Goalless in Sheppey

Sheppey United 0 Newhaven 0, FA Cup Preliminary Round

After a fairly lengthy away trip in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup earlier this month, the Preliminary Round provided the Dockers with another long away day.

And to an island, no less!

Okay, it was only the Isle of Sheppey. But it’s still an island. The glamour of being a non-league fan!

Unfortunately, a family commitment meant that I was unable to catch the team/supporter’s coach this time round. Thereby I’m unable to report on any karaoke or drunken hijinks that, or may not, have taken place on the journey home!

Fortunately, the aforementioned family commitment was taking place in the morning in Tunbridge Wells, meaning I was at least in the right county for my afternoon journey, and already roughly halfway to my destination.

The Dockers arrived at the really impressive Holm Park stadium, home of Sheppey United, knowing they were facing a team very much on the up. Sheppey won the largely Kent-based SCEFL league at a canter last season, thereby winning promotion to the Isthmian League.

They started their league season with a solid 1-1 draw with Chichester, whilst experiencing a similar path to this stage of the FA Cup to Newhaven. Namely drawing the first match before going goal-crazy in the replay.

In fact, as the brilliant specialist FA Cup Twitter feed @FACupFactfile pointed out on Friday afternoon, the two teams had amassed a combined total of 20 goals in progressing to this round. Therefore, wrote Phil Annets - the brain behind @FACupFactfile – surely this game had 0-0 written all over it.

I can only hope that Phil placed a cheeky little side-bet on his premonition!

Now, normally, enduring a just over three-hour round car journey to watch a 0-0 draw would be something I’d want to forget about as quickly as possible. This is one of those rare occurrences when it most certainly isn’t.

While the match wasn't a classic, it was certainly more than entertaining enough.

And one in which Newhaven produced arguably their most complete performance of the season.

Yes, I know that sounds strange given that the Dockers have already recorded 10-0 and 5-0 victories in the fledgling stages of the new season. But, with the greatest respect to Canterbury and AFC Uckfield who were on the ends of those two hidings, Sheppey United were a class above both.

Yet Newhaven showed no fear up against higher division opponents and a decent-sized home crowd. For once the Newhaven supporters were by far outnumbered, but still did their best to make themselves heard.

In fact, the Dockers spent most of the half on the front foot. Dominating possession and pushing Sheppey back. They were constantly knocking on the door, albeit without quite being able to force it ajar.

Lukas Franzen-Jones probably missed the best opportunity of the first-half midway through it, while Alfie Rogers had a few half sights at goal only to be crowded out by at-times desperate, but nevertheless effective, defending.

Not that the visitors were having it all their own way. Sheppey certainly looked a threat on the break, often counter attacking with speed and power. However, the Newhaven defensive quartet of Max Vardy, Robbie Keith, Jack Meeres and, in particular, Charlie Bennett, remained solid whenever called upon.

Had it been a boxing match, the Dockers would definitely have been ahead on points at the halfway stage, although in truth neither team’s goalkeeper was unduly tested in the opening period.

The second half started in much the same fashion to the first. Defences on top in a game featuring two teams’ set-up with contrasting styles.

With the match starting to open up after about an hour, Newhaven had a couple of opportunities to carve Sheppey wide open, only for the final pass to twice go astray.

The hosts were evidently getting frustrated, as demonstrated by their number 5 twice kicking out at Rogers off-the-ball. Fortunately for him, the ref missed both instances, although it would appear the home bench didn’t, the lucky perpetrator being hauled off soon after the second incident.  

Having worked so hard to gain a measure of control, there were some tired-looking Newhaven legs as the game entered its final third. For the first time, Sheppey started to get forward consistently, with their number 3 a particular thorn in the Docker's side with his pace and direct running. 

His clear annoyance as one of his teammates unnecessarily found himself offside after one lung-busting run forward was certainly understandable. Albeit very welcome from our point of view!

However, with Sheppey getting on top, it was Newhaven who came closest to scoring. The ever-impressive Marcin Ruda drove forward before unleashing a powerful drive that looked to be heading for the top corner before their ‘keeper produced an incredible save to claw it over the bar.

The hosts, clearly not relishing the thought of a Tuesday night replay down at Fort Road, spent much of the last ten minutes camped in Newhaven’s half, working the ball down the sides and trying to really stretch the Docker’s hitherto solid defence.

Deep in injury time, they created the chance they’d craved, only for Jake Buss to produce a match-saving, erm… save, to ensure Newhaven claimed the replay their performance richly deserved.

And so, instead of Little Common at home on Tuesday evening in the league, it is Sheppey United who will have the honour of being involved in the first competitive match on the new Fort Road pitch.

If you’re reading this blog (and I’m assuming you are, otherwise I’m just a madman in his office writing things to himself) then I implore you to get along to Fort Road on Tuesday evening for a 19:45 kick-off.

Check out the new facilities, watch two good teams battle it out on a flawless playing surface, and witness first-hand just what huge strides Newhaven FC is making both on and off the pitch. What else are you going to be doing on a Tuesday night?

It would be great to see you there.

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Charlie Bennett. There were a number of contenders for this honour, but playing in an unfavoured position at right-back, and up against opponents possessing pure pace, Bennett stood firm and offered an attacking threat on the overlap.

At the end of the match, my son interviewed Dockers coach Dave Altendorff, to find out his thoughts on the match, and who he thinks will win this year’s FA Cup.