Shoot-out heartache for plucky Dockers

Peacehaven and Telscombe 3 Newhaven 3, RUR Cup Round 1, Tuesday 16^th September 2025

Newhaven made the short journey west to Peacehaven last night for an opening round match in the RUR Cup.

Peacehaven have been inconsistent in the early weeks of the season having gained just nine points from their opening seven games. In spite of this, they are still among the favourites for a play-off spot this season, and the Dockers went into the match knowing that when it comes to local derbies form often goes out of the window.

On a blustery evening, the opening ten minutes or so saw both teams struggling to get to grips with the conditions with little to shout about in terms of goalmouth action.

This changed in the 12^th minutes, when the hosts created the first opportunity of the evening with a curling effort from the edge of the area that went just over.

Within a minute, they were within inches of taking the lead, when the ball struck the bar and somehow stayed out.

It wasn’t to matter, though, because just a few seconds later, Peacehaven were awarded their first penalty of the night, when Elliott Bresciani’s rash challenge left the ref with little choice but to point to the spot.

George Cook made no mistake from 12-yards, blasting the ball past Roman Chiosa.

Just five minutes later, the Dockers almost drew level, only for Pacey Bean to be denied by a decent save from the home goalkeeper.

In the 25^th minute, though, we were on level terms. Peacehaven could only half clear their lines, and Bresciani atoned for giving away the penalty by blasting the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area. It was some hit from the centre back.

Things got even better for Newhaven – and Bresciani – in the 32^nd minute. Ezra Roeg flicked a free-kick towards the back post where Bresciani was waiting to smash a superb half-volley into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

When Peacehaven were temporarily reduced to ten men via the sin-bin a few minutes later, you felt this was the perfect time for the Dockers to try and kill the game off.

Instead, it was the home side who finished the half the stronger, pegging Newhaven back and looking to level the game while they still had the wind advantage. The Dockers, though, held firm to lead at the break.

The second-half started as you would have expected, with the wind now at Newhaven’s backs. On a couple of occasions we got into promising positions down the left, only to falter with the final ball.

Reaching the hour-mark, it was hard to remember Chiosa having to make a save. This was to change massively in the final half-an-hour.

Twice in the space of two-minutes, the Newhaven stopper made brilliant saves (the second one in particular) to keep us ahead.

The Peacehaven striker, who it’s fair to say will probably enjoy better nights in front of goal, then missed an absolute sitter as the hosts turned the screw, before Bresciani made a brilliant last-ditch block to divert a goal-bound shot wide.

The equaliser arrived in the 68th minute, and again came from the penalty spot. Lee Robinson, who had only just been introduced into the action – and in case you needed reminding was on the hunt for his 500^th Newhaven goal – was judged to have barged down Callum Edwards, and once again the ref pointed to the spot. This time it was left to Connor Tighe to do the honours from 12-yards, and he made no mistake.

Newhaven were looking leggy now, and Peacehaven stormed forward in search of another goal. More chances came and went. We were hanging on.

With 16 minutes left, Peacehaven got the goal they had been threatening. Take nothing away from the move that led to the goal, as a series of intricate passes set Edwards free on the left, and he cut inside to shoot the hosts into a deserved lead.

However, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this young Newhaven team already this season, it’s that they don’t give up.

While they rode their luck with Peacehaven missing chances, and Chiosa making a string of fine saves, you got the feeling that surely we would create at least one chance before the full-time whistle (having not really threatened since the opening 15 minutes of the half).

Indeed, that chance came with three minutes of normal time remaining. A long Richmond Osei throw wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell to Lee Robinson in the six-yard box, and the striker supreme reacted first to poke home his landmark goal.

While the game may not have ended in the way we wanted it to (more on that in a bit), that does not detract in the slightest from this moment. 500 goals is some achievement at any level, and should be celebrated. 500 goals is an unbelievable feat in itself. To do it for one club in an era where many players will move teams for a Wagon Wheel over a Mars Bar tells you everything you need to know about the man himself. Well done Robbo. Statue incoming. Probably. Maybe.

With the scores now level, it was Newhaven who actually finished the game the stronger and if anyone was going to score a winner it suddenly – and somewhat inexplicably – looked like it was going to be us.

Alas, it wasn’t to be and the game moved to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Unfortunately for us, in front of a raucous (and large) band of Peacehaven ultras (again, I must say how brilliant it is to see so many youngsters starting to follow their local clubs; credit where it’s due) Robbo and Harry Hammond both had their efforts saved. While Tommy Jupp and Charlie Gibson did find the net, the hosts scored four out of their five penalties (the other landed in Newhaven this morning) to win the game.

So it is Peacehaven who advance into the next round after a plucky display by a youthful Dockers side who were missing a few key players; especially in the centre of the park. No complaints about the result, though, the hosts were the better team on the night and deservedly take their place in the next round. There were positive signs, though, from the Dockers, who stayed in the game with their backs against the walls and managed to avoid defeat over 90-minutes.

On Saturday we face more cup action as Faversham Strike Force visit Fort Road in the FA Vase. We are finally back in league action next Tuesday night (23^rd September) when we host Shoreham.

It would be great to see as many of you there as possible to help the boys bounce back from this setback. It would also be great to get some of the kids singing, too. Come on youngsters, we’re lagging behind a few other teams in this regard now.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Roman Chiosa. For 60-minutes, this looked like being a straight shoot-out between Elliott Bresciani and Richmond Osei, but then Chiosa made a string of fine saves (and one unbelievable one – check out our Tik-Tok channel this evening) to ensure we stayed in the game.