A narrow defeat – but it’s great to be home

Newhaven 1 Sheppey United 2, FA Cup Preliminary Round replay

Match sponsor: JPE Guttering & Property Servives: www.jpeguttering.co.uk)

Finally, after a run of six away games to start the new season (well, technically five I suppose as the Extra Preliminary Round replay against Canterbury City in Lancing was classed as a home game) the Dockers were back at Fort Road. 

Home at last!

After Saturday’s goalless draw in Sheppey, what should have been a midweek league encounter against Little Common was replaced by an FA Cup replay, with the Dockers looking to produce a mini-cupset by ousting higher division opponents.

With the greatest respect to Little Common, it certainly made for a more enticing opening fixture on paper; and it was rewarded with a crowd in excess of 300. Not bad for a team who averaged just over 140 last season! Fingers crossed we continue to see most of you throughout the coming campaign!

The crowd started to build early, with the bars and coffee hatch doing a steady trade throughout the evening. 

There was an air on anticipation around the ground as kick-off approached; the like of which I can’t remember experiencing at Fort Road for many, many years. People were clearly impressed with the new facilities (I have to say a huge congratulations to every single person who has played a part in revamping the ground), and evidently intrigued to see what this Newhaven team had to offer.

Despite the final result, I’m fairly confident that most of the home contingent would have nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle that played out in front of them. I’d be amazed if they didn’t.

This was a proper cup-tie. Two evenly-matched teams going at it from the kick-off. The flow of the match swaying one way then the other. In short, it was a brilliant advert for non-league football.

Unlike Saturday, it was Sheppey who started the game the quicker of the two sides, immediately taking the game to the hosts.

The Dockers failed to settle and some uncharacteristically nervous defending almost let the visitors in on numerous occasions in the opening exchanges. In fact, were it not for some key saves from Jake Buss and some truly astonishingly bad finishing, the game could perhaps have been over before it really got going.

Having just about managed to ride the early waves of pressure, the Dockers finally started to get a foothold in the game after about 25 minutes. Now it was their time to come forward and exert some pressure.

A succession of corners were won. None of which created a clear opening, although did lead to some moments of panic in the Sheppey defence.

Just over half-an-hour in, Newhaven created what was to be their best opening of the first-half. The ball ricocheted around the area before falling to Lukas Franzen-Jones just inside the six-yard box. The striker did well to react to the situation and divert the ball goalward, but couldn’t generate enough power to best the once-again alert Sheppey keeper from close range.

Back came Sheppey. Two more chances came their way before the interval. Two more chances were wasted.

With half-time approaching, there was another spell of Docker’s pressure. However, despite winning some set-pieces in dangerous areas, the visitors defence could not quite be breached.

Goalless at half-time. None of the crowd understood quite how.

Thankfully, it didn’t take the Dockers so long to settle after the restart. In fact, they forced the Sheppey ‘keeper into another diving save barely a minute into it.

For the next 15 minutes, the game started to more closely resemble the one that we’d seen in Sheppey on Saturday. The Dockers bossing possession, but United looking a threat on the counter attack. They certainly possess plenty of pace and trickery going forward.

Then came the moment the home crowd had been waiting for. 

Just past the hour mark, Alfie Rogers received the ball just outside the area, sidestepped past a couple of challenges, before unleashing a powerful low drive that for once gave the Sheppey goalkeeper no chance.

The roar that greeted the goal was one of the loudest heard at Fort Road for many-a-year. My wife heard it from our house some 300 yards or so away. The cupset was on!

Moments later, Rogers was offered the opportunity to add a second from a free-kick just outside the area. Unfortunately, his effort was tame and bounced off the Sheppey wall.

It was the introduction of Sheppey substitute Jefferson Aibangbee which ultimately altered the flow of the game.

In my opinion, Aibangbee had been United’s most potent attacker on Saturday, and it was something of a surprise (albeit a welcome one) to see him on the bench.

However, having been introduced, it was he who brought Sheppey level. Afforded too much time in the area, Aibangbee swivelled this way and that before getting off a shot that gave the unsighted Buss no time to react.

The lead had lasted barely five minutes.

Eight minutes later, the Dockers were behind. It was a similar type of goal, with the Newhaven defence not getting close enough to Danny Leonard, allowing the winger to twist and turn before picking his spot and finding the far corner with an accomplished finish.

The Dockers were deflated. But to their credit, they didn’t wilt. The management team sent on Marley Ambler and Ryan Walton in search of an equaliser to force extra time, but in spite of some lengthy spells of exerted pressure they couldn’t find a way through Sheppey’s organised defence.

At the other end, the Dockers were indebted to Buss for keeping them in the game as Sheppey began to use their counter attacking prowess to good intent. Ultimately, though, there was to be no further additions to the scoreline.

So heartbreak for the Dockers, but each and every player involved can be proud of their performances against a decent opposition across two games.

On the night, the score of 2-1 could have easily ended up 6-5; and I’m not even sure who to. Both teams can rightly claim to have had decent opportunities to significantly increase their goals tally.

To use a well-worn cliché, it was a tie that neither team really deserved to lose. But someone had to and, unfortunately, it ended up being Newhaven. However, both games have shown that the Dockers have what it takes to mix it with higher-level opposition. Play like they have over the previous 180 minutes during the coming months and an exciting season definitely lies ahead.

Despite the result, it was a great night for the club, with a bumper crowd, a decent atmosphere and a match that perfectly promoted the entertainment that’s on offer on your doorstep.

And, as one road to Wembley ends, so another begins. On Saturday, the Dockers make the relatively short journey east to Hailsham in the opening round of the FA Vase.

Then, on Bank Holiday Monday, it’s back to Fort Road, for the inaugural league encounter on the new surface. And what a game it proves to be with local rivals Saltdean the visitors (kick off is 11am).

It would be great to see you there again!

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Jake Buss. Once again, there were good performances all over the pitch, but without Buss’s saves in the early exchanges the game could have long been over. He also made a great save near the end to keep the score at 2-1 and keep the Dockers in with a chance right up until the final whistle.

Unfortunately, there is no manager/player interview from my youngest tonight. It was getting late and past his bed time. Normal service will be resumed on Saturday!