The longest trip this season saw Eastbourne Dynamos venture down the A27 to play Yapton from the West Sussex League in the Sussex County Junior Cup. A semi-final place at stake for both teams and a week of nice weather meant that the pitch was still soft but provided a nice playing surface.

Manager Gary Taylor had no new injury worries with goalkeeper Martin Bell declaring himself fit after a bout of flu on Friday.

It was the home side that started the game looking to get at Eastbourne first, but within minutes it was the visitors who took the lead with their first attack. Dynamos forced a corner, from which Neil Taylor's looping header was dipping just under the bar, the keeper saved only to fumble and drop it at Stephen Fletcher's feet who didn't need asking twice to put the ball in the back of the net.

The home side continued to keep the ball well and their extra man in midfield meant that Eastbourne looked like they were chasing shadows at times.

It wasn't long before things were level again. Yapton managed to put their big striker through on goal and he had pace to get away from the Eastbourne defence before firing low to Bell's right and finding the bottom corner.

Dynamos were getting frustrated with the stop-start nature of the game and decisions not going their way. They were also doing most of the chasing. They weren't winning the second ball and Yapton looked like they could score at any minute.

Soon enough Yapton got the lead their play probably deserved. They worked it well with some neat passing before threading it through the middle of Dynamos then firing past Bell for a second time.

At this point it looked like Eastbourne were going to be on the end of a heavy defeat, but gradually Dynamos managed to get back into the game. A few good tackles and blocks from Christian Corder-Courtier and Shaun Peters was winning every header. Bell made a couple of good saves and Alex Speirs and Alan Doyle started to get a foot on the ball in the middle of the park. Neil Taylor and Stephen Fletcher both looked dangerous going forward but a couple of half chances only managed to produce a few corners.

Lewis Colegate and Dean Pugh were doing their best to provide the width with their fullbacks, Darren Vine and Damien Mills providing some good support.

As the half wore on Dynamos were just shading the possession and didn't want half time to come. Gary Taylor was not happy with his side's first half performance and tore into his players, but it was the home side that started the second half better and had a few openings in which it looked like they might score.

Then came the breakthrough, Vine's throw was chested down by Doyle and Pugh crossed into the box, the defender missed the ball and it made it's way through to Taylor who picked his spot from twelve yards and we were all level again. The goal not only got Eastbourne back into the game, but also meant that Taylor has now scored in every round of this competition so far.

Five minutes later and it was Dynamos who regained the lead. Neil Taylor's short pass to Doyle was flicked onto Fletcher who sidestepped his marker before shooting from outside the box. The keeper got a hand to the ball but not enough to keep it out and Fletcher was now on a hat-trick.

Both sides continued to carve out chances, with the Yapton keeper the slightly busier of the two. As the game moved into the last 15 minutes, Yapton had inevitably forced Dynamos back into their own half as they searched for that vital equaliser.

Eastbourne stood strong and some brilliant defending by the whole team kept the danger out. Dynamos were eventually playing on the break with Fletcher the only man not behind the ball. It was all hands to the pump and a few hold your breath moments as the ball dropped into the box from numerous corners, some last ditch challenges from Corder-Courtier, Peters and one very good one from Vine. Bell started prove his worth with a couple of brave and instinctive saves, one particular save where he got finger tips to the ball to tip over the bar.

Fletcher had a couple of attempts at running at their now very thin defence, as did sub Michael Franklin. Then with a few minutes remaining, Doyle flicked on a Eastbourne goal kick and Fletcher blocked the defenders clearance and raced through one on one with the keeper. He slipped it through the keepers legs for his hat-trick. Cue the celebrations from the Dynamos players and their supporters as they booked their place in the last four. Eastbourne managed to see out the final few minutes before they celebrated their victory.

A very pleasing result and continues Eastbourne's good run. Yapton were a very good team and it was nice to play against a team who wanted to play football. Dynamos are now one game away from a County Cup Final and play away at Worthing Leisure on 20th March in what will be another difficult game. We have two big games left this month, Hawkhurst United next week before the Semi Final, and we would like to encourage as many supporters as possible to cheer us on through this vital part of the season.