Below-par Dockers punished by neighbours

Seaford Town 1 Newhaven 0, RUR Cup First Round

Most of you, at least those of you of a certain vintage, will have probably heard the phrase “After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ before.

It’s often said following a disappointing or mundane event occurring straight after an exciting, magnificent, or triumphant event. 

Therefore, Newhaven’s visit to Seaford last night can very much be described as having the feel of being ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ about it.

In theory, a local derby against lower division Seaford – I’m going to resist the urge to refer to them as The Harriers – should have been the ideal opportunity for the Dockers to build on their impressive performance in the FA Cup of Saturday. Especially given that our neighbours had humbled us 4-2 in our own backyard during pre-season.

But that was only a friendly. Surely a competitive match would yield a different outcome. Wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately (for us), Newhaven never really going at The Crouch, in the opening round of the RUR Cup.

After Robbie Keith headed an early chance inches over the bar, Newhaven struggled to create any further first-half opportunities against a Seaford team who, it has to be said, defended brilliantly as a team throughout.

Billy Barker hit the top of the cross-bar ten minutes before the interval, but this was from an overhit cross rather than a viable attempt at goal.

For their part, Seaford were content to sit back, soak up the pressure and hit their opponents on the break; something they are more than apt at doing with the ever-impressive Tyler Capon as an outlet.

Capon had scored a hat-trick in the aforementioned pre-season friendly and, unsurprisingly, he was the man causing Newhaven’s defence the biggest headaches again last night.

A minute before half-time, Capon raced into the area and seemed certain to score, before a superb last-ditch tackle by Owen Muller denied him. Having already been (harshly) booked, it was a tackle Muller had to get right.

A minute later, the same two players found themselves in a similar position. This time, Muller was adjudged to have fouled the striker right on the edge of the area. It must have been very close to being a penalty.

The resulting free-kick was struck low, deflected off a Newhaven foot, and forced a fine reaction save from Buss to ensure the scores remained level going into half-time.

On Saturday, the half-time break seemed to rejuvenate Newhaven, as they came out and smashed six goals past their bewildered opponents.

Yet harsh words – can’t – and won’t work every week.

There was little change to the pattern of the game in the early stages of the second-half. Newhaven were still seeing far more of the ball, without ever really looking a threat, while Seaford looked dangerous on the counter.

What turned out to be the winning goal came just before the hour mark. 

A Seaford corner was only half cleared by the Newhaven defence. The ball came back in from former Docker – and brother of Alfie and Bailie – Herbie Rogers, and was neatly flicked into the net by… you’ve guessed it… Tyler Capon.

Surely this would be the spark Newhaven needed to wake them up and take the game to their hosts.

Again, though, it never quite happened. 

Although they continued to dominate the ball, not once was Seaford’s goalkeeper called into action. In fact, I don’t remember the home keeper having to make a save in the entire match.

There was no faulting the effort of the Docker’s players. They were trying, for sure. But, for one reason or another, nothing they were trying was coming off.

With 15 minutes left, Newhaven created possibly their one clear opportunity of the match. A neat one-two between Luca Page and Rob Malila sent the latter through on goal, but he could only lob the ball high over the bar from close range.

This miss aside, Malila looked sharp on his first appearance of the season, and it was good to see the midfielder get through a full 90-minutes. Let’s hope we can see more of him over the coming weeks!

Immediately after Malila’s miss, Seaford broke and would have put the game to bed, had Buss not once again come to Newhaven’s rescue.

With time running out, the Docker’s ramped up the pressure. By the end of the match, they only had two recognised defenders left on the field – and one of those was playing up-front.

The Dockers forced corner after corner – honestly, over the course of 90 minutes I doubt I’d have been able to count the number of corners they had using all my fingers and toes. Yet not once did they force a meaningful opportunity from a situation that they’re usually so lethal from.

Ultimately, Seaford defended for their lives, every player putting their body on the line to stop Newhaven forcing an equaliser.

When the ref blew for full-time, it was hard to begrudge the hosts their moment of glory. They deserved it.

The full-time whistle was met with surprisingly muted celebrations from the Seaford players. Whether this was out of respect or the fact they were just too tired to celebrate is hard to say.

For Newhaven then, it was very much a case of After The Lord Mayor’s Show, as they crash out of the RUR Cup at the first hurdle.

Hopefully, Friday night’s home game against Little Common (19:45 kick-off) will see the Dockers rediscover some of the verve they showed on Saturday, and we can maintain our unbeaten start to the league campaign by grabbing three valuable points.

We then visit the Withdean Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday morning (11am kick-off) for a match against AFC Varndeanians. 

It’s probably a fact not lost on many that Newhaven are yet to win away this season (in three matches). They also drew their only away friendly.   

Monday would be the ideal time to find some form on the road. Your support in helping them to do so would be much appreciated!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Owen Muller. The centre-back was solid throughout and tidy on the ball. He certainly came out of an overall poor team performance with some credit to his name.