Dockers back to winning ways after a topsy-turvy encounter

Newhaven 5 Saltdean United 3, SCFL Premier Division Match #29

Newhaven welcomed local rivals Saltdean United to Fort Road yesterday afternoon, hoping to bounce back from last week’s horror-show against Eastbourne Town.

On paper, struggling Saltdean should have provided the ideal opposition for Newhaven to get their season back-on-track. However, with a number of close connections between the two clubs – not least Tigers' manager Kieran Ridley who spent many years fulfilling various coaching and off-field rolls at Newhaven – there was always added potential for an upset.

What’s more, while Newhaven were losing last weekend, Saltdean were picking up their first three-points in quite a while with a victory at Loxwood. If they could have picked the ideal time to travel to Fort Road then this would probably be it.

With confidence no doubt still slightly frail after the Eastbourne match (it certainly was in the crowd), it was widely felt that a fast start was a necessity.

Saltdean taking an early lead certainly wasn’t in the script. However, on 12 minutes, Newhaven gave a silly foul away in a dangerous area and Tigers’ skipper Alfie Edmeads’ well-struck free-kick from the edge of the box found the target.

That goal means Newhaven’s run without a clean-sheet now stretches to 14 games. Something that you feel has to be rectified as the season enters the final strait.

Fortunately, Newhaven responded well to the setback, and within four minutes they were level.

A free-kick to the Dockers in a similar position from the one Saltdean had scored in was taken by Ryan Warwick. Although his shot was saved, Saltdean couldn’t clear their lines and eventually debutant Jacob Thompson smashed the host’s level.

Three minutes later, the impressive Thompson was almost involved in another goal. His cross was met by the head of Lee Robinson, but he couldn’t get enough contact on it to direct it goalwards.

No matter, on the 24^th minute Newhaven did take the lead. A quickly taken short corner was passed to Warwick. His cross found the head of Bailie Rogers (no, not a typo) and he headed the Dockers in front. A feat made all the impressive by the fact that just two minutes earlier he had taken an almighty whack to the head following an aerial collision.

With Newhaven in front, chances began to arrive at fairly frequent intervals.

Robinson and Warwick were both denied by good saves from the Saltdean ‘keeper, before Josh Tuck, back from injury with heading sound effects still in-tact, headed over another Thompson cross.

On the stroke of half-time, these misses almost came back to haunt the Dockers as Saltdean really should have scored only for Harley Damario to get his close-range header all wrong.

What had been a fairly open, entertaining first-half then gave way to what can only be termed a somewhat crazy second 45-minutes (not necessarily in a good way – unless you were a neutral).

Within 60 seconds of the restart, the Dockers probably should have increased their lead. Robinson got through on goal, was forced wide by the keeper, squared to Warwick whose shot was blocked off the line.

Two minutes later, Saltdean were level.

Newhaven carelessly gave away possession in midfield, former Docker Alex Patching was then given too much time and space to turn in the area before getting his shot away. Although Jake Buss made a good save, Saltdean’s Corby Ovenden was the first to react and he calmly slotted an equaliser into the net.

Once again, though, Newhaven’s response was near-instant. Just two minutes later they were back in front.

Another delivery from the right found Robinson. His header was once again well saved by the keeper, but the ball rebounded off a Saltdean defender and into the net. A definite own goal no matter how much our all-time leading scorer may claim otherwise!

As in the first-half, having hit the lead, it was the Dockers who then started to assume control of the match.

On the hour-mark, Luke Donaldson was desperately unlucky not to score the second worldy of his fledgling Newhaven career. Picking the ball up on the left, Donaldson ran at his man, beat him, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot from the corner of the area that bounced off the bar and away from danger.

Moments later, Bailie Rogers had a chance to grab his second of the afternoon, but not wanting to take the spotlight away too much from his suspended younger brother, decided to screw his shot off for a throw-in instead. Very sporting.

The fourth goal for Newhaven finally arrived 20 minutes from time. Once again it was another gift as some truly dreadful defending led to the ball arriving at the feet of Donaldson who couldn’t believe his luck, making no mistake to drill the Dockers into a two-goal lead. No idea what was going on with the subsequent celebration, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Two goals in front, and with Saltdean not really looking like finding a way back into the game, we then decided to sportingly provide them with one.

A poor pass across the pitch from Callum Edwards was seized upon by Damario, who raced clear to fire Saltdean back into the game.

In fairness, it didn’t take long for Edwards to atone for his rare error.

For the third time in the match, the Dockers responded to conceding a goal by scoring one of their own within four minutes. Edwards was at the heart of it, producing a brilliant cross that found Robinson totally unmarked inside the six-yard box, and this time the striker made no mistake.

There was still time for more Newhaven opportunites to go begging. Rob Malila hit the post from a tight angle, before Lewis Croal twice passed up presentable opportunities to open his account for the Dockers. In the midst of all this, Bailie Rogers was shown what looked to be a frankly ridiculous yellow-card for diving.

Ultimately, getting back on track with three-points was all-important. No one could argue this was a flawless performance; far from it, and the lack of clean sheets is becoming a concern.

But with nine games left, we’re still top (albeit Crowborough can go a point clear if they win their game in hand) and that’s exactly where the management will have wanted to be as we enter the final two months of the season.

Next week, we travel to Lingfield (well, Horley, actually – that’s where they play) in what is likely to be another tricky encounter. Lingfield inflicted one of our only two league defeats this season on us at Fort Road back in September, so hopefully we can get some payback this time out.

Then, on Tuesday 5^th March, we travel to Haywards Heath for a match against another promotion-chasing team, and one of the most in-form sides in the division. It promises to be a hugely important match.

We’re next at Fort Road on Saturday 9^th March when Loxwood are the visitors.

As ever, we hope to see you at as many of these games as possible.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Bailie Rogers. Unlike last week, there were a few contenders this time out – namely Donaldson, Blunt, Warwick and Thompson – but Bailie shades it for me. Solid at the back, a threat going forward and contributed with a rare goal as well. A good afternoon’s work.

After the match, Reuben caught up with the man of the match to discuss his thoughts on the game…