Albion 2 Eastbourne Borough 0: Brett and West seal place in Senior Cup final

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Under-21s to face Three Bridges in next month's final at the Amex.

Matt Bishop

2026-04-29T21:30+01:00

Adam Brett celebrates after giving Albion an early lead. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Albion reached the Sussex Senior Cup final with an entertaining 2-0 win against National League South side Eastbourne Borough on Wednesday.

Borough were reduced to ten players in the first half and hit the woodwork three times, but goals either side of the break from Adam Brett and Aidan West secured Albion’s spot in next month’s showpiece at the Amex and they could have scored a hatful more.

Albion looked comfortable from the start and after bossing possession early on Kofi Shaw saw a shot well saved before West collected the rebound and teed up Brett to fire into the top corner from 12 yards after just four minutes.

Albion celebrate after taking an early lead in the semi-final. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Moments later Shaw caused more chaos on the left and drilled an inviting low cross into the path of Younes Ibrahim ten yards out, but the 18-year-old saw his effort well saved by Jamie Searle in the Eastbourne goal.

Harry Mills then shot wide before Shaw was played in one-on-one with Searle after a lovely pass from Shane Nti, but the Sports shot-stopper stood tall to deny the former Bristol Rovers man and somehow it was still only 1-0 with 15 minutes played.

Albion nearly paid the price for not taking their early chances when Owen Bellamy beat Seb Jensen to a loose ball 35 yards from goal following a long ball over the top, but Borough’s winger fired over an empty net while under pressure from Tate Ferdinand.

On the half-hour mark, Quevin Castro nearly capitalised on another mix-up in the Albion defence after Zane Albarus’ pass failed to find Nti, but the Eastbourne No9 saw his looping volley from 25-yards clip the crossbar with Jensen beaten.

Those opportunistic openings gave Eastbourne a new lease of life and Freddie Carter was next to hit the bar for them when he steered Bellamy’s cross onto the woodwork from seven yards but seconds later Carter’s night was over.

Aidan West is congratulated by his teammates after making it 2-0. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Just as Borough were getting a foothold in the game their centre-back was shown a straight red card when he wrestled Brett to the floor after the striker combined with Shaw to be clean through on goal.

West and Ibrahim combined on the right just before the break and nearly made their extra man count with acres of pace to work in, but Harry Phipps made a superb last-ditch challenge to deny Ibrahim inside the area.

Albion started the second half as they finished the first with West and Ibrahim – and the always dangerous Shaw – combining well in the final third before West found space on the right side of the area to drill a powerful strike across goal but inches wide.

Zane Albarus runs at the Eastbourne defence. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Ibrahim then hit a swerving free-kick towards the top corner that Searle did well to tip over before Borough’s keeper denied the forward again with a superb save from point-blank range on the hour.

At the other end, Eastbourne created a huge chance – their biggest following Carter’s red card – but when Kai Corbett did well to keep the ball in play and reach the byline Adam May could only hammer his cutback over the bar from 15 yards.

Corbett looked bright during the second half and he forced Jensen into his first save of the night with 20 to go when he cut inside and curled towards the bottom corner, but Albion’s keeper was alert and did well to palm it wide.

But just as Borough were once again getting back into the game, a blistering breakaway led by Henry Kasosve and finished by West put the game to bed – the Welsh winger flying down the left and finding West in the box who scored emphatically with 15 minutes left.

Aidan West makes it 2-0 and seals Albion's place in the final. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Brett was denied his second and Albion’s third when West’s neat pass put him in on goal, but the angle was tight and Brett’s dinked finish was well smothered by Searle, before May smashed the upright for Borough in stoppage time as Albion their clean sheet.

Albion will now head to the Amex on Wednesday 13 May, looking to win their 11th Sussex Senior Cup trophy when they play Three Bridges in the final.

Albion: Jensen, Hayden (Ademola 59), Mills, Alakiu, T. Ferdinand, Albarus, (Middleton 74), West, Nti, Brett (Belmont 79), Ibrahim, Shaw (Kasvosve 59).