News

Crofts: It was a special night

Under-23s' head coach pleased to pick up a trophy after Albion win the Sussex Senior Cup.

By Bruce Talbot • 10 May 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Under-23s' head coach Andrew Crofts

Head coach Andrew Crofts was delighted to end the season with a trophy after Albion's under-23s lifted the Sussex Senior Cup with a 4-2 win over Worthing. 

Two goals from Lorent Tolaj and second-half efforts by Cam Peupion and Andrew Moran sealed Albion’s first triumph in the competition for four years.

“I was really pleased with how we played. We started a bit slowly, the penalty kicked us into gear but the reaction when we went behind was exactly what I expected,” said Crofts.

“We started getting onto their back line and the equaliser was a top, top goal in terms of the play from the back, breaking their line and the finish from Lorent is outstanding. If you’d seen that goal in the Premier League it would be talked about for a long time.  

By Paul Hazlewood
Lorent Tolaj celebrates after putting Albion in front.

“We got a couple of good goals in the second half and might have had more but I thought it was a good game. There was a really good crowd which made it a special night and I thought at times Worthing played well. You can tell they have been really well coached by Adam Hinshelwood and I think they will do well next season.”

Crofts was delighted for Tolaj, who recently returned from a loan spell at Cambridge United.

“He did well for the under-23s for six months then the loan to Cambridge didn’t go quite as well as he’d like,” said Crofts. “But he’s a passionate, driven player who wants to keep getting better and he had a really good game tonight.”