Honours even in battle of the top two

Newhaven 1 Crowborough Athletic 1, SCFL Premier Division match #24

While it’s still far too early in the season to start bandying around phrases like ‘title decider’, last night’s clash between the SCFL Premier Division’s top two at least gave the division’s front-runners a chance to strike an early blow as the season rapidly moves towards its closing months.

Since the controversial abandonment between these two teams back in early December (Newhaven were leading 1-0 with ten-minutes remaining when the officials decided they were no longer able to see through thick fog), the Dockers have picked up 15 points from a possible 18, meaning they went into this match a point clear at the top – albeit Crowborough still have a game in hand.

For both teams the mantra going into the game would likely have been very similar. If you can’t win, then don’t lose.

For much of the first-half, it would be fair to say that both teams took these instructions to the nth degree, with entertainment very much at a premium. There was very little goalmouth action to warm the 332 hardy souls who braved the bracing cold – the largest crowd seen at Ford Road so far this season

The main (possibly only) talking point of the half occurred in the 20^th minute when Jake Buss was booked for a challenge that could, on another day, have yielded a straight red.

A loose Robbie Keith back-pass sent Crowborough’s new signing, Steve Smith, into a straight foot-race with Buss. The Crow’s striker reached the ball a split second before the Newhaven keeper, knocking it past him before being caught.

Thankfully (for us), the ref deemed the challenge worthy of only a booking (the fact that the Crow’s striker didn’t appear to be fully in control of the ball perhaps saving Buss from a worse fate).

The resulting free-kick was struck wastefully into the wall.

Newhaven’s best chances in a dour first-half came in a two-minute period around the 35-minute mark. First Lee Robinson headed over a Harry Reed cross when well placed, before Alfie Rogers’ floated free-kick narrowly evaded the onrushing Keith and Rob Malila.

Right on half-time, Crowborough had their first clear sight of goal – their other dangerous moments all coming from long-throws; aforementioned free-kick aside – when Buss made a good save with his feet following a goalmouth scramble.

While the first half-was cagey, to put it mildly, the second-half was more entertaining. Largely because Newhaven decided to at least throw a little caution to the wind and have a go at winning the game.

Within five minutes of the restart, Harry Reed missed a glorious chance to open the scoring, scuffing Callum Edwards’ pull-back wide from by the penalty spot.

With Crowborough digging in and looking more than happy to head back up the A26 with a point, the Dockers were starting to probe and, while they weren’t exactly creating chance after chance, they were at least increasingly starting to stretch the Crow’s organised defence.

On 67 minutes, Newhaven were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the area. Everyone in the ground knew what was coming next. An Alfie Rogers set-piece. And Newhaven’s talisman delivered once again, firing home the free-kick to the absolute delight of the majority of the crowd.

It’s the eighth consecutive league match in which Alfie has netted – which may well be a league record; if someone could confirm then that would be great. The last time he failed to score was against Horsham YMCA back on 18^th November. Some going! Some player!  

Moving into the last 10 minutes of the match, we found ourselves in the exact same position we’d been in back in December. 1-0 up.

On that occasion, at the time of the abandonment, Crowborough had been pressing hard for an equaliser and getting closer with each passing attack.

Last night, though, the Crows were struggling to create much and the Dockers, on the whole, looked comfortable.

However, if there is one slight Achilles Heel to this Newhaven team, it does appear to be an inability to keep clean sheets – even when they’re defending well; as they did for much of the game last night. The last clean sheet actually came in that aforementioned Horsham YM match.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t to be one last night, either. 

With five minutes to go, a hopeful high ball forward wasn’t dealt with, the ball ran loose to Crows substitute Elliott Duncan in the area, and he kept his cool to level proceedings. 

Some Dockers defenders appealed, in vain, for a shove on Keith, but I was too far away to see whether or not these claims had any merit.

The final few minutes played out much as the entire first-half had done, with both sides seemingly settling for the point. 

In the very final minute, Crowborough looked like they might have had a chance to snatch it after Newhaven were guilty of giving the ball away after trying to take a free-kick too quickly.

However, to the home side’s relief, with the Crowborough player bearing down on goal, play was brought back for an infringement (not quite sure what it was, but I’m glad the ref spotted it!).

The reactions of the two sides at full-time probably told you everything you needed to know. Crowborough were rightly pleased with their point; Newhaven were disappointed not to have held on for the win that their second-half performance deserved.

In many ways, it’s a strange point. It’s not a bad result for Newhaven or Crowborough, while it’s also the exact result that the chasing pack would have been looking for ahead of kick-off.

Newhaven stay a point ahead of Crowborough having played a game more, while unfancied Hassocks continue to fly under the radar just five points behind us (same games played). And while Haywards Heath and Steyning are both a bit further back, with the firepower both those teams have at their disposal, don’t be surprised to see one or both of those sides mount a late charge either. I've said it before; I'll say it again. It's a title race that shows all the signs of going down to the wire.

We’re at home again on Saturday, as struggling AFC Uckfield visit Fort Road. Hopefully, the lads can continue their good run of form and maintain their position at the top of the table.

We hope to see you there!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Billy Barker. Whether at right back, or on the right side of a back three, Barker has been a dependable presence for the Dockers this season, and was solid once again last night, whilst also looking to bring the ball forward when he could.