East Sussex Premier League leaders Polegate Town were the opponents and visitors for Eastbourne Dynamos at Old Town Rec this weekend in the Quarter Final of the Eastbourne Challenge Cup.

Manager Gary Taylor had to deal with a host of missing players, including Darren Vine, Alan Doyle, Rossi Williams and Jason Robinson. While Stephen Fletcher was unable to get to the ground in time for kick-off. Dave Moran made his first start for the club since returning from Willingdon AFC.

It was the visitors who looked to assert their authority early on and show their why they are 3 division above their host, but Dynamos were disciplined and determined to prove that they could take on anyone. Christian Corder-Courtier marshalled the Eastbourne defence well, with Ben Curwood, Richard Payne and Simon Burke all putting in good performances.

Martin Bell made a couple of early saves to keep Polegate at bay, but Dynamos managed to keep them to a minimum.

The Eastbourne midfield also got through a lot of work, making sure that their Premier Division opponents didn't get time to settle on the ball and start dictating the game.

Eastbourne made a point of not resorting to long balls up field and handing possession back to Town, and although Dynamos did play some nice football did not force enough pressure on the Polegate defence or call their keeper into save.

Polegate went in a half time with a lead after managing to work the ball down Dynamos left side, the ball fell nicely after a slight deflection and the Polegate player managed to beat Payne to the ball and help it past Bell.

The second half saw Polegate put more pressure on the Eastbourne goal and start to carve a few more chances but most of them went either high or wide.

Dynamos managed to carve out their best move of the game when Stephen Fletcher spread the ball well to Pugh, who sent it back across field to Lewis Colegate. Colegate and Fletcher exchanged passes round the static Town defence, and Colegate's low cross was heading for Neil Taylor in the six yard box but the keeper made a good low save to divert it away from danger.

Polegate doubled their lead with a big helping of luck, a cross from the left looked to be heading towards the back post but out of play, Ben Curwood thought he was under pressure and tried to cushion the ball back to the keeper, but headed past Bell who had come to collect the ball and saw it hit the post before it rolled over the line.

Polegate then had a couple of chances to make the game look a little one sided, but they hit the bar and then Bell came to the rescue with a brilliant save to keep the difference to two.

Eastbourne Dynamos could have let heads drop, but they didn't, and were soon back in the game. Colegate hassled the last defender and he gave up possession, before hauling him down. The referee said after the game he should have been sent off. Neil Taylor stepped up to convert the penalty.

Dynamos pushed for an equaliser but failed to test the keeper and Polegate managed to see out the game to secure their place in the Semi Final.

Eastbourne can be pleased with their performance and need to keep up this level of their game into their next few games. Hurst are up next in the Sussex County Cup as Dynamos continue their cup runs.