drifted in at the back post to steer home for 2–0. The hosts almost added a third in the 28th minute, only for the chance to flash narrowly wide, with Varndeanians looking increasingly unable to stem the tide.
The visitors showed brief promise when their No.8 drove forward purposefully on 40 minutes, but the run was swiftly shut down by the alert Steyning defence. Moments later, Honore sent a shot just wide, before Bridgman struck again on 43 minutes — reacting quickest at the back post to punish a poor clearance from the visiting goalkeeper.
By half-time, Steyning were firmly in control, heading into the break with a commanding 3–0 lead after a dominant display.
Steyning resumed the second half in full control, while Varndeanians looked to claw back a goal. Their No.7 made a promising run in the first few minutes of the second half and delivered a crisp cross, but Steyning’s defence remained untroubled. Following on, Bridgman curled a free kick narrowly wide, keeping the pressure on the visitors, who struggled to maintain possession under Steyning’s relentless attacks.
Chances continued to come for the hosts. In the 54th minute, Bridgman’s shot was followed by a rebound effort from captain Jarvis, but both attempts went wide. Steyning made a substitution shortly after, with Bridgman making way for Skerry, ending his impressive evening without a hat-trick but having played a key role in building the lead. Unfortunately, Skerry soon suffered a head injury following another challenge from Varndeanians’ No.6, though no card was shown.
Steyning pressed on, with Jarvis firing a long-range effort on the hour mark and two more shots on goal following moments later, both comfortably saved. Persistence paid off in the 65th minute as Rance found the bottom-right corner to make it 4–0. Substitutions followed, with Rance replaced by Hoarty and Benn making way for Miles.
The home side continued to create chances, with Miles delivering a superb cross in the 75th minute narrowly missed by Jarvis, and Honore just missing a further opportunity two minutes later. Berry’s cross in the 81st minute again threatened the visitors, but Hoarty could not convert. Skerry saw a shot saved moments after, and Plummer’s follow-up was blocked by a Varndeanians defender.
Finally, Steyning sealed their dominance in the 89th minute when Hoarty danced through a tiring visitors defence and netted making it 5–0. The hosts controlled the closing stages to secure a comprehensive and convincing victory.
Mom: Max Blethcoe. Seen with Finn Daniels-Yeomans.
