Anvils boss looks ahead with confidence

ANVILS boss Darren Guirey is looking forward to inflicting pain on his former club Peacehaven when Crawley Down face them in the latter stages of two cup competitions.

Down will play them in the final of the John O'hara League Cup after an impressive 2-1 victory over Seaford Town.

And the sides are also scheduled to meet next Wednesday in the RUR Charity Cup semi-final.

Guirey admits the ties are made all the more mouthwatering as he will face his former club who he left in the summer.

He said: "I left them with a good side and they might go on and win the league so it will be a tough game for us.

"But things are coming together here now and we look forward to the day and the way we are playing at the moment gives us a real chance of going on and winning the competition."

Guirey has spoken of a five year plan at the club but admits his side are well ahead of schedule at the moment.

"To be in this position, playing them twice in the final stages of cup competitions is fantastic," he added.

"This is the first senior final that the club have ever got to and everyone is very excited about it. We have big plans for this football club but I'm amazed at how quickly we have made this progress."

Down progressed to the final of the League Cup with goals from Sam Cane and Tony Reid and Guirey was quick to praise his veteran forward.

He said: "Tony has been fantastic for me this season and took his goal brilliantly. He didn't hit it first time but kept his composure to beat his man and pick his spot."

Little was seen of Seaford as the opening period had forced them onto the back foot, however, on 17 minutes a rare attack was wasted with Drew Greenall firing wide.

Minutes later the Anvils went close through Reid but Seaford were beginning to settle and look a handful.

However Anvils were not to be denied and on 25 minutes a Dan Sullivan free-kick had Seaford keeper McDonnell scrambling to keep the ball out.

But the pressure paid off when from a Guy Harding corner Sam Cane was on hand to head home

On 65 minutes a rare flowing movement by the Anvils released the hard working Reid to shake off his marker and add a second.

It proved to be the winning goal as, although Seaford pulled one back late on, the visitors could not force an equaliser.