Holders Albion are through to the semi-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup after they eased past Isthmian League Littlehampton at a rain-lashed Sportsfield.
Ben Wilson’s early goal enabled a young Albion team made up predominantly of under-18s to control proceedings and Marcus Ifill doubled their advantage before the break.
Goalkeeper Fynn Talley superbly kept out a penalty early in the second half and Albion went close several times before a solo effort by Benicio Baker-Boaitey six minutes from time rounded off a professional performance by Albion.
We made the perfect start with a goal in the second minute.
Sam Packham’s pass released Baker-Boaitey down the right and when the winger found Packham again, he pulled the ball back to Wilson, who swept it home from close range.
Jamie Mullins fired over from inside the D after another move down the right but there was a scare at the other end in the 12th minute when Lucas Pattenden broke down the right and his angled effort kissed the crossbar.
Talley made his first save after 22 minutes when he got his angles right to block Josh Short’s drive with his feet.
It was end to end action on a pitch which became increasingly slippery as the rain intensified, but the visitors always carried the greater attacking threat.
The impressive Josh Duffus made space for a shot that struck the bar before Matt Everitt clipped a right-foot effort inches wide after Duffus set up the opportunity.
Ifill had been booked for a late challenge but he made amends six minutes before the break. Packham’s cross-field ball breached the hosts’ offside trap and Ifill cut in from the left and lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The hosts squandered the chance to get one back four minutes into the second half when Leigh Kavanagh was penalised for a push in the box but Talley dived full-length to his right to push away George Gaskin’s firmly struck penalty.
Mullins nearly put the tie to bed on 62 minutes when he cracked an effort from the right-hand side of the box against the crossbar.
Ifill had to be helped off after a late challenge by Jordan Clark earned the Littlehampton defender a booking.
Wilson was somehow denied a second goal by Scott Faber’s brave goalline clearance then substitute Bailey Smith fired wide after rounding keeper Kieron Thorp thanks to a big divot on the sodden turf.
Thorp denied Smith late on but by then Albion had a deserved third when Baker-Boaitey slalomed his way past three defenders, rounded Thorp and slotted home to complete an impressive night’s work by Albion’s youngsters.
Albion: Talley, Packham, McConville, Kavanagh, Shann, Mullins (Mills 84), Everett, Baker-Boaitey, Wilson, Duffus (Knight 84), Ifill (Smith 71).
Referee: Peter Dingle