With things going well in the league the Mavericks were looking to carry some of the same form through into their first cup game of the season. The Mavericks didn’t start too brightly - perhaps showing signs of wear-n- tear from their weekend off chasing Bugs Bunny round Manchester – but luckily neither did their opponents Cuckfield Rangers II and with these teams yet to face each other in the league it was a somewhat exploratory opening exchange.

Both teams attempted a few long shots but were unable to direct them on target and test the opposing keeper due to the autumnal winds. Having realised that keeping the ball on the deck would provide more rewards the Rangers started passing the ball about with confidence. Rangers then broke down the left and managed to lay the ball off to their striker making a run into the box. Their striker hit a low shot straight towards Riddle in the Mavericks goal and with everything looking under control the ball squirmed out the back of Riddles hands. Riddle however was quick to react to his error and used his lightning reflexes to spin a hoof the ball out for a throw in. The Mavs then started to pass the ball about themselves and ended up winning four corners in quick succession but with no end product. Butler then disposed a Rangers midfielder and seeing Mackouly making a run launched a long cross-field ball into the box, Mackouly picked it out beautifully but could only direct the ball on the bar.

The Mavs then had another chance from a long Butler throw in but the Rangers keeper came and claimed the ball at the back stick. The Keeper rolled the ball to a defender who then punted the ball miles up field with some help from the breeze and as it was coming down Cave was running back with the Rangers striker and Riddle was running out to claim it. Riddle committed to getting the ball but misjudged it and the ball bounced over his head and the advancing striker passed the stranded Riddle and half volleyed the ball into the empty net (1-0).

This was the second time is as many away games that the Mavs had given away the lead and with the determination that saw them turn it around last time they picked up the pace and really put pressure on the Rangers defence. Salter (J) had two free kicks, the first of which went over the bar but the second required a good save from the keeper to tip it round the post but the resulting corner was cleared from danger. Rangers them upped the anti ever more with a long goal kick being headed just over the bar and their winger firing just wide from a snapshot just outside the area. Having survived a small scare the Mavs made a break for it on the counter attack with the defence spreading the ball to Salter (J) in the middle of the park. Salter (J) then brought the ball forward and played it through to Thorpe on the left hand side. Thorpe turned his man and with pace and accuracy slotted the ball across goal and into the far corner to level the scores (1-1). HALF TIME.

The Mavs made their one and only substitution at half time replacing the still slightly ill Mackouly with the still slightly injured Salter (M). Rangers had the first chance of the second half with a free-kick to the back stick being headed back into the danger area but Riddle came charging out and claimed the cross with authority. Salter (J) then played in Martin (C) who beat his man but could only put his effort over the bar to the relief of the Rangers keeper. Salter (J) then took his marker on and won and hit a fizzing effort towards the bottom corner. The Rangers keeper flung himself through the air and made an excellent one-handed save down low to keep the scores level. Salter’s (J) and (M) both had shoots on goal but were easy for the keeper to collect and Martin (C) saw his hard drive creep just wide of the post and his free-kick hit the very close wall.

The Mavs were beginning to control the match for the first time and when Thorpe was put through clean on goal there only seemed to be one outcome. Thorpe stormed into the area with the football tied to his laces and when the keeper made his move Thorpe jinked round him, or so he thought. The Rangers keeper however must have decided that if you can’t get the ball, get the man and completely bulldozed Thorpe to the ground, surely a penalty, so blatant, no, what’s this? The Ref was on the half way line smoking his pipe, no penalty and outrage in the Mavs camp.

The Rangers players knew they had to take advantage of the fact they had just been let off in a big way and started playing very direct football. Martin (J) tackled the Rangers striker but the ball bobbled back into the path of the striker whose shot was turned round the post by Riddle. The Rangers corner was too long but an unmarked player headed it back into the area and then another unmarked Rangers played leapt up and headed it in at the back stick with relative ease, (2-1).

A seriously unhappy Salter (J) then went on one of his trademark beat-the-whole-opposition runs and did indeed beat three men on his way to the area after the ref had given him the advantage from a dodgy challenge, only to then blow for the foul when Salter (J) reached the edge of the box, WTF? The free-kick was successfully cleared but fell to Salter (J) again and when he was hacked down the ref waved advantage again and when Levis was clean through on an open goal five yards out the ref blew for the foul on Salter on the edge of the box, I don’t believe it!!!. Thorpe rifled it into the Rangers wall and then Salter (J) put the rebound effort over the bar. The decisions only got sillier as Levis was chopped down on the right flank only for the free-kick to be given to Rangers and the Rangers number 8 committing his umpteenth bone breaking challenge on Butcher and getting away with it. Butcher had a word with the ref saying it was getting ridiculous and when it happened again only moments later nothing happened but the ref did then book Rangers number 9 for shouting “mine, mine, mine” as he went for a ball.

With only minutes left on the clock the Mavs pushed hard for the equaliser knowing extra time and penalties would come into play if they could get it. Butcher floated a cross into the box which Salter (J) picked up, he shot first time but it was blocked, then shot a second time but it was blocked, then shot a third time but it took a deflection and went wide. The corner caused havoc in the Rangers box and Thorpe, Levis and Martin (C) all had shots blocked or cleared of the line, then a Rangers deflection was cleared off the line and put into touch. FULL TIME.