05/10/2026
🏆 NCFL League Cup 🏆
Match Report
Seaton Sluice 2–3 Alnwick Percy Rovers
Saturday 3rd October
What a cup tie! Alnwick Percy Rovers produced an excellent come back on Saturday to come from 2–0 down and beat Seaton Sluice 3–2, showing tremendous character, discipline and belief to progress in the NCFL League Cup.
Percy Rovers travelled to Seaton Sluice with a strong squad, despite being without a number of key players demonstrating the depth and strength of the squad, with players stepping up when called upon.
Percy Rovers thought they had got off to the perfect start after just two minutes.
Seaton Sluice were awarded a free kick on the corner of the Percy Rovers 18-yard box, but the effort struck the Percy Rovers wall. Declan Malone and Jack Driver reacted quickest, pressing the loose ball before finding Liam Mallaburn in the centre circle.
Liam produced a superb first-time pass into the path of Jack Driver on the right. Jack drove into the box before cutting inside on to his left foot and curling his shot into the far bottom corner.
Unfortunately, the celebrations were short-lived as the goal was ruled out for what appeared to be a very contentious offside decision by the linesman.
Instead of going ahead, Percy Rovers found themselves behind after seven minutes.
Sluice's quick pressing put Percy Rovers under pressure and they won possession in the middle of the pitch. A quick exchange of passes opened up the Percy Rovers defence before a superb through ball released the Sluice forward, who calmly finished to make it 1–0.
The game continued at a high tempo, with both sides creating opportunities. Seaton Sluice probably edged the chances during the first half, although neither goalkeeper was seriously tested.
Half-time: Seaton Sluice 1–0 Percy Rovers
The second half continued in much the same fashion, with chances at both ends.
On 57 minutes, Seaton Sluice doubled their advantage. Ronin Mallaburn was caught in two minds under pressure from the Sluice forward, who took advantage of the hesitation to finish into an empty net.
2–0 to Seaton Sluice.
For many teams, that could have been the moment the game slipped away but the response was immediate, Percy Rovers creating an excellent opportunity down the left, with Sam Young, Jack Driver and Liam Mallaburn combining before Liam eventually found Joseph Fife, who produced a superb individual run, beating four Sluice defenders before getting his shot away.
Unfortunately, the effort came back off the post.
That chance seemed to ignite Percy.
A change in formation helped Percy Rovers gain further control and they began putting Seaton Sluice under sustained pressure.
On 69 minutes, Percy Rovers were awarded a free kick on the right-hand side of the Sluice box.
Declan Malone delivered an excellent cross, finding Joseph Fife completely unmarked in the six-yard box. Joseph kept his composure and calmly finished to pull Percy Rovers back into the game.
Seaton Sluice 2–1 Percy Rovers.
Percy Rovers continued to press and create opportunities, and on 78 minutes the deserved equaliser arrived.
Tyler Frost produced a fantastic piece of play, shrugging off challenges in front of the Percy Rovers box before playing a superb ball over the top of the Sluice defence.
The ball found the advancing Liam Mallaburn, who still had plenty to do with a defender applying pressure.
Liam drove into the box before showing excellent composure and skill to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.
2–2.
With just 12 minutes remaining, Percy Rovers had completed the comeback.
And what a cup match this was becoming.
The game remained completely end-to-end as both sides pushed for the winner, with the prospect of penalties beginning to look increasingly likely.
Then, on 88 minutes, Sam Young picked up the ball just inside the Sluice half, skipped past a sliding challenge from the Sluice midfielder and played a superb through ball into the path of Joseph Fife.
Joseph raced into the box and, as he got his shot away, was clattered by the Sluice defender.
There was little complaint from the Seaton Sluice players.
Penalty to Percy Rovers.
With the pressure on, Eithan Balmbra kept his composure from the spot to complete a remarkable turnaround and make it 3–2.
Final whistle
From 2–0 down to 3–2 winners, Percy Rovers showed exactly what this squad is capable of.
Percy Rovers finished with 54% possession but despite Sluice having slightly more shots, Percy Rovers were more clinical when the opportunities came.
Most importantly, the team showed character, discipline and belief when the game looked to be slipping away.
A huge credit to both teams and every player involved.
A fantastic cup comeback. What a game. What a team.
Goals
⚽️Joseph Fife
⚽️Liam Mallaburn
⚽️Eithan Balmbra
🏆Man of the match - Liam Mallaburn
Alnwick Town FC Juniors
