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Battling Dockers see off Bexhill threat

Newhaven 3 Bexhill United 0, SCFL Premier Division match #9

Following Saturday’s disappointing FA Vase exit at the hands of Eastbourne Town, it was back to league action for the Dockers last night as they welcomed Bexhill United to Fort Road – Newhaven’s third home game in the space of just six days.

Bexhill were one of my pre-season tips to be battling for league honours come the end of the season, and while the Pirates have endured a mixed start to the campaign, the quality they have in their team still suggests that they will be up there come May.

In short, I expected a tough game for the Dockers last night. 

And, don’t be fooled by the above scoreline, a tough game is just what the Dockers got.

United started the game well on the front foot, forcing Newhaven back and dominating the hosts in a way I hadn’t yet seen this season. Yes, in the first half at Steyning on the opening weekend of the season, Newhaven had been second-best. But that was mainly down to Newhaven’s own sloppiness.

While the Dockers certainly weren’t at their fluent best last night – especially not in the first 45 minutes – this was largely down to the way the visitors took the game to the current table-toppers.

Constantly looking to get the ball forward as quickly and directly as possible, Bexhill simply didn’t afford Newhaven the opportunity to get a foothold in the game.

In front of yet another decent home crowd – 200+ for the third time in a week! – Newhaven looked off the pace and slightly nervous. A hangover, perhaps, from the weekend’s defeat?

If it wasn’t for keeper Jake Buss, Newhaven could have been out of the game long before the half-time whistle blew.

A frankly astonishing double-save around 15 minutes in was undoubtedly the highlight of the succession of fine saves he made in the opening exchanges.

Yes, you could argue that the Bexhill striker shouldn’t have afforded Buss the chance to make the save with his follow-up effort; but the keeper still had no right to stop the ball from hitting the net. They were two fantastic saves. Ones I’m sure he will be looking forward to watching back via the Veo camera for some time to come!

Unusually, Newhaven weren’t offering much going forward. For the most part, Bexhill looked comfortable at the back and like they would carve out an opportunity every single time they came forward. Which was every few minutes.

Then, in a complete role-reversal to what happened to the Dockers on Saturday, Newhaven scored against the run of play.

There was an element of luck surrounding the goal, too. Bexhill twice failed to deal with a Tom Underwood cross. Marcin Ruda’s shot then took a huge deflection, only to fall right in the path of Lukas Franzen-Jones whose instinctive close-range header gave the hosts an undeserved lead.

The opening goal did seem to settle the Dockers down somewhat. While it would be a stretch to say that they began to control proceedings, they did at least start to stem the visitor’s attacking intent.

On the stroke of half-time, Newhaven almost – and should – have doubled their lead. The Pirates once again failed to deal with a cross but were let off when a succession of unmarked Newhaven players somehow failed to turn the loose ball into the net.

So, despite being second best for the majority of the half, Newhaven could have easily gone in at the break two goals up.

And that is the problem that teams facing the Dockers this season are presented with. Even when they’re not playing well, Newhaven possess such an array of attacking talent that they will always create opportunities.

Teams need to take their chances when they get them; as Eastbourne Town did on Saturday. Bexhill didn’t last night and were made to pay.

As has become the case in quite a number of Newhaven games I’ve watched over the past few years, the Dockers were significantly improved in the second-half. 

I’m fairly sure a few choice words would have been exchanged by the management team last night during the interval! Whatever was said clearly worked.

 The introduction of Demas Ramsis down the left flank certainly seemed to boost the hosts, who suddenly looked more like their normal selves in an attacking sense. This isn’t to say that they began to dominate the game completely, but Bexhill certainly weren’t having things all their own way like they had been at times in the opening half.

With just over 20 minutes to go, there wasn’t much in the game. The three-points were still very much in the balance.

‘The next goal’s important’, said Scobie, for roughly the 479th time this season. On this occasion, though, he was absolutely correct.

The second goal arrived with just 18 minutes left on the clock. Thankfully, it went the way of the Dockers. A high and, let’s be honest, rather hopeful looped cross was superbly taken down by a frankly ridiculous touch from Alfie Rogers (another one for the Veo camera). From there, the Dockers’ number 10 cut inside two challenges before being brought down for a stonewall penalty.

It must have been stonewall for last night’s official to give it! More on him in a bit.

From the resulting spot-kick, Rogers absolutely thunder-blasted the ball straight down the middle (I’d use a different expression, but I’m not allowed to swear on this blog as my Mum and kids read it). Despite the keeper not diving, the ball rocketed past him like an Exocet missile. Not sure what the celebration afterwards was all about, suffice to say Rogers really enjoyed that one.

From that moment on, there was only going to be one winner. Bexhill now looked deflated, Newhaven dominant.

They should have made it three a few minutes later when they broke five on one, only to mess it up so badly it was actually quite comical. Although had the score been 0-0 at this point, it arguably wouldn’t have been so funny.

The third goal did arrive five minutes from time. Again there was more than an element of luck to it. Henry Watson, playing in a more advanced midfield position, strode forward before unleashing a powerful shot which took more than a slight deflection off a defender, deceiving the flat-footed Bexhill keeper and finding the corner of the net.

Game well and truly over.

Well almost. 

In a game of practically no controversy, there was to be a rather controversial ending.

The referee, obviously deciding no one had paid him enough attention so far, showed Lukas Franzen-Jones a straight red card for an off-the-ball altercation. 

Nothing untoward about that you may think. Well, bear in mind Franzen-Jones had just been substituted and was only reacting to the Newhaven physio being pushed over by a Bexhill player while trying to retrieve a ball.

Obviously, retaliation is a no-no, but surely the aggressor should have seen red too, right? Wrong. He was only booked.

It was a sour end to what had been a fair, competitive game between two of the best sides in the division. Now, I’m not calling for the Bexhill player to be sent off, but surely the decision has to be two reds or two yellows. Consistency please. Make it make sense! That's all anyone wants!

Anyway, back to the positives. A seventh straight league victory maintains Newhaven’s position at the summit of the table. Three more vital points on the board with two more tricky-looking fixtures coming up in the next two games.

The Dockers visit Crowbrough Athletic, who have lost just one of their last eight games, on Saturday, before returning to Fort Road a week later for a match against Broadbridge Heath; a team fast-emerging as perhaps this season’s dark horses.

Fingers-crossed, the boys can continue their winning momentum.

As ever, get along if you can. And tell others about some of the great football on offer.

Your support is always much appreciated.

Come On You Dockers!

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Jake Buss. Bussy has been a virtual spectator at times this season, but last night he stood tall when his teammates needed him. The skipper didn’t put a foot wrong all evening and remains one of the best keepers around at this level.

After the game, Damien Hills spoke to a delighted Jake Buss about the match. You can view the interview here: Jake Buss post-match interview - YouTube

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