Performance 0 Result 1

Little Common 2 Newhaven 5, SCFL Premier Division match #23

After last week’s disappointing draw at Shoreham (which featured an unfortunate season-ending injury to Ian Robinson), the Docker’s headed east to Little Common yesterday searching for three-points to get their title bid back on track.

Having played the hosts twice before this season – both times at home; once in the FA Cup and once in the league (there was a late equaliser in that game which you might have heard about) the two teams are no strangers to each other.

Odd then, that with less than three minutes on the watch, Common presented Cal Edwards – scorer of a hat-trick in the aforementioned FA Cup meeting – with the ball just outside the area; then allowed him plenty of time and space to get his shot away. 

Take nothing away from the finish, which was sublime, but I doubt Cal could quite believe his luck as he duly gave the Dockers a dream start.

However, those of us hoping that this early goal would give Newhaven the lift they needed to go on and put their hosts to the sword, were to be disappointed.

Despite the early goal, the Dockers struggled to get going and it was Little Common who looked the more threatening team, time and time getting themselves into good positions, only to be extremely wasteful from wide areas.

It was no real surprise when, midway through the first half, the hosts equalised. Newhaven will undoubtedly be disappointed with the manner in which they conceded, with Little Common’s left-back being allowed to run pretty much unchallenged up the centre of the pitch, before slipping the ball through to Adam Smith who finished brilliantly into the corner, giving Jake Buss no chance.

The rest of the half can be described as scrappy at best with both sides giving away clear, niggly fouls, then berating the ref. It’s not often that I have sympathy with officials, but yesterday was one of those days. Every decision he made, no matter how obvious, was met with howls of derision, with Common’s player manager particularly guilty, it has to be said.

Ten minutes before the interval, Common’s keeper made a good save to deny Lee Robinson at close range, but with half-time approaching it appeared the teams would be heading into half-time level. A scoreline that would have probably been just about fair.

In the 44^th minute, Robinson did have the ball in the net, but was clearly coming back from an off-side position and was instantly flagged.

That wasn’t to be the last chance of the half, though.

Deep into injury-time, the Dockers won a corner when the Common keeper pushed Ryan Warwick’s angled effort wide. From the resulting set-piece, Josh Tuck, returning from injury, powerfully headed Alfie Rogers’ delivery into the corner to give Newhaven the lead. Tuck’s first goal for the club.

Perhaps fortunate to be in front at the break, it was hoped, well… by us Newhaven fans at least, that we would take control of the second-half from the restart.

Common deservedly levelling within seven minutes was not in the script. A well worked move culminated with the ball being threaded through to Lewis Hole who, once again, gave Buss no chance with a classy finish into the corner.

The equaliser did seem to wake the Dockers up a bit as they started to attack with a bit more verve.

The game’s ultimate turning point occurred just after the hour mark. First the hosts were temporarily reduced to ten men when one of their players took umbrage to a clear handball outside the penalty area and was promptly sin-binned (how we made it this far into the game without any player being sin-binned remains a mystery to me).

From the free-kick, Alfie Rogers struck the bar, the ball fell to Lee Robinson who, with the whole goal at his mercy, was promptly fouled by Common’s player-manager who was sent-off. Not sure whether it was a straight red or second yellow?

From the spot, Alfie Rogers smashed the Dockers into the lead for the third time. Surely, with the hosts down to nine men for the next ten-minutes, and ten for the remainder thereafter, there would be no route back into the game for them this time around.

Ultimately, there wasn’t to be. Not that the Dockers ever really threatened to run away with the game either. The hosts made it back up to ten players with the minimum of fuss, with Newhaven barely offering a shot on goal in this period; although, for obvious reasons, there was even less threat up the opposite end.

It took until the 82^nd minute for Newhaven to make the three-points safe. Harry Reed’s surge up the wing took him into a dangerous area. His cross wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and Ryan Warwick took a touch, set himself and finished with great aplomb into the bottom corner. Composure personified.

With the game nearing the 90^th minute mark, Newhaven added a fifth to put a gloss on the scoreline that was harsh on Common, as Robbie Keith just about bundled the ball over the line from about a centimetre out.

It’s a weird game to reflect back on because, in spite of the final score, the Dockers were nowhere near at their best and for large periods Little Common more than held their own - and at times carried more threat.

The fact is, though, that from hereon in performances really aren’t that important. It’s the result that matters. Nothing more. Nothing less.

With Crowborough losing at home to Eastbourne Town, the Dockers are back up to first place ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting of the top two at Fort Road.

A point ahead having played a game more, victory on Tuesday would be a massive statement in a title race that still has the feeling of one that will go right down to the wire; with a number of other teams handily placed and ready to take advantage of any slips from us or Crowborough.

Get yourselves down to Fort Road on Tuesday, get behind the boys, and do your bit in aiding them to what could be three crucial points.

It’s going to be an exciting end to the season and if we can pick up 5-2 wins when we’re not playing all that well, then that can only bode well. Right?

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Josh Tuck. To be honest, there were no truly outstanding individual performances from anyone, but Tuck was his usual combative presence on his return from injury, and finally found the back of the net to open his Dockers account.