Dockers on fire in Arundel

Arundel 1 Newhaven 3; Pre-season friendly #2

Football in the sun. You can’t beat it!

Well, providing you don’t actually have to play in it, that is.

Newhaven’s second of six pre-season matches, this one away to Arundel, was definitely an afternoon where it was more preferable to be spectating rather than participating. It was really, really hot! I was sweating just watching. Although that may be an age thing?

Not that the scorching conditions seemed to overly bother the Dockers. Right from the off the team took control of the match. Confidently keeping the ball and making their hosts literally chase shadows all over the sun-baked pitch.

Yes, it was a pre-season friendly against lower league opposition. Yes, results aren’t the be-all and end-all. Yes, it’s all about getting minutes into the players legs. Insert further cliches here…

But still, Newhaven looked good. Really good.

From 16-year-old goalkeeper, Roman Chiosa, who has a confidence with the ball at his feet which belies his tender years, all the way through to the front three (last season’s 60+ goal strike-force of Alfie Rogers, Lee Robinson and Lukas Franzen-Jones; all of whom played a large chunk of the match), everyone looked sharp and played their part.

I stated in one of my previous posts how pre-season is an exciting time; the chance to watch existing players mix with the new arrivals and youngsters. But I think even the coaching team must be a little surprised – and more than a touch delighted – at how quickly the players seem to be connecting with one another.

The youngsters involved in the match – Chisoa, Ryan Blunt, Aaron Winser and Herbie Rogers to name a few – all had their moments (despite pulling double-duty with an under 23s match being played right after), while each of the new signings look like they have something to offer. The midfield duo of Alex Plummer and Marcin Ruda looked particularly impressive, keeping the ball moving in the early exchanges and giving the Dockers a dynamism they lacked at times last season.

The only surprise in the opening 25 minutes was that Newhaven didn’t score. This was due to a combination of good saves from the Arundel goalkeeper and the referee somehow missing a blatant penalty when Robinson was hauled down by said goalkeeper with a gaping goal at his mercy.

Stonewall penalty it may (or should) have been, but that didn’t stop us Newhaven fans from trying (unsuccessfully unfortunately) to teach the striker’s (or winger as he was today) two-year-old son to say ‘Daddy dived’. Oh well, I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities throughout the season to introduce this particular vocabulary to young Oscar!

The breakthrough finally came around the half-hour mark. Franzen-Jones got through one on one and, despite seeing his initial shot saved, kept his composure to coolly chip the rebound into the net. It’s a good job he did score. Robinson was completely unmarked beside him and my guess is that he wouldn’t have been too pleased had Franzen-Jones’ nonchalant effort failed to find the target.

Last season’s top scorer, Alfie Rogers, then added a second just before half-time, latching onto a ricochet off an unfortunate Arundel defender, before calmly finishing from inside the 18-yard-box.

At the other end, Arundel were struggling to create any meaningful chances with Conor Sidwell and Henry Watson looking as solid as ever.

More chances came and went in the second half. Franzen-Jones hit the bar while the ref missed yet another clear penalty when Winser got through only to be pulled back as he was about to shoot. Still, to the young left back’s credit, he stayed on his feet and eventually brought the ball back under control, only to see his rasping effort cleared off the line.

Newhaven had already added a third by that point; Rogers finishing off a good team move down the right-hand side to notch his second of the afternoon.

A raft of substitutions, and increasing tiredness caused no doubt by the balmy weather, took the flow out of the game somewhat as the second-half progressed.

However, Newhaven still looked comfortable, with Arundel working hard but not causing the Dockers too many (if any) real problems.

With time almost up, Newhaven were struck by the curse of the crowd. No sooner had one fan (you know who you are) muttered the dreaded phrase ‘it’s always good to keep a clean sheet’ did they concede a late consolation.

Frustrating, perhaps, but no one seemed to be too concerned. The game was long since won.

The only real downside to the afternoon (aside from conceding late on) was yet another injury to imperious centre-half Robbie Keith. Hopefully it’s just a niggle and nothing too serious. When fit, Keith is without doubt one of the best defenders in the SCFL. Keeping fit is an issue, though. He really does deserve an injury-free season.

All in all, it was a very good afternoon’s work for the Dockers with the performance really whetting this writer’s appetite for the season ahead.

Roll on Tuesday away to Mile Oak. More of the same please.

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Alex Plummer. Looks a really classy player and dictated the tempo of the game superbly.