Late show gets new era off to winning start (in the league)

AFC Varndeanians 1 Newhaven 2, SCFL Premier Division match #23

Saturday saw Newhaven head to the Withdean Stadium for their first league match under the interim stewardship of Ryan Walton and Clive Blunt (there may have been a cup match in midweek but we’ll conveniently gloss over that – hey, it’s my blog and I’ll write what I want to).

In years gone by, the Dockers would have been more than confident about their chances of taking three-points against AFC Varndeanians. However, this is a far stronger Vs side than those of the past. Going into this match the Brighton-based team actually sat above us in the league table, and are on-course for their highest SCFL Premier Division finish.

Indeed, it was the Vs who drew first blood. With eight-minutes on the clock, the Dockers had largely been on the front foot, albeit without creating much (anything) in the way of goalscoring opportunities.

Then, from their real first foray into our half, a cross from the left was met by the head of Sam Rogers, and the ball looped over the head of Jack Webb-Olley to give the Vs the lead.

Newhaven were seeing plenty of the ball, but were struggling to create chances from open play. Most of our best moments were coming from set-pieces; mainly the long-throws of Ben Royall which look to be a real weapon.

On 22 minutes, the Dockers looked set to equalise only to be controversially denied by the referee’s whistle. The Vs goalie hesitated a moment too long in picking up a headed back pass, only to see the ball nicked off his feet by Jake Robinson, returning to the Withdean for the first time since his Brighton and Hove Albion days. Just as Robinson seemed certain to score, the whistle sounded with the ref deeming the striker to have kicked the ball out of the keeper’s hands. 

It wasn’t even close, but when your luck’s out…

At the other end, although not enjoying as much possession, it was the Vs who were carrying more of an attacking threat from open play, with Theo Maryon and former Docker Ezra Roeg both causing problems down the flanks. That said, Webb-Olley was rarely tested.

Eight minutes before the interval, the Dockers did come close to an equaliser when Ryan Warwick did brilliantly to turn sharply in the area, only to see his shot inadvertently blocked as it travelled goalwards.

Henry Watson then headed over on the stroke of half-time as Newhaven finished the half on top but without a goal to show for their efforts.

Newhaven started the second-half strongly, creating three decent opportunities in the opening ten minutes of it.

First, Royall struck just wide from inside the area, before Harry Reed burst through down the right only to see his shot cleared off the line. A couple of minutes later, Vs cleared off the line again as another Royall throw caused havoc in the area.

Having survived, it was Varndeanians who had the next two decent chances. Just past the hour-mark a speculative effort from long-range clipped the top of the bar, before, with 20 minutes left, Maryon seemed certain to score only for Henry Watson – making only his second start since recovering from an ACL injury – to deny him with a heroic goal-line clearance. How he managed to get the height he did on the ball to scoop it over the bar, I’m not sure, but it was to prove a real turning point in the match. Class is permanent!

With time continuing to tick down, Newhaven’s new management team rang the changes in a bid to rescue something from the game.

Two of these subs were to play a role in the equaliser, as Ian Robinson, continuing his own return from an ACL injury, crossed into a crowded area, Mo Huchu’s shot was blocked and Bailie Rogers reacted quickest to fire the Dockers level.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, there was still enough time for either side to go and win it. Vs almost did just that a couple of minutes after our equaliser when an audacious attempt from just inside the area flew inches wide.

As it was, it was to be the Dockers who snatched the late winner. With the game having entered injury-time, Ryan Blunt was tripped in the area leaving the ref with no option but to award a penalty.

With Lee Robinson out injured and Jake Robinson having recently been replaced, there was a question mark hanging over who would take the crucial spot-kick. Fortunately, there was still one Robinson brother left on the pitch and it was Ian, in a scene normally only seen in comic strips, who stepped up to dispatch a last-minute winner. The subsequent celebration, and frankly uncalled for assault on the innocent corner flag, showed just how much the moment meant to him.

Newhaven saw out the remaining time comfortably enough to record the first three points of the Walton-Blunt era. It also continues our unbeaten league start to 2025 (again, cup counts don’t count; in fact, they’ve been completely wiped from our collective memory).

We don’t have to wait long for the next league game of the new era, as on Tuesday night we make the short trip to Saltdean, hoping to make it three out of three for 2025. Kick-off is 19:45.

We’re then back at Fort Road on Saturday when play-off hopefuls Crawley Down Gatwick are our visitors.

Let’s hope these two games will give us more reasons to be cheerful as we target an improved second-half to a topsy-turvy season.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Henry Watson. It hasn’t taken the centre back long to look back to his best, and his goal-line clearance on Saturday afternoon played a huge part in helping the Dockers work their way towards a hard-earned three-points.