Another milestone celebrated by another victory

Newhaven 5 Midhurst and Easebourne 0, SCFL Premier Division Match #17

Just two weeks on from co-managers Sean Breach and Andy Cook celebrating their 400th game for the club, this afternoon’s match against Midhurst saw another Docker reach a significant milestone.

Ten years ago to this very day, a young Jake Buss made his first appearance between the sticks for Newhaven. A decade later and much has changed at Fort Road. However, skipper Buss (now a little older and, hopefully, wiser) has been a consistent figure behind the Docker’s steady rise to becoming annual title contenders. Of the current players, only Lee Robinson has been here longer.

A short presentation ahead of the match (albeit not just before kick-off due to someone being a bit of a spoilsport) recognised Buss’ achievement, with players, managers, officials and fans getting the chance to show their appreciation to Newhaven’s long-standing keeper.

As had been the case at Loxwood a couple of weeks ago, all that remained was for the Docker’s to celebrate this latest milestone in style.

On paper, Midhurst seemed likely to present Newhaven with a rather stiffer challenge than Loxwood had done. Having achieved promotion via the play-offs last season, Midhurst started the season on fire, and while their results have tapered off in the past month or so, they still find themselves positioned firmly in mid-table.

From the off, though, the Dockers appeared to be in the mood to celebrate their keeper’s ten-year anniversary in style.

Although the first 15 minutes were fairly evenly contested, it always felt like Newhaven were the team who had another gear to go up. And so it proved.

On 19 minutes, the Dockers took the lead. Midhurst gave the ball away in midfield, Demas Ramsis broke forward before feeding Lee Robinson who in turn squared the ball to give Alfie Rogers the simplest of finishes.

With the first goal under their belts, the Dockers grew in confidence and began to create chances at regular intervals.

Midhurst had their moments, too. They certainly weren’t merely looking to just sit back and contain Newhaven like so many other visiting teams to Fort Road have tried to (usually but not always with limited success), but Newhaven were evidently the team who possessed the superior quality. 

That said, John Lucero was somewhat fortunate to get away without at least a booking (or even giving away a free-kick) following an untidy looking challenge near the halfway line.

The host’s extra quality was on full display for the second goal. On the half-hour mark, Henry Watson was allowed to bring the ball forward unopposed. The classy centre back took full advantage, promptly smashing a long-range effort into the top corner.

I know I sound like a broken record, but Newhaven’s goal of the season comp really is going to be obscene! The Veo camera will be working overtime. And this may not have even been the best goal of the game. More of that later.

Fittingly, in a month of milestones, this fine strike brought up yet another. The 1,000th goal scored in Breach and Cook’s lengthy managerial reign. Dave Altendorff scored the first, stat fans  

With half-time approaching, Newhaven made the game safe. The Dockers could have been awarded about three penalties in the space of five seconds, but the ref eventually blew for a foul on Lee Robinson, who had looked certain to score himself.

Penalties were not Newhaven’s friend last season, but this season has been a completely different story. There was an air of inevitability regarding the outcome when Alfie Rogers stepped up. The Newhaven number 10 duly smashed his spot-kick straight down the middle to put the home side three up.

Even in the absence of arguably Newhaven’s star performer to date this season, Marcin Ruda, the Dockers were controlling midfield, with Charlie Bennett and, in particular, Ryan Blunt, dovetailing nicely in the centre of the park.

Lee Robinson could – and perhaps should – have added a fourth just after the restart, but couldn’t get enough purchase on his shot following an exquisite initial touch to get the ball under control.

A less than fully-fit Rogers then completed his hat-trick on the 53rd minute, again from the penalty spot. This time with a shot blasted emphatically (^TM Dave Robinson) high into the roof of the net. It was no surprise when Rogers was withdrawn a few minutes later, with the game all but won and yet another match-ball already secure in his possession (figuratively speaking, of course!).

Midhurst then had their best spell of the game, forcing the hitherto largely untested Buss into a couple of decent saves and causing the Docker’s defence a few problems – albeit largely self-imposed ones.

Still, it always seemed Newhaven would create more chances. Indeed, Robinson again missed a good chance from a Josh Gould pull-back, while sub, Alex Plummer, also went close after cutting inside and shooting from just inside the area.

The fifth and final goal finally arrived five minutes before full-time. It was another brilliant strike from outside the area. Not for the first time this season, it also came from a somewhat unlikely source. Namely, the right foot of left-back Max Vardy. A great way for the youngster to net his first league goal.

It was a great way to cap off yet another dominant Dockers display. One that was made all the more pleasing by the news that Broadbridge Heath had lost to Peacehaven. It’s not often that news of Peacehaven victories are warmly received at Fort Road, but this was one of the rare occasions that it was (especially given the passing of their former chairman and club legend, the much-loved Jim Edwards). The thoughts of Newhaven FC are with you all this evening. Normal service I’m sure will be resumed next week (unless they happen to be playing Crawley Down, I haven’t checked).   

On Wednesday evening, we head to Whitehawk in the Sussex Senior Cup, before a rare Saturday off next week due to schedule opponents Little Common’s continued involvement in the FA Vase.

The Dockers are back at Fort Road on 10^th December, when Steyning are the visitors in what will be another important top-of-the-table encounter. Your support, as ever, will be much appreciated!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Alfie Rogers. In fairness, it wasn’t a vintage Rogers performance, but goals win games and Rogers scored three of them, despite carrying a slight injury. Honourable mentions for Demas Ramsis, who was full of energy down the right, and Ryan Blunt, who continues to display a maturity far beyond his years in the holding midfield position.

After the match, Reuben spoke to the man of the hour (90-minutes?) Jake Buss about his ten years at Fort Road, the World Cup and courted controversy by asking the captain for his opinion on whether Henry Watson or Max Vardy was the scorer of the game’s best goal!