Dockers left to rue missed chances

Steyning 3 Newhaven 1, Peter Bentley Cup Quarter-Final

It was never going to be easy. In fact, it could easily be argued that an away trip to Steyning was the hardest draw we could have got in our bid to defend the trophy we won back in May.

Many people’s pre-season title favourites, Steyning have rediscovered their form in recent weeks following a slight blip back in November and December.

Going into this match, they were on a run of six wins in a row and unbeaten in their last 12.

The Shooting Field, though, was perhaps the venue of Newhaven’s best all-round performance this season, a brilliant 4-2 victory back in November. A reason to be hopeful?

For much of the first-half last night it looked as though history was about to repeat itself.

Playing with the wind at their backs, the Dockers were dominant for large swathes of the first-half, as Steyning struggled to get to grips with the visitors energy.

That said, it was the Barrowmen who mustered the first shot on target in the 4^th minute. Jake Buss reacting well to tip a deflected effort round the post. It was to be the first of what would turn out to be many saves made by the Newhaven custodian.

Three minutes later, Bailie Rogers went close as Newhaven threatened for the first time, but he couldn’t quite direct a header from brother Alfie’s delivery on target.

With ten minutes gone, the Dockers were really starting to turn the screw, and quickly went close twice in the space of as many minutes. First Callum Edwards curled an effort just wide from the edge of the area, before Lee Robinson could only prod wide after good work from Alfie Rogers.

The chances continued to flow. On 17 minutes, Harry Reed did well to dig out a cross from the by-line. Steyning could only half-clear to Ryan Warwick on the edge of the area, but his shot flew just too high.

Five minutes later, Steyning thought they’d scored, only for the assistant to deem the ball not to have crossed the line. I was 80-yards away so can’t comment with any great authority, but the prevailing sense at half-time was that we may have got away with one.

Having perhaps been fortunate, Newhaven soon got back on top and on the half-hour mark Rob Malila’s header was brilliantly clawed off the line by Lucas Szendela-Goetzke, who was about to endure an eventful 15 minutes.

On 35 minutes, the Steyning keeper clumsily clipped Lee Robinson inside the area to give the Dockers a penalty. From the spot-kick, Alfie went for power, but Szendela-Goetzke was equal to it to keep the scores level with a fine save.

With the first-half all but up, Newhaven finally took the lead. Robinson beat the Steyning number one to a loose ball, only to be wiped out, leaving both players in a heap. Before the ref could decide whether another penalty should be awarded or not, Rob Malila followed in to head the Dockers in front.

On the half-time Twitter feed, I’d mentioned that the only criticism anyone could have of what was a superb opening 45-minutes was that we hadn’t scored more.

This was to prove to be crucial.

In what was to become the proverbial game of two halves, Steyning came out a different team after the interval, laying siege to the Newhaven goal.

Within three minutes of the restart, they’d had a flurry of shots blocked and forced Buss into a couple of routine saves.

There was a feeling that an equaliser was coming, and it arrived 12 minutes into the half. A brilliantly delivered corner from the left was met by a perfect glancing header from Tom Chalaye leaving Buss no chance.

It was a blow from which Newhaven failed to recover, as Steyning took full control of the game from thereonin.

That said, with 68 minutes on the clock, a long throw from sub John Lucero caused havoc in the Steyning area and culminated with the ball clearly striking a home player’s hand. The ref immediately ruled it accidental. I’ll be honest, I’ve got no idea what constitutes a handball these days, so happy to defer to the man in black on this occasion.

Within four minutes, the hosts had the lead they’d been threatening. Another brilliant delivery from the left was met by the head of half-time sub Sam Dychey Remfry again leaving Buss with no chance.

Any thoughts that Steyning would defend what they had were quickly dispelled as the Barrowmen instead laid siege to the Dockers goal. Had it not been for some fine Buss saves and the intervention of the crossbar, Steyning could have been out of sight by the time the game entered its final five minutes.

As it was, Newhaven were still in with a chance. Edwards and Robbie Keith both had shots, neither of which ever really looked like troubling Szendela-Goetzke, as the Dockers struggled to create any clear opportunities.

With the match just entering injury time, Steyning got the third goal that they’d long been threatening. Buss made yet another good save only for the ball to fall to a Steyning player. His shot was blocked but the ball once again fell kindly to a home shirt, this time Chalaye who promptly scored his second of the game.

Robinson had a late half-chance to reduce the arrears but could only screw wide from a tight angle. In fairness, though, the game was gone by that point. Steyning’s stunning second-half performance seeing them into the semi-final and comprehensively ending our defence of the Peter Bentley Cup.

So no doubt a disappointing evening for the Dockers – especially the second-half performance; the half in which we’ve normally been stronger this season – but, in the cold light of day, it does mean we can now focus our attentions solely on the league.

On Saturday, we hope to bounce back from this defeat by taking three crucial points at Fort Road, as we’re visited by Eastbourne Town. That’s followed by another home game a week later, this time against struggling Saltdean.

With cup interest now ended, there’s (hopefully) 11 games of the season remaining (please, no play-offs!). The destiny of the title is still in our hands. That hasn’t changed. There may be no cup to play for, but there’s still 11 cup finals to be played.

With the top four separated by just five points, this promises to be one nail-biting end to the season. It’s sall to play for. All up for grabs. And your support could make all the difference.

We hope to see you at as many of those ‘cup-finals’ as possible.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Jake Buss. Faultless for the three goals, and the main reason we entered the final few minutes still within touching distance of Steyning. A great performance from the skipper.