Dockers off and flying

Newhaven 4 Crawley Down Gatwick 2, SCFL Premier Division match #3

After two away draws to start the league season, Newhaven were hoping that their first home game of the new SCFL campaign would bring with it a much-needed three points.

Yet, in Crawley Down Gatwick, three-points were far from a guarantee. This is a team who only missed out on promotion to the Isthmian league in a play-off last season, and beat Newhaven twice enroute to finishing second.

However, like the Dockers, the Anvils have not hit the ground running this time out. Their opening three matches had yielded just one win, with defeats in the other two.

Both teams went into this game needing a victory to really get their season going.

Last season’s meetings with Crawley Down were both quite tight, cagey affairs.

Last night’s encounter was anything but.

Both teams had a good chance to go ahead in the opening five minutes. First, Ryan Warwick’s goal-bound shot was deflected inches wide for the Dockers, before the visitors went close from a corner.

Despite both teams displaying clear attacking intentions, it was Newhaven who always carried the greater goal threat going forward.

And, on 16 minutes, they got the goal their positive start had merited. From a throw-in, Callum Connor – starting in place of the injured Callum Edwards – received the ball on the edge of the area, bustled his way past a couple of challenges, then blasted the ball with unerring accuracy into the top corner of the net. A fine goal from a great finisher.

Ten minutes later, the lead was doubled. And it was that man Connor again. 

In what was an almost exact replica of his goal against Midhurst on Saturday, the striker latched onto another inch perfect pass from Alfie Rogers before steering the ball past the goalkeeper. It was Connor’s third goal in barely 45 minutes of action, considering Saturday’s strike, too.

However, while Newhaven were on top, they certainly weren’t having things all their own way. 

In the 30^th minute, the visitors went close to pulling one back when their striker burst through on goal and was unfortunate – fortunately from our perspective – to see his shot bounce off the inside of the far post.

Having survived that mini-scare, the Dockers then further extended their lead in the 35^th minute.

It was the type of goal us Dockers fans have become quite accustomed to in the past couple of seasons. A header from a corner. 

However, while the main providers of those sources of goals may have left for Lancing over the summer, the fit again Robbie Keith showed that we remain a threat from set-pieces, powerfully heading home Alfie Rogers’ corner.

With Newhaven’s tails up, the Dockers suddenly looked likely to score every time they went forward. Crawley Down were on the ropes and when the half-time whistle blew the visitors would have been glad for the chance to re-organise and try to plot an unlikely route back into the game.

The early stages of the second-half were cagier than the first, with Newhaven looking to take the sting out of the game and protect what they had.

On the hour-mark, though, the visitors did manage to get a foothold in the game. 

Newhaven were far from happy about the award of a Crawley Down free-kick 25 yards out, but take nothing away from Lewis Gould’s fine strike, which crashed in off the bar, giving Jake Buss little chance.

Suddenly the game was on again. While Newhaven were still largely in control, it always felt like there were more goals to come and, had Crawley Down nabbed one, a nervy finish would have been on the cards. 

Especially given Newhaven’s propensity to give up leads so far this season!

As it was, Newhaven stepped up the pace again and began to look threatening. They had two strong penalty claims ruled out – one for a foul on Alfie Rogers, another for a handball – before the ref finally awarded one with ten minutes left, when Luca Page was clumsily clipped just inside the area.

Alfie Rogers stepped up and, despite some Poundshop mind games from the Crawley Down ‘keeper, confidently slammed the ball into the bottom corner.

At 4-1 surely the game was done and dusted.

Ultimately, it was, but not before Crawley Down scored again with five minutes of normal time left. 

It was a nicely worked goal, in fairness. Ben Connolly being sent through after a passage of patient passing, and slotting past Buss to reduce the arrears once again.

While the strike ended up being little more than a consolation, the conceding of late goals when the game is seemingly safe is a habit the Dockers need to break. 

It happened all too often last season and is the second time it's occurred already this campaign, having shipped a late consolation against Little Common in the FA Cup.

All in all, though, this was a really positive night’s work from the Dockers. For the most part they were the better side and there are signs that some of the new arrivals are really starting to bed in now. 

For me, this was easily Ryan Warwick’s best performance in a Newhaven shirt to date and he looks to slowly but surely be forming a tidy little partnership in the centre of the park with the ever-reliable Ryan Blunt.

So the signs are good heading into Saturday’s FA Cup match against Combined Counties side, Spelthorne Sports FC. 

It would be great for the club – and the town itself – to have a little run in the FA Cup so it would be great to see as many of you down Fort Road as possible on Saturday afternoon.

Following that, the games come thick and fast as we face local rivals Seaford in the RUR Cup next Tuesday evening (at the Crouch), before a Friday night game against Little Common at Fort Road (19:45 kick-off). We then travel to the Withdean Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday for an 11am kick-off against AFC Varndeanians.

It’s fair to say that football is well and truly back!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Callum Connor. Goals win games, and this guy certainly knows where the net is. His two extremely well-taken finishes gave the Dockers the platform they needed to go on and pick up a vital three points.

After the game, Reuben caught up with the man-of-the-moment, Callum Connor...