Scrappy victory, but a win’s a win!

Wick 1 Newhaven 3, SCFL Premier Division match #6, Saturday 6^th September 2025

Having navigated the first month of the league season unbeaten, the Dockers headed west to Wick yesterday afternoon to kick-start the second month of the campaign.

Conversely, Wick have struggled in the early stages of the season, going into the match bottom of the table and without a point to show for their efforts.

However, as Newhaven learned to their cost on a couple of occasions last season, every team will get a win at some point during the season, so why not against us!

After the opening 25 minutes yesterday, we were somewhat fortunate not to be out of the game already, with the hosts looking nailed-on for their first three-points of the season.

Were it not for a combination of profligate finishing and a couple of fine Roman Chisora saves, we could easily have been three down with just 22 minutes on the clock.

Not that Wick were looking overly steady at the back, mind you, with Teddy Wood only managing to shoot straight at the keeper from the edge of the six-yard box.

The game’s turning point came in the 25^th minute, when Wick were temporarily reduced to ten-men via the sin-bin. In what had been a niggly game (and continued to be throughout) it came as no great surprise to anyone that a team had been reduced to ten-men, albeit only temporarily (for now).

Newhaven took full advantage of their man advantage.

Just two minutes later we were ahead, courtesy of a brilliant first-time Tarun Rohilla finish from the corner of the six-yard box.

Things got even better mere moments later. Wick’s centre back completely misjudged a hopeful ball forward, allowing Ezra Roeg to race through on goal and finish calmly past the keeper.

Somehow we were 2-0 up. Even the most ardent of Newhaven supporters wearing the most rose(red?)-tinted of glasses would have been able to make a case to say we deserved it.

Eight minutes before half-time, Lee Robinson had a chance to perhaps put the game to bed, but couldn’t generate enough power on his header to trouble the Wick custodian.

With half-time approaching, Wick got the goal they had threatened for much of the half. There was a hint of off-side in the build-up, but the flag stayed down and this time the Wick striker kept his composure to find the back of the net.

Newhaven were actually lucky to reach the interval ahead, as in stoppage time at the end of the first-half Wick fluffed another golden opportunity. This one certainly appeared to be off-side (not given) and with frustrations building it was Newhaven’s turn to be temporarily reduced to ten men, with Richmond Osei sent to the sin-bin.

With the Dockers down to ten for the opening eight minutes or so of the second-half, we’d have to dig deep so as not to let Wick take advantage of the situation in the way that we had.

Fortunately, Wick had other ideas. Just 20-seconds into the second-half, the same player who had earlier been sin-binned was shown a straight red for a reckless, late and high lunge on Ryan Blunt. Man advantage gone.

From that moment on, Wick offered very little going forward, aside from the odd dangerous set-piece.

The Dockers were hardly battering the door down for a second themselves, but unsurprisingly did look the side more likely to add to the scoreline.

With 25 minutes left, Wick were hugely fortunate not to be down to nine players as their left back escaped a clear second booking when the ref played advantage (with the ball in our half) instead of stopping play to show him a second yellow. Apparently, once advantage is played you can’t go back to book a player. Seems a strange rule to me, but there you have it.

To no-one’s surprise the same player was then subbed before play restarted.

With Roeg growing to be an increasing irritant to the Wick backline, chances finally started to arrive. Roeg was himself denied by a good save before he almost set up Pacey Bean for a goal, only for the substitute to fail to get the connection he would have wished on his shot.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, we finally put the game to bed. Bean found Robinson in the area, and Robinson dispatched the ball into the top corner with another stunning first-time finish that gave the keeper no chance. For those who are counting (in other words, everyone) that’s goal number 499 for Newhaven’s all-time top scorer. One hopes a certain milestone won’t be too long in coming.

So that makes it five wins and a draw from our opening six games. Not a shabby return at all. And while yesterday may have been about as ugly a win as you will likely see, the bottom line is it was another win, and sees us well set for what is undoubtedly a tricky month ahead, dominated by cup matches for the next few weeks.

On Tuesday night we face Forest Row in the opening round of the County Cup, before we head to Peacehaven a week later for an RUR Cup match.

We then entertain Faversham in the FA Vase on the 20^th September, before finally returning to league action on Tuesday 23^rd September when Shoreham visit Fort Road.

Some cup progress, along with another three points, would be lovely before things get really tricky…

But let’s worry about that later and just enjoy the now.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Roman Chiosa and Ezra Roeg. A rare joint award this week. Chiosa’s string of saves in the first-half kept us in the game, while Roeg’s ability to carry the ball and beat players, gives us a real outlet when we come under pressure.