Another narrow win for battling Dockers

Newhaven 3 Crowborough Athletic 2, SCFL Premier Division match #31

We have now reached the stage of the season where nothing else matters aside from the final result.

Good performances are a bonus rather than a necessity; the same can be said for clean sheets. It’s the business end of the season and three points are essential – no matter how they come. As proved with last week’s narrow win at Midhurst.

With the destiny of the title still in Broadbridge Heath’s hands – even if Newhaven win all their remaining games, Heath can afford to lose next week’s crunch match between the two sides and still win the league by a point providing they win the rest of theirs – all the Dockers can do is keep winning and hope the Bears slip up somewhere else in their remaining games.

Of course, should the Dockers drop any points between now and the end of the season, then they become even more reliant on other teams doing them a favour. 

As I said, winning is now what it’s all about. Nothing more. Nothing less.

With the visit of Crowborough Athletic to Fort Road this afternoon, Newhaven knew a stern test awaited them. The Crows had lost just one of their last eight league games, winning the other seven; and had caused Newhaven considerable problems in the reverse fixture back in early October.

It was a stern test that got rather more difficult in the 13^th minute. 

After a fairly even start to the game, the Crows took the lead from their first meaningful attack. A lapse of concentration (and communication) in the Newhaven defence allowed the dangerous visiting number 10 to run into the area. Although he was eventually crowded out, the ball got played across the area where Harvey Killick was left with a simply finish from six yards.

Having fallen behind twice last week before coming back to win, conceding the opening goal is far from unchartered territory for the Dockers. Seven days ago, they responded well to trailing, twice equalising within five minutes of shipping a goal.

Fortunately, they showed the same resilience today. Just four minutes after Crowborough took the lead, the hosts were level. Henry Watson was inexplicably left unmarked from a corner, and the centre back had the freedom of Fort Road to head home his eighth goal of the season.

Having clawed their way back into the game, the Dockers began to create numerous chances, without ever really hitting top gear.

Lee Robinson spurned two great opportunities to give the hosts a lead, first blasting over from close range (it looked easier to score) before being denied by the Crows keeper when through one-on-one. Nine times out of ten the net would have bulged twice. Lukas Franzen-Jones then hit the bar from an Ian Robinson pull-back.

At the other end, Crowborough were causing the Newhaven defence a number of jittery moments, without ever really managing to register any shots at Jake Buss’ goal.

With half-time fast approaching, Newhaven took the lead that they deserved (at least going by chances created). Ian Robinson’s shot was well saved by The Crows' number one, but the ball rolled straight to Lee Robinson who this time made no mistake to slide the ball in at the far post. If at first you don’t succeed… as the old saying goes.

Newhaven started the second-half well and nearly moved two goals in-front within minutes of the restart; Marcin Ruda striking the inside of the post from distance.

Crowborough then went close with a free-kick right on the edge of the area that was fortunately struck straight at Buss.

It was to be a brief respite for the Dockers, though. Seven minutes after the restart the Crows were level. A decent cross from the right found the head of Tom Pearson, who had been afforded far too much space, and despite the best efforts of Buss, the ball found its way into the net.

For the next five minutes, Crowborough looked to attack a wounded Newhaven. However, despite a spell of pressure, they were still finding it hard to create any meaningful opportunities and seriously threaten Buss’ goal.

One thing regular watchers of Newhaven will know by now, though, is that, no matter what's going on in the game, they always look capable of scoring. With just over an hour gone, Ian Robinson latched onto a through ball, sprinted away from the defence and finished with the kind of composure not always associated with players who only have one goal to their name in 13 games (this season - it's more games than that if we go back to the last campaign as well).

The ensuing celebrations, and the battering the corner flag took, showed just how much the goal meant to everyone associated with the home side.

If there was one surprising thing about the remaining half-an-hour, it was that no further goals were added to the scoreline. It always felt like Newhaven needed another to make absolutely sure of the three points, and it seemed equally likely that both teams would have more chances before the ref blew his final whistle.

In fairness, both teams probably only mustered one golden opportunity each in the time that remained. The Crow’s were thwarted by a good sprawling save from Buss, while Charlie Bennett could only fire wide after creating some space for himself by the penalty spot.

Crowborough continued to probe without quite managing to get in behind the hosts, while Newhaven looked to defend the lead they had earned by any means necessary.

By the time the referee blew for full-time, the Dockers knew they had been in a real battle. 

Yes, had they taken just one or two of the numerous clear chances they created then the manner of victory would have been far more comfortable. But take nothing away from Athletic; they stuck in there and made life extremely uncomfortable for their title-chasing hosts. 

It’s not hard to see why they’ve been on such a good run of form in recent weeks and should arguably be closer to the top then they actually are.

It's fair to say that the next few weeks are going to have their fair share of ups-and-downs for Newhaven fans. It’s not always going to be a fun watch; it’s going to be nervy, heart-stopping and, at times, hugely frustrating. But providing the boys keep coming up with the wins, it’s all going to be well worth it.

Make no mistake about it: next week’s trip to Broadbridge Heath is huge! While it’s not necessarily a must-win, it can certainly go down as a mustn’t lose. 

If you can, please do get along to support the boys. That extra support could just be the thing the Dockers need to tip the balance in their favour.

Two more away league games follow the trip to Broadbridge Heath – Hassocks (25^th March) and Horsham YMCA (1^st April) – while a Peter Bentley Cup semi-final takes place in Steyning on 21^st March where we face Loxwood for a place in the final. Win that, and either Crowborough or Peacehaven awaits.

We’re not back at Fort Road now until 8^th April when Eastbourne United will be the visitors. Yet another huge game. Your support at as many of these games as possible will be hugely appreciated (and vitally important)!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Henry Watson. As ever, Watson stood firm as Crowborough threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Newhaven, winning header after header and making a series of important blocks. Narrowly pips match sponsor’s mom Ian Robinson for my award, but in fairness it could have gone to either.

After the match, Reuben spoke to the match-winner, asking him what it’s like to play in such tense games and enquiring as to what the subject of conversation may be around the Robinson dinner table tomorrow afternoon!