Big three-points for battling Dockers

Eastbourne United 1 Newhaven 2, SCFL Premier Division match #13

It’s fair to see that the fixture list has been fairly kind to the Dockers in the early months of the season.

In fact, prior to this afternoon’s visit to Eastbourne United, Newhaven hadn’t faced any other team in the top eight (in the league, that is) going into this round of fixtures.

To be honest, very few of the teams who would probably consider themselves among the genuine promotion contenders have met head-to-head yet (something that is very much set to change over the next few weeks).

In Eastbourne United, Newhaven were facing a side who have, like us, consistently finished in the upper echelons of the table in recent seasons – and are threatening to do so again this year.

Always a tough team to play against – especially at their Oval Ground where they went into  this afternoon’s clash unbeaten in the league – Newhaven new they would face a real battle to get anything from this encounter.

The Dockers started the match well, with Lee Robinson forcing a routine save from the Eastbourne United keeper inside the first minute.

United then went close themselves, overplaying slightly in the area, allowing Newhaven to clear their lines a split-second before a home player could get his shot away.

After a lively opening ten minutes, it was the Dockers who drew first blood. Good combination play between the Brothers Robinson down the left flank, culminated with Lee Robinson rolling the ball into the path of Alfie Rogers who blasted the visitors in front.

United tried to hit back immediately, and almost got through on goal a few minutes later only for their player to miss-control at the vital moment, allowing the ball to run through to Jake Buss.

With the half-hour mark approaching Newhaven doubled their lead. Alfie Rogers was unceremoniously dragged down in the area, leaving the referee little option but to award a penalty. Not that the home side saw things quite the same way.

After voicing his displeasure at the decision a touch too vociferously, the United number 11 was sent to the sin-bin… to no one’s great surprise. He’d already been spoken to on a at least three occasions regarding trying to help the ref officiate the game.

From the spot, Rogers made absolutely no mistake, finding the corner to notch his 17^th goal of the season.

With United temporarily down to ten, the Newhaven fans hoped that the Dockers would look to really seize the initiative and put the game beyond United’s reach by half-time.

That’s not really what happened, though, with the game entering a scrappy phase with not really too much happening. By the time the 11 returned to the pitch, I don’t think either side had created a chance of note. As you were.

With half-time reached 2-0 ahead, it always felt as though the next goal would be vital.

Ian Robinson went close to snatching that third goal six-minutes into the second-half, finding the side-netting with a shot from a tight-angle following a typically driving run.

Then, nothing much happened for a while. United began to see more of the ball, without really looking too threatening, while Newhaven seemed content to hold on to what they had.

This all changed in the last 25 minutes. A booking for Rogers saw him withdrawn as a precaution, and with Newhaven’s talisman off the pitch, the hosts began to really get on top.

Jake Buss had to be alert to turn a close-range effort behind with 20-minutes left, but it was to be only a temporary reprieve.

With United once again being temporarily reduced to ten men following yet more moaning, they promptly found a route back in the game courtesy of a cool finish from Mason Creese.

Suddenly they were swarming all over Newhaven. Buss was forced into yet another world-class save (wrongly credited as hitting the bar on Twitter, sorry Bussy! – if only we had Veo for this game), while cross after cross was heroically defended by Newhaven’s increasingly under siege backline – who it has to be said stood up brilliantly to the pressure.

Twice United had the ball in the net – although both times the whistle was blown and the offside flag raised long before the ball actually crossed the line – as the Dockers were forced to dig deep, really deep, to hold-on to their lead.

By the time the referee blew his whistle after six long, agonising minutes of injury time, Newhaven knew they’d been in a real game. Having looked fairly comfortable for the opening hour, the last half-hour could have easily seen the hosts take something from the game.

As mentioned in previous blogs, though, there seems to be a newfound resolve about this Newhaven team. They seem to have found the knack of picking up points when they’re up against it. Long may it continue!

There was more drama after the final whistle when someone in the Eastbourne United set-up was sent-off – not sure if it was a player or coach – but when the dust settles all that really matters is that Newhaven come away from the Oval with an extremely hard-earned three-points.

It’s a short break from league action now, with two cup games on the horizon – both at Fort Road.

First, higher division Chichester City visit us at Fort Road on Tuesday night (19:45) in the Sussex Senior Cup before we play host to Essex Senior League side Sporting Bengal United in the FA Vase next Saturday.

Our next league action is also at Fort Road, with fifth-placed Hassocks the visitors. There are big games coming thick and fast in the coming weeks and come the middle of November my sense is that we’ll have a real idea of just how strong our promotion credentials really are.

With five consecutive home games coming up, what better time is there to get yourself down Fort Road over the next few weeks and cheer the boys on? Your support matters!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Max Vardy. There were a number of strong contenders for this award (Bussy and Ryan Blunt to name just two), but Vards was brilliant as part of a back-three that came under increasing pressure the more the match progressed.

After the match, Reuben caught up with two-goal hero Alfie Rogers for his thoughts on the match…