Brilliant Buss rescues Dockers

Newhaven 1 Little Common 1, SCFL Premier Division match #4

The season may be less than a month old, but last night Little Common paid their second visit to Fort Road in just a few weeks.

The original meeting – a 3-1 victory for the Dockers in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup – featured a Callum Edwards goal that was shared far and wide on social media, even ending up on the competition’s official social media feeds.

Well, I think it’s safe to say that a certain strike from last night’s encounter will eclipse that footage and then some. 

Jake Buss may well be about to become a social media sensation. But we’ll get to that in good time.

Aside from the cup defeat to Newhaven, Common have started the season well, boasting a 100% record from their opening three league games.

That confidence was on display in the early stages of last night’s match, as the visitors took the game to their hosts in the early stages.

Following on from Tuesday’s humbling defeat at Seaford, the vast majority of the crowd were hoping for a positive reaction from the Dockers. 

After half-an-hour, it didn’t appear like we were going to get one.

In fact, had it not been for heroics from Jake Buss (spoiler alert, this won’t be the last time I type this), then Common could have been two-up before Newhaven finally got going.

On 19 minutes, Buss made a fairly routine save from Sam Ellis, only for the ball to rebound straight to Adam Smith a few yards out. How the Newhaven goalkeeper then managed to claw the ball, whilst diving backwards, off the line, I will never know. Simply outstanding.

Ten minutes later, he was at it again. This time tuning over a fierce shot from the penalty spot. 

The Dockers were struggling to get a foothold in the game. Not helped by the fact that Little Common possessed a long-throw merchant who was able to toss the ball half then length of the field from every throw-in. A handy weapon to have.

That said,  Newhaven actually stood up really well to the pressure caused by this throw-in in the first-half. I doubt Robbie Keith will have a match when he has to make so many headers for quite a while!

It took Newhaven until the 40^th minute to create a meaningful chance. But what a chance it was. Good combination play between Callum Edwards and Ryan Warwick presented Callum Connor with a clear shot at goal from inside the six-yard box; however, the normally lethal striker could only send his effort straight at the Common keeper.

Edwards then tested the keeper again from a free-kick, as Newhaven slowly started to show some signs of life.

After the break, Newhaven upped the pace and started to cause Little Common some real problems. 

In the opening ten minutes of the half, two presentable chances went begging. Connor just failed to get enough contact on a through ball, while Warwick fired just wide from the edge of the area.

As is often the case, though, just as Newhaven were getting on top, they conceded. 

And, having defended the long-throw so well in the first-half, you can probably guess how the goal came about...

Yes, that's right, a long throw caused havoc in the area, the ball eventually fell to Jamie Crone and he gave the visitors the lead.

A few minutes later, Common felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Buss bundled over one of their players whilst trying to reach a bouncing ball. Not for the last time in the evening, the referee disagreed with the appeals.

From this point on, the Dockers took control of the game, suddenly forcing a steady flow of chances. Any number of which could – and really should – have led to an equaliser.

The best of these fell to Alfie Rogers. Ian Robinson’s shot was saved, the ball bounced to Rogers, but last season’s top scorer could only blast the ball high over the bar from close range.

It was then Newhaven’s turn to call for a penalty – not for the last time – when Rogers was seemingly clipped in the box. The referee, though, possibly with the penalty he’d denied the visitors still fresh in his mind, waved the appeal away. Much to the home team’s chagrin.

However, if there was anger about this decision, it was nothing compared to the second refusal for a spot-kick with 15 minutes remaining. Alfie Rogers was involved again, but this time it looked as though there could be no disputing the decision, as both his legs were swept from him in what looked to be as stonewall-a-penalty as you will see.

The ref even brought his whistle to his lips before swiftly changing his mind and waving play-on, to the bemusement of most.

Fuelled by anger, Newhaven laid siege to the Little Common goal. Callum Edwards had a shot cleared off the line. Ezra Roeg was denied by a good save from the Common goalkeeper.

Another home penalty appeal was denied, although this time a free-kick was given right on the edge of the area. It was promptly wasted. 

With the game eight minutes into injury-time, it seemed that Newhaven’s profligacy in front of goal was going to cost them getting anything from the game. They'd had enough chances to win the next three games!

Had it not been for heroics from Jake Buss (see, told you I’d type this sentence again) they wouldn’t have done. Having gone up for a late corner that the visitors initially dealt with, the Newhaven skipper then took it upon himself to win the ball back just outside the area before unleashing a shot from 25 yards out that flew into the top corner. Check out our social media channels and see it for yourself. It was special.

Cue scenes of celebration all over Fort Road. I doubt a last-gasp goal for a point has ever been celebrated quite so much.

Of course, it’s far too early in the season to say whether this will turn out to be a point gained or two wasted, but football is about making memories. And that moment will live long in the memory of all those who witnessed it!

Still, when the dust settles, it is only a point when three was very much the target, which makes Monday morning’s game away at AFC Varndeanians more important than ever. 

Still yet to record an away win this season, the Docker’s need to get going on the road, and start turning single points into three. Let’s hope Monday provides the platform for this.

It’s a break from league action next weekend, as we travel to Isthmian Premier Division side Cray Wanderers (who play at National League side Bromley’s ground) in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. 

It’s the first time we’ve been this far in the competition for 61 years, so if you can make it to Greater London next Saturday afternoon, your support would be really appreciated!

We’re back at Fort Road on Tuesday 5^th September when Lingfield are the visitors in the league. We hope to see you then.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Jake Buss. No controversy this time out. None in the slightest. He was clear even before his stunning injury-time strike. A true captain’s performance.

It’s also no surprise who Reuben chose to spoke to after the match. Or what he chose to speak about…