Young Rebels get the final at home

The Ryman League agreed to the venue in the final hours before Worthing went out and beat Bury Town 2-1 in their Westview Youth Cup semi-final at Woodside on Wednesday. Had the East Anglians from Bury St Edmunds won instead, the final would have been further north.

Young Rebels were without several of their best players but still came through to meet in the final a Croydon Athletic side there through default. Athletic's first attempt at their semi, against Finchley & Wingate ended, abandoned at half-time, after both teams, and reportedly some spectators, had become embroiled in a fracas as they left the pitch for the interval.

London FA have summoned both clubs to a hearing, which will be after the final, and until then, one Croydon Athletic player has been suspended by that FA.

The Ryman League ordered a replay but this was postponed at Edgware Town FC, on Monday owing to a waterlogged pitch. Finchley & Wingate have subsequently withdrawn from the tie, which had been rescheduled by the League for Dulwich Hamlet's ground on the night following Worthing's semi-final because, according to Croydon Athletic secretary Rob Cavallini, Edware, and Wingate's and Croydon Athletic's own grounds, were all unavailable.

The final on Tuesday will be Worthing's second in as many seasons. They were beaten in last year's final 1-0 by Dulwich Hamlet at Imber Court (Metropolitan Police FC). Rebels' previous appearance in the League Youth Cup was in 1982 when they came from 1-0 down to defeat Barking 2-1 at Epsom & Ewell FC with goals by Paul Lelliott and Russell Barnard. They have not won it since.

Croydon Athletic play at Thornton Heath, near Crystal Palace FC, and their colours are maroon, like nearby Carshalton Athletic.

The competiton was entered by 36 clubs and in the first round of two ties, Croydon Athletic won 3-2 at Tooting and Mitcham. They then came through 2-1 at Chatham Town, beat Margate 2-0 at home, then Folkestone Invicta 6-0 at home in the last eight.

Worthing entered at the second round stage with a 2-1 win in extra-time at Burgess Hill. Since then, they have been at home all the way. They beat Staines 3-1, Kingstonian 3-2 in extra-time, and now Bury Town.