Steyning Reach Peter Bentley Cup Final with 2–0 Win Over Newhaven
Match Report by Lauren Hawker – Lauren also writes for Sussex Express
Graphics by Patrick Lang (Match Social Media)
Here for incredible MatchDay photos by Max Spanner
Steyning Town travelled to face Newhaven in the semi-final of the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup, with a place in the final at stake. The visitors arrived in strong form, sitting top of the league and fresh from a convincing 5–0 victory over Shoreham. Newhaven, meanwhile, occupied eighth place in the standings, setting up a contest between two sides at different ends of the table.
Steyning had already shown their resilience in the competition, progressing from the previous round with a hard-fought 3–2 win over Jarvis Brook. With momentum on their side, they approached the semi-final determined to continue their cup run and secure a spot in the final.
Newhaven started brightly, with an early long-range effort from Jones in the 4th minute skimming just over the crossbar. Steyning responded almost immediately, as Ollie Rawlins fired over the bar a minute later in an evenly contested opening.
Steyning began to grow into the game and came close again in the 14th minute when Harry Docherty placed his effort narrowly wide. Their pressure paid off just a minute later, as Callum Dowell calmly slipped the ball past the Jonny Barnes-Galloway to give the visitors a 1–0 lead.
Steyning quickly built on their advantage, doubling it five minutes later from a corner. Marcus Allen rose to the occasion to make it 2–0, putting the visitors firmly in control of the tie.
Following the second goal, the match settled into a more balanced rhythm, with both sides struggling to break through each other’s defensive lines. Despite this, Steyning nearly extended their lead further before the interval, with Allen seeing a late effort in the 43rd minute drift just over the bar.
The half concluded with Steyning holding a comfortable 2–0 advantage, having taken their chances well in an otherwise evenly contested opening period.
Newhaven began the second half with renewed urgency, creating an early opportunity in the 49th minute when Ezra Roeg struck from distance, sending his effort over the bar. The hosts continued to show greater intent, and a minute later Jones delivered a dangerous ball into the box, though it was not met by the intended target, highlighting Newhaven’s brighter start after the break.
Steyning responded in the 58th minute following a robust challenge on Heath, which saw Newhaven’s Elliott Bresciani shown a yellow card. The resulting free kick, taken by Heath from just outside the box, was struck low but drifted narrowly wide of the post.
Chances remained limited as both defences held firm. A long-range effort from Harry Docherty in the 68th minute was comfortably gathered by the Newhaven goalkeeper, who was called into more significant action four minutes later, producing an excellent save to deny Ollie Rawlins’ driven shot towards the bottom left corner. Rawlins tried his luck again shortly after with an ambitious overhead kick, but his effort went wide.
Newhaven enjoyed more possession as the half progressed but struggled to break down Steyning’s organised defence. Their best opportunity came deep into stoppage time, when a well-worked move saw Ashley James Wadhams pick out Oliver Kipling, who fired over the bar.
Steyning nearly added a third in the closing moments, but Barnes-Galloway produced another fine save to deny Stan Bridgman in the 90+5th minute.
The final whistle confirmed a 2–0 victory for Steyning, a composed and disciplined performance that secured their place in the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup final. 
