AFC Varndeanians 0 Newhaven 5, SCFL Premier Division match #5
It’s been quite a strange nine days for the Dockers.
Just over a week ago, they scored six second-half goals to
cruise past Spelthorne in the FA Cup Preliminary Round, having fallen behind in
the 40th minute.
They then followed this up with an abject display against local-rivals Seaford. Bowing out of the RUR Cup in tame fashion.
Then, on Friday night, they were a kick away from suffering
their first league defeat of the season, before last-gasp heroics from Jake Buss led to the long-serving goalkeeper becoming a social-media sensation. His
15-minutes of fame are still going strong!
The (very) good, the (very) bad, and the (very) unlikely!
Who knew what a Bank Holiday Monday morning trip to AFC Varndeanians would bring? Three points, hopefully!
Yet, having failed to win away from Fort Road in their
opening three matches on the road this season, such an outcome was far from a guarantee.
However, from the moment Alfie Rogers opened the scoring from the
penalty spot at the Withdean Stadium this morning, there was only ever going to be one winner of
this match.
After a fairly even opening eight minutes, the Dockers were
awarded a penalty from their first serious attack. Ryan Warwick was
fouled in the area so clearly, that not one of the V’s players chose to
dispute the decision. A rare happening indeed!
Rogers stepped up and slammed the ball past the keeper, who
dived the right way but was beaten by the power.
Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled. Warwick – who is
really starting to look the part now – was involved again. The midfielder’s
hard-and-low cross-shot across the area was brilliantly flicked in via the heel
of Callum Connor.
The Dockers were in full control.
V’s had a couple of
chances to find a route back into the game – a free-kick in a good position was blazed well over the bar; and a shot from their striker that may as well
have been a back-pass – but they never caused the Newhaven defence too many
problems.
The Dockers were clearly enjoying themselves, with Rob Malila
and Warwick linking up time and again to put the home defence under
pressure.
The killer third-goal was added five minutes before
half-time. Warwick and Malila once again combined well to set-up Callum
Edwards. His shot was well-saved by the V’s goalkeeper (easily the host's best
player), but he could only push the ball into the path of Alfie Rogers, who
tapped home his second.
It could have been four before half-time. A rasping
long-range drive from Malila smashed the post, before Ian Robinson had an
effort pushed away by the Varndean number one.
A half-time substitution saw Billy Barker enter the fray in
place of the injured Ryan Blunt. This change didn’t halt Newhaven’s flow, though, and a
fourth goal duly arrived in the 52nd minute.
Barker was heavily involved in the goal, wriggling his way
past a couple of challenges before crossing to the far post where Ian Robinson
was waiting to head (yes, really!) his fifth goal of the season.
From this point on it was a procession, with Newhaven
flooding forward and confidently knocking the ball around all across the park. As they’d
shown in the second-half against Spelthorne, when the Dockers are on song, they’re
a very hard team to contain!
Had it not been for the Varndeanians custodian, the winning
margin could have been far higher. Robinson, Connor and livewire sub Ezra Roeg
all forced good saves from him.
Bailie Rogers also went close to getting his name on the
scoresheet when a searing run down the left culminated with a fierce shot that
went just over the bar.
Newhaven finally added the fifth goal their superiority deserved
with just over five minutes remaining. Alfie Rogers turned creator this time,
teeing up Connor who brilliantly curled a sublime effort into the top corner.
It was a five-star showing from the Dockers, who showed once
again what they are capable of when they are at it.
No doubt, harder tests await this season, but to be unbeaten
in our opening five matches, having rarely hit the heights that we all know the boys are
capable of, hopefully bodes well for the coming months.
Saturday sees us travel to Bromley for an FA Cup First Round Qualifying Match against Cray Wanderers. A team two leagues higher.
I know we’ve barely mentioned it – ahem – but this is the first time Newhaven have reached this stage of the competition for 61 years, so any support will be much appreciated.
There’s a coach going to the game, so if you
want a couple of drinks and not have to worry about driving into Greater London,
that’s an option for you.
Get in touch with the club for more information.
Our next league match now takes place on 5th
September, when Lingfield visit Fort Road on a Tuesday night (19:45 kick-off). We hope to see
you there!
Come On You Dockers!
My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Alfie Rogers. It hasn’t been a vintage start to the season for Rogers (not that that’s stopped him from scoring and assisting regularly), but there are signs that the influential attacking midfielder is starting to rediscover the form that makes him one of the best players anywhere at this level. Special mention here for Ryan Warwick – who was simply superb until he had to go off injured just before the hour mark – and Rob Malila who is growing in fitness and confidence with each passing game.
After the match, Reuben spoke to Alfie to find out how he feels things are going so far this season…
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