Dockers hit summit with seven to go

Lingfield 1 Newhaven 3, SCFL Premier Division match #31

Newhaven travelled to Surrey on Tuesday night for a rearranged league fixture against Lingfield.

A victory would see Newhaven leapfrog Steyning into top spot in the league – and provide a fitting way for co-managers Sean Breach and Andy Cook to celebrate a quite remarkable ten years at the helm.

While Lingfield may be ensconced firmly in mid-table, it was a match no-one involved with the Dockers was taking lightly. Lingfield are one of only two teams to have beaten us in the league this season, having deservedly taken the three points in the reverse fixture at Fort Road back in September.

And it was the Lingers who were quickest out of the blocks last night. They would - perhaps even should - have been ahead within three-minutes, only for a fine Jake Buss save to keep the scores level.

On a bobbly pitch, it took the Dockers time to get to grips with the conditions as well as Lingfield’s direct style and pace, and it was the hosts who looked by far the more dangerous team in the early exchanges.

After around a quarter-of-an-hour, Newhaven began to settle and gain more control of the ball. On 22 minutes, the Dockers created one of their only real clear openings of the half, when an overlapping Bailie Rogers was denied at close-range by a brave block from the Lingfield keeper.

Newhaven probed for more openings, but while Callum Edwards looked a constant source of menace, the home goal was rarely threatened.

In the 42^nd minute, with the game meandering towards a goalless first-half, the match suddenly exploded into life.

Lingfield struck first, with Dennis Asante getting in front of his marker to poke the hosts ahead following a low-cross. The Dockers defence appealed in vain for an offside flag but the assistant kept his flag resolutely down. I was 80-yards away, so had no view of the incident, but having spoken to supporters of both teams at half-time, it seems the appeals may have had some merit.

However, if there’s one thing regular readers of these reports will know about this Newhaven team, it’s that going a goal down doesn’t phase them. In fact, they seem to relish it in a strange way. 

I have no idea how many points we’ve recovered from losing positions, and I have no desire to work it out, suffice to say that it’s a lot.

Seconds before the ref’s whistle sounded for half-time we were level.

In a rather unexpected turn of events, centre-back Josh Tuck found himself in space on the left wing (yes, really), his cross into the box was brilliantly controlled by Edwards, and his subsequent finish was even better. It was a vital time to score.

The second-half started in much the same way as much of the first-half had played out. Very little goalmouth action to talk about.

Shortly before the hour mark, this began to change. Luke Donaldson had the first opportunity of the half only to see his fierce effort well turned around the post by the Lingfield number one. From the subsequent corner, Robbie Keith’s header was just about hacked off the line, and somehow the hosts managed to scramble the danger away.

An injury to Tuck after 61 minutes brought with it a change in shape and the introduction of Harry Reed; with Lee Robinson also replacing Donaldson at the same time. Both substitutes were to play significant roles in turning the match firmly in Newhaven’s favour.

Only four minutes after coming on, Reed reacted fastest to a Keith header to lash the ball home from the tightest of angles to give the Dockers a crucial lead. It could prove to be a huge goal going forward!

Ten minutes later, Reed almost grabbed a second, beating his man before driving into the area and shooting wide.

Lingfield, however, were not out of it. They continued to send high balls into the box, looking to trouble a Newhaven backline now shorn of the aerial presence of Tuck.

With 12 minutes to go, the direct approach almost dividends. Buss once again, though, made a brilliant save just as it seemed Lingfield were destined to score when the ball fell kindly to the striker inside the six-yard box.

Newhaven took full advantage of their reprieve as, little more than 60-seconds later, Robinson latched onto an Alfie Rogers through-ball and drove into the area, before being clumsily bundled over. 

Alfie made no mistake from the spot, absolutely blasting the ball into the roof of the net to give Newhaven the breathing space of a two-goal lead.

Minutes later, Edwards almost capped his fine performance with a great individual effort only to be denied by another decent stop from Lingfield’s goalie.

At the other end, the hosts continued to launch the ball forward at every opportunity, but the Dockers defence held firm, with Keith in-particular seemingly relishing the aerial bombardment.

So it’s a victory that sends Newhaven a point clear of Steyning, with us still having a game in hand on them, while Crowborough are four points behind (although they do have a game in hand on us). 

In what is proving to be one of the tightest SCFL title races in years, Hassocks and on-fire Eastbourne Town are also both still in the mix, with just five points separating the top five. There is simply very little room for error.

We face another long journey on Saturday, as we visit Pagham in what you feel is another must win game. We’re then back at Fort Road on 30^th March when we play host to Bexhill - yep, it's a must win again!

Two wins in these matches would set us up perfectly for what is going to be a tense final month, during which we face local rivals Peacehaven along with four teams currently placed in the top six!

No one said winning the league was ever going to be easy… but it’s certainly doable. And what an amazing way seven more victories would be to cap Messrs Cook and Breach’s dazzling decade in charge!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Callum Edwards. A really tough decision, and I almost gave a joint award, but ultimately Edwards just pips Buss for me. He was the Docker’s main creative spark throughout and thoroughly deserved to get his name on the scoresheet. Honourable mention for Reed, too, whose introduction added some extra impetus to our attacks.