Seaford Town 0 Newhaven 2, Pre-season friendly #4
At the risk of sounding too much like a broken record, the
Docker’s latest pre-season friendly once again took place in weather conditions
more suited to an afternoon lounging at the beach rather than one chasing a football
around a pitch.
As the Channel 9 weather-lady from The Fast Show would
no doubt have said, it was ‘Scorchio’ (yet another topical reference for the Come
On You Dockers blog, there).
For the third time in a week, though, Newhaven made light of
the blistering-hot weather by controlling the ball and making their opponents
do all the hard work. Clever tactics if you’ve got the players to pull it off.
Which, at present, the Dockers certainly seem to have.
In honour of the late Newhaven club stalwart, Steve Charman, Newhaven’s annual friendly with neighbours Seaford Town now sees the two teams competing for the Steve Charman Cup.
There was an added poignance to today’s
match as well, with a minute's applause taking place before the game in memory of
former Seaford player, and well-known face around the Seahaven area, Lloyd
Daly, who sadly lost his battle with cancer earlier this year.
The pattern of the match was established early on:
Newhaven with plenty of possession, Seaford defending in numbers and looking to
hit the Dockers on the counter.
The opening 20-minutes were fairly non-descript. Lee
Robinson went close to opening the scoring for Newhaven when his instinctive
flick was unfortunate to come back off the bar, while Seaford almost got in on
a couple of occasions when their energetic harrying almost saw them turn the
ball over in dangerous areas.
This risk is something I feel the Newhaven faithful are
going to have to get used to this season. As good as the passing out from the
back game looks, it does leave the team open to the occasional nervy moments
when they lose (or almost lose) possession in dangerous areas. Thankfully (for
us, at least) Seaford were unable to capitalise on the rare instances that a
pass did go astray or a player dallied a second too long on the ball.
The first goal arrived midway through the first half. Some
good interplay in midfield led the ball being played through to Lukas Franzen-Jones.
After a good touch to control and then another to shift the ball out of his
feet, it seemed as though the striker would go for goal himself, only to
unselfishly role the ball square to Alfie Rogers, who had the simple task of
tapping the ball into the empty net.
As the half wore on, Newhaven’s controlled possession began
to open up the host’s defence on a more frequent basis. Particularly down the
right side where Robinson and Harry Reed were causing Seaford all manner of
problems.
However, a combination of sloppy finishing and some determined
defending, kept the half-time deficit to just one-goal.
Following a few changes for both teams at the interval, it
was Seaford who started the second-half in the ascendance, enjoying their best
spell of the afternoon without ever really testing Jake Buss in the Newhaven
goal.
In fact, the only damage done to Newhaven in this period was
an injury to the unfortunate Conor Sidwell. As I said like week about Robbie
Keith, Sidwell is another player who deserves some luck with injuries having been
dogged by various niggles for the past couple of years. Hopefully it’s nothing
too serious this time around.
Having come through the opening ten-minutes of the half unscathed,
the Dockers once again started to regain control of the match, wearing down
Seaford’s defence by moving the ball quickly and with greater purpose.
After a sustained period of pressure, Newhaven were awarded
a penalty shortly after the hour mark (it was one of three potential spot-kicks
the Dockers could have had during the afternoon; and arguably the weakest of
the three appeals).
And, as if pre-season wasn’t looking promising enough
already, Newhaven fans were handed another boost when Franzen-Jones confidently
dispatched from 12-yards, drilling the ball straight down the middle. Possible
signs that last year’s penalty woes may be behind them (click here for more on those)? Well, let’s hold fire on such claims for the time being, but keep your
fingers crossed.
The rest of the match passed by without too much incident.
The searing heat, and usual pre-season merry-go-round of changes from both
sides, saw the match lose a little shape, with the Dockers comfortably holding
out for a victory. In fact, I’m not sure either keeper had a save to make in
the second-half.
So it’s the Dockers who come away with the Steve Charman Cup
and, just as importantly, maintain their 100 per cent start to pre-season.
It’s off to Whitehawk on Tuesday night, in what (on paper at least) should prove to be Newhaven’s toughest test of the pre-season. It should also offer the coaching staff a real opportunity to assess exactly where the squad is at with the start of the league campaign just two weeks away. And with the weather due to be even hotter than it has been, their possession game could be all important.
My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Harry Reed. Looked
lively in the first-half, linking up well with Lee Robinson down the right
flank, and assured in his defensive work when needed.
These are undoubtedly exciting times for Newhaven and I don’t
think it’s hyperbole to suggest the management team have assembled the club’s
best squad for a number of years.
It really is worth checking out a few games if you can and
maybe even taking advantage of one of the club’s new membership schemes (which
cost just £10 or £20). Depending on which option you choose, you will be
entitled to discounted matchday entry, discounted prices at the bar and
potentially both.
Please feel free to enquire to me, or any of the various Newhaven committee members, should you be interested in a membership card. It’s well worth it!
Also, keep an eye out in shops and takeaway outlets around
town for the brand-new Newhaven FC magazine, featuring loads of exclusive
content. Also, be sure to let me know what you think of it and what content you’d
like to see in any potential future editions.
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