In a gripping cup encounter at the Falmer Sports Complex on 15 February 2025, Preston Manor Royals faced off against Victoria Baptists First, ultimately succumbing to a 2-1 defeat. The match, which kicked off at 3:00 pm, saw the Royals put up a valiant effort but fall just short in their quest for cup glory.
The Royals lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Adrian Bajka took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Sam Copeland on the right, Gillan Williams on the left, and central defenders Adam Arnold and Aziz Can Karan, who was later substituted for Jake Nurse. In front of the defence, Dominic Hewitt played a pivotal role as the central midfielder, tasked with linking play and providing support to the attacking trio. Daniel Clark and Valery Jingwa operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively, while Reece Coughlan led the line as a right forward, with Kevin Wokabi as the central striker and Stiven Lopes on the left.
The substitutes for the match included Jake Nurse, Marlon Perrin, Jaegan Roberts, and James Purvis, who would later be called upon to influence the game.
The match began with an early moment of assurance from goalkeeper Adrian Bajka, who made a confident catch just a minute in. As the first half progressed, Daniel Clark attempted to put the Royals ahead with a shot that sailed high over the bar in the 20th minute. Shortly after, Kevin Wokabi found himself in an offside position due to a mistimed run, a decision that was correctly adjudged by the officials.
In the 32nd minute, the Royals made their first substitution, bringing on Jake Nurse for Aziz Can Karan. This change was soon followed by a flurry of attempts, with Adam Arnold's effort in the 33rd minute also going high. Sam Copeland came close to breaking the deadlock in the 34th minute, striking the crossbar with a powerful shot that left the crowd gasping.
The breakthrough finally came in the 39th minute when Reece Coughlan found the net, converting a close-range effort after a clever short pass from Kevin Wokabi. The Royals celebrated their lead, but the joy was short-lived as Victoria Baptists First responded with a yellow card for a bad tackle just before half-time.
As the second half commenced, the Royals were caught off guard, conceding a header from the opponents just two minutes in, which levelled the score at 1-1. Adrian Bajka was called into action again shortly after, making a catch to maintain his side's composure.
The match took a further turn in the 58th minute when the opponents were awarded a penalty, which they converted to take a 2-1 lead. The Royals struggled to find their rhythm, with Kevin Wokabi's attempt going wide in the 62nd minute, followed by another catch from Bajka in the 64th minute.
Stiven Lopes was substituted for Marlon Perrin in the 71st minute, and Perrin nearly made an immediate impact, hitting the post with a shot in the 79th minute. The Royals continued to push for an equaliser, with Jaegan Roberts replacing Wokabi in the 80th minute, but they were unable to find the back of the net.
In the closing stages, James Purvis came on for Dominic Hewitt in the 88th minute, but despite Reece Coughlan's late attempt that went high, the Royals could not find a way back into the match. The final whistle confirmed a disappointing exit from the cup for Preston Manor Royals, who will reflect on missed opportunities and a spirited performance that ultimately fell short against a determined Victoria Baptists First side.
