Dockers too strong for Alfold

Newhaven 6 Alfold 1, SCFL Premier Division match #13

The Dockers welcomed struggling Alfold to Fort Road this afternoon, in a rearranged league fixture that had originally been postponed due to the passing of the Queen.

With both teams having already exited the FA Vase (hence the free weekend), Newhaven were afforded the opportunity to close the gap on early-season pace-setters Broadbridge Heath, who were themselves in Vase action.

Alfold have struggled so far this season, taking just four points from their opening 13 games ahead of this match.

There’s little doubt that this was a fixture that Newhaven would have been more than confident of emerging victorious from.

And, after a fairly indifferent start to the match, from the moment Jack Meeres put Newhaven ahead in the 17^th minute there was only going to be one outcome to this game.

In fairness, the opening 15 minutes passed by with little incident. True, Newhaven were seeing plenty of the ball, but Alfold’s backline was hardly being tested. There was nothing really in it.

This all changed when the visiting keeper failed to hold Alfie Rogers’ fierce strike from just outside the area, allowing centre back Meeres, for some reason standing in a position more readily occupied by a centre forward, to tap home from close range. That makes it five goals this season already for Meeres; not a bad return for a defender!

Within a minute, the Alfold goalkeeper had to be alert to stop the Dockers doubling their lead, pushing over a long-range strike to keep the deficit to just one.

The second duly arrived on the half-hour. Lee Robinson’s instinctive header was well saved by the visiting ‘keeper, but from the rebound the alert striker smashed a shot across the goal which Rogers managed to turn into the net for his first of the afternoon.

Alfold were incensed, claiming Robinson (I assume) was offside in the build-up. Neither referee or assistant saw anything untoward, though, and the goal stood.

A few minutes later it was the Docker’s turn to feel hard done by by the combination of the ref and his assistant. The Docker’s number 10 was clearly fouled at least two yards inside the area, and while the referee (and assistant) spotted the infringement, they both concluded (somehow) that the foul had taken place outside the box. It was a truly baffling decision.

Not to worry, though. Little more than 60 seconds later the Dockers were awarded a penalty. This one was as stonewall as it comes with Marcin Ruda being clearly being brought down well inside the area. 

While last season the award of a penalty was far from a sure thing, this campaign things are different. From the resulting spot kick, Rogers confidently slotted home to give the Dockers a three-goal lead heading into the interval. His third successful penalty in the last two games.

In fairness, it was a lead that Newhaven hadn’t had to play particularly well to merit. This was as routine as it comes. Comfortable without being challenging.

Last week at Lingfield, Newhaven had found themselves 3-0 up only to unnecessarily make things difficult for themselves by conceding a couple of sloppy goals.

Any fears that history may be about to repeat itself was distinguished within minutes of the restart. In quite some style too.

A ball across the box from Billy Barker rolled invitingly into the path of Bailie Rogers. Despite landing on his weaker right foot, the eldest Rogers sibling curled a quite delicious first-time effort into the top corner of the net, giving the Alfold keeper absolutely no chance. It was a beautifully sweet strike; one that makes me wonder if Bailie has been using his wrong foot all these years!

Two minutes later, Tariq Shihab added his own claim for goal of the game, controlling a bouncing ball on the edge of the area before rifling a shot though a crowd of the players and past the visiting keeper. It was some way for him to score his first goal for the Dockers, and ordinarily would have been the best effort of the match. 

However, it wasn’t quite up to the Bailie Rogers strike (which I’m fairly confident will find its way onto social media at some point over the coming days).

Not that anyone involved with the Dockers would have cared which goal was better (with the possible exception of Bailie and Tariq). 5-0 up with the best part of 40 minutes still to play. A cricket score suddenly appeared to be on the cards.

However, a raft of changes made by the Dockers appeared to take some of the flow away from the game. Alfold started to enjoy some of their best moments of the match, but it was still something of a surprise when they netted a consolation with just over 15 minutes left to play.

The Dockers defence momentarily switched off, failing to deal with a routine cross into the area, which was duly dispatched by Noel Fisher at the far post. Fair play to Alfold for continuing to plug away, when we’ve seen other teams throw in the towel under similar circumstances this season.  

Unlike last week’s trip to Lingfield, though, the goal never really threatened to alter the balance of play. Newhaven were still well on top, albeit smarting from the loss of what really should have been a clean sheet.

The five-goal lead was restored in the 84^th minute. Robinson latched onto a mistake in the Alfold defence, raced through on goal and rounded the ‘keeper, only to be unceremoniously pulled down by the visiting number one, who was lucky to see only a yellow card for the offence.

From the resulting penalty, A. Rogers made no mistake, sealing his hat-trick and taking his total for the season to an impressive 18 before the end of October.

Still the Dockers had further chances to add more goals to their tally. The Alfold goalie twice denied Robinson from notching the goal that his overall performance had undoubtedly deserved.

The final 6-1 scoreline was as routine as one would imagine. Strange though it may sound, it actually felt as though the Docker’s hadn’t had to particularly extend themselves to net the victory. This was not the type of scintillating performance that had put AFC Varndeanians so comprehensively to the sword last month. It was far from their best 90-minutes of the season. But it was still more than good enough to sweep aside a game but limited Alfold team.

So Newhaven take advantage of some of the other SCFL side’s continued involvement in the FA Vase to move back up to second in the table, a point behind Broadbridge Heath, who have a game in hand.

Fort Road plays host to two more huge games over the next week. Eastbourne United are the visitors on Tuesday night in what is sure to be a highly-competitive RUR Cup encounter (especially given the two team’s league meeting earlier this season - cameras at the ready for that one!).

Then we play host to Hassocks next weekend – a team currently sitting sixth in the table, who haven’t tasted defeat in the league since 17^th September.

Your support for both matches will be much appreciated!

Come On You Dockers!

My MOM (aka, the controversial part): Alfie Rogers. As ever, Rogers was never far away from the action, netting a deserved hat-trick and looking sharp throughout.

With the youngest at a party this weekend, it was left to elder brother Hayden to assume the post-match interview baton. Here he is speaking to hat-trick hero Alfie Rogers.