Dockers survive Peter Bentley Cup scare

Newhaven 1 Bexhill United 1, Newhaven win 3-2 on penalties, Peter Bentley Cup Round 3

Last night saw the Dockers play host to Bexhill United for the second time in the last three Tuesdays.

While those who had merely seen the scoreline of that previous encounter (and not bothered to read this blog) may have been forgiven for thinking a comfortable evening lay in store for Newhaven, those of us who had attended the first meeting were only too aware of the threat Bexhill would pose to the Docker’s chances of progression.

Arriving at Fort Road on a run of four consecutive victories, the Pirates are slowly finding the type of form that has seen them tipped by a number of people in the know (in other words, me) as being one of the likely title contenders come May.

With both sides showing a number of changes from the previous meeting (for a variety of reasons not limited to injuries and suspensions), it took a while for the game to find any kind of flow.

In fact, the most exciting moments of the first ten minutes were spent trying to discover who the other person updating the Newhaven Twitter feed was (thanks, Ian – sterling job in keeping everyone updated)!

After a non-descript opening, Bexhill took the lead in the eleventh minute from out of nowhere. During the last meeting, the visitors had paid the price for wasting numerous chances when they’d been on top early on. This was something they were evidently keen not to replicate this time out.

From the game’s first meaningful attack, they forced Jake Buss into a great save. Unfortunately (for Newhaven) the ball ricocheted into the air and landed on the head of James Stone, who skilfully looped his header back over the stranded Buss and into the net.

Frustratingly, there was no immediate response from Newhaven, whose usually potent attack was being well nullified by a disciplined Bexhill defence.

And on the few occasions that the Docker’s did manage to get a sight at goal, they were met with fierce resistance by the Bexhill ‘keeper, Stafanos Akras, who it has to be said had a great game.

The Docker’s first real chance fell to Demas Ramsis who failed to get quite enough purchase in his shot to beat Akras. On the half-hour mark, Henry Watson brought another decent save out of the Bexhill goalie, driving through the middle before unleashing a powerful low shot that Akras did well to push away.

Ramsis again tested Bexhill’s custodian just before half-time, but once again the Bexhill stopper was not to be beaten.

Despite these three chances, Newhaven had been far from their fluent best and, by and large, Bexhill reached half-time having fairly comfortably kept their hosts at bay, whilst maintaining a constant threat on the break.

As is often the case, the Dockers started the second-half playing much better than they had in the first. Akras was called into action within minutes of the restart, once again producing a good save to deny Ramsis.

The Dockers were starting to see plenty of the ball, but Bexhill were holding firm, with clear chances (or indeed any chances) at a premium.

The introduction of Marcin Ruda on the hour-mark, replacing the luckless Ramsis, certainly gave Newhaven a little more penetration. For the first time in the match, Bexhill started to sit off, allowing Newhaven to get at them more. Still, though, it was hard to see where a goal was coming from. Especially with the visiting keeper enjoying such an inspired night.

On a couple of occasions, Bexhill threatened to break away and extend their lead but, despite getting into some dangerous areas, they were unable to force Buss into any meaningful saves.

With little more than ten minutes remaining, Newhaven went as close as they had been so far to forcing an equaliser. Ruda’s dipping, curling shot from the edge of the area for once beat Akras all ends up, but didn’t dip quite enough to find the top corner.

As the game ticked towards its conclusion, it seemed the game was up. Newhaven were still seeing plenty of the ball, but golden opportunities to score remained few and far between.

Then, with the game entering its final minute, came a hugely controversial moment. Alfie Rogers, who had become more of a threat as the game progressed, burst into the area. Although there were three players surrounding him, and Rogers ended up on the floor, it was hard to see quite where the foul was committed but the referee blew for a penalty. I was standing 40 yards away, so didn’t have the best view, but it’s fair to say that if the decision had gone against Newhaven, then I wouldn’t have been best pleased!

Penalties were not always Newhaven’s friend last season – they missed more than they scored – but from the resulting spot-kick, Rogers confidently rolled his effort past the keeper.

In injury time, Rogers then nearly snatched an improbable winner, forcing Akras into his best save of the night from a well-hit long-distance strike.

The full-time whistle sounded soon after and the match headed straight to penalties. Bexhill no doubt feeling slightly aggrieved that they weren’t heading down the tunnel having already secured progress into the next round.

Despite the fact Newhaven have struggled in general with penalties over the past couple of seasons, somewhat bizarrely their penalty shoot-out record isn’t too shabby of late (they’d won their previous two). However, with Akras having had such a fine match, I’m sure there would have been more than a few nerves in the Docker’s camp ahead of this latest one.

While, to no one’s great surprise, Akras did manage to save one – Don Street the keeper’s unfortunate victim – he was somewhat let down by his teammates, three of whom failed to even make Buss work: one shooting wide, one hitting the post, and one clearing the crossbar and skate park with some panache; the ball perhaps eventually landing somewhere by the coastguard tower at the top of the cliff.

For Newhaven, Lee Robinson, Rogers and Buss all converted, meaning it was Newhaven who squeaked through to the quarter final, where another tricky tie, this time away to Broadbridge Heath, awaits.

It hadn’t been the team’s best performance of the season – far from it – but as I heard more than one person opine (including me) upon leaving the ground, cup football is all about getting the result (got to love a cliché). Something Newhaven had managed to do. Just!

This game marks the first of four consecutive home games for the Dockers. 

Alfold visit Fort Road on Saturday for a rearranged league game, before they face Eastbourne United next Tuesday in the RUR Cup (sure to be a fun one!). Another league match, this time against Hassocks, concludes the quartet of home fixtures on Saturday 29^th October.

As ever, it would be great to see as many people at each of these games as possible. Why not bring a friend with you while you’re at it. The more the merrier!

Come on You Dockers!

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Alfie Rogers. While he was far from being at his scintillating best, and was quiet in the first-half, Rogers grew into the game as the match wore on and was involved in most of Newhaven’s best attacking moments. Also kept his nerve to score his penalties in normal time and in the shoot-out, albeit in very different manners.