Fitting Tribute for Football crazy Adam

It’s hard to believe that we are in the fifth year since Adam passed away, and have just played the fifth memorial match between Sackville and Imberhorne. The night, which is always around Adam’s Birthday, has become a really special occasion for many people to remember him by.With Richard Tramontin, the Chairman of East Grinstead Town Football Club, allowing us to use their brilliant facilities once again, the atmosphere is always just right for a night of high intensity football (just as Adam would have liked it!).This year witnessed an even better standard of play, with both Sackville and Imberhorne Sixth Formers delivering some fantastic football. The ‘old boys’ didn’t do too badly either, as friends of Adam’s donned their boots once again to show the youngsters how the beautiful game should be played (at a much slower pace it has to be said!). Once the ‘old boys’ had run out of steam, it was time for the Sixth Form teams to take centre stage – and they didn’t disappoint!After a perfectly respected minute's silence, Imberhorne started brightly and took early control of the game. With the back four looking solid, it provided the perfect platform for Major and Macrae to dominate play from the centre of midfield, spraying ball after ball to wingers Chadd and Cumbers to supply our strike due of Breeze and Irwin. Breeze and Cumbers were especially dangerous down the right flank and combined for the opening and what proved to be the decisive goal. A long throw from Chadd was flicked on by Breeze for Cumbers to finish from six yards at the back post.This only inspired Imberhorne even more and the attacking play was great to watch at times. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t add to the lead, which seemed to give Sackville encouragement as they finished the first half slightly stronger.As the teams returned for the second half, there was a feeling amongst the impressive crowd that this game was far from over. Sackville flew out of the blocks and started to run at the Imberhorne defence, but Morley and Smith stood strong and kept Sackville at bay from getting any really serious attempts at goal. In fact, their only real shot of note came with about 10 minutes to go, but Lyndsey was up to the task and saved brilliantly low to his left to push the ball away for a corner. Corners and set-pieces then rained in on the Imberhorne goal, but the whole team defended as a unit and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. The match could have been put to bed with 4 minutes left on the clock as Smudger Smith roared through the Sackville defence only to see his shot flash wide of the near post. But, in the end, the Imberhorne boys had done enough and retained the Adam Dabell Memorial Trophy having won the cup by the same score-line last year.Mr S Hill