Eastbourne Dynamos returned to County Cup action this week. Most games across East Sussex had succumbed to the weather, but Old Town Rec once again had no problems dealing with the recent wet weather.

Gary Taylor had a few selection problems to deal with, with a number of defenders missing and the midfield missing a few players.

Ricardo delayed the start of the game by 20 minutes after turning up late, and Dynamos looked to get into them straight from the off.

The home side dominated possession for the opening period as their visitors squandered possession. Ricardo were still a threat and looked more dangerous with the long ball the Eastbourne failed to deal with on a number of occasions.

Dynamos took the lead when Ricardo managed to clear the Dynamos corner, before the ball was knocked back into the dangerzone, Lewis Colegate put defender and goalkeeper under pressure and came out with the ball to slot in from a tight angle.

Ricardo didn't take long to draw level. They managed to get behind the Eastbourne defence on the left and shot low to Martin Bell's near post. Bell got fingers to the ball but not enough to keep it out.

The game became scrappy and both teams failed to take a strangle hold of the game.

Both teams looked like they could add to their tally, but it was the home side that took the lead. Dynamos won a free kick just to the left outside the area. Neil Taylor whipped in a dangerous ball to the back post. Stephen Fletcher sneaked in unmarked at the back post to collect and shot past the keeper. The visitors were appealing for offside but the referee claimed he had watched it all the way and allowed the goal.

Eastbourne then conceded a sloppy goal as they failed to deal with a long ball again. The defence let it bounce and the moment of hesitation let in the Ricardo strikers. Both sets of players exchanged possession as the ball bounced around inside the area. The ball then fell to the feet of a blue shirt and they player fired in a curling shot that Bell couldn't get to, it bounced off the post before going in.

The second half was much of the same. Eastbourne looked to use their pace down the wings to get behind their defence.

Eastbourne were back in front soon after, Dean Pugh was deemed to have been fouled in the area when going round their fullback. Taylor slotted away the penalty at the second attempt.

Both teams squandered chances to add to the scoreline. Colegate and Rossi Williams both went close but failed to test the keeper. As the game wore on, Dynamos lost Neil Taylor and Alan Doyle to injury, and the changes seemed to have an effect on the home side as Ricardo saw more of the possession, while Dynamos failed to hold the ball further up the pitch.

Dynamos were forced to defend more and more, and Ben Curwood ran tirelessly through out the game, with Richard Payne and Stephen Fletcher finally settling into their new defensive partnership. Darren Vine was his usually reliable self.

With 10 minutes to go, Ricardo levelled. They worked the ball across the Dynamos goal from the right. Eastbourne failed to get a meaningful tackle in and allowed Ricardo to slot through so Bell was one on one. The visitors managed to find the net and the goal seemed to give them confidence going into extra time.

Pugh had a chance to put Eastbourne ahead in extra time, but shot over the bar. Ricardo went down the other end and a few minutes later where ahead for the first time in the game. They managed work themselves and opening and shot into the far corner.

Ricardo then became very defensive, trying to defend their lead, even holding the ball in the corner with 20 minutes left of extra time.

Martin Bell was involved in an incident that could have seen him end up with a card. He came to collect the ball only for the Ricardo player to slide in a kick the ball out his hands, Fletcher was covering and made sure he cleared the loose ball but not before Bell had made sure that the striker wasn't getting near the ball by wrestling him to the ground. The referee claimed his view was blocked and allowed play to continue.

Dynamos fashioned a few half attempts but failed to really test the keeper and often giving away possession.

The light was nonexistent at this point due to the late kick off, and time was running out for the home side.

Eastbourne eventually ran out of time, although the Referee later commented that because of the light, he wouldn't have let it go to penalties.

Dynamos will feel disappointed with their performance this week, and with the fact that they should have finished it off and secured the game in normal time. They seemed to let their heads drop after the third goal and didn't lift them enough for the second half.

Eastbourne will return to league action next week, providing the rain holds off long enough to allow a game to break out!