Fleet’s youth side saw their cup run finally halted by Brighton tonight at Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis.
The Sussex side ran out 2-0 winners to take their place in a third round tie with Northampton Town. The Fleet started well against an Albion side that took a while to get to grips with proceedings, perhaps wary of their visitors’ gung-ho attitude that saw them out out Brentford in the last round.
Indeed it took a four-minute spell in the second-half to finally end Fleet resistance when first George Barker sent a shot through keeper Joe Hagan’s legs from the edge of the box and then quick-thinking Conor Hider ran down an attempted clearance from Hagan – hero of the hour in the last round – and Hider’s interception sent the ball into the back of the net.
Azeez Larne and Billy Higgins came close for the Fleet as they re-asserted themselves after the quick brace of goals, but the League side held on to advance to the next stage.
