Newhaven beaten in local derby

Newhaven 1 Seaford 3, SCFL Premier Division match #17, Saturday 22^nd November 2025

In a week that had seen two very different, but equally impressive Dockers performances, it was hoped that a home derby against Seaford Town would enable us to finish the week in style.

The signs going into the game were positive. Newhaven had already hosted Seaford twice this season in cup competitions, winning both with a minimum of fuss.

In fairness, since the second of these two victories, Seaford have had an upturn in results, and went into this match with three wins from their last four games to currently sit firmly in midtable.

Yet Newhaven will have been fully confident of making it three wins from three yesterday afternoon.

And after 15 minutes, it would have taken a brave person to bet against them doing so.

The Dockers were already a goal to the good by this point and looking supremely comfortable, dominating possession and staving off Seaford’s counter attacks without too much of a hitch.

Lee Robinson had already gone close with a header, before Ryan Blunt gave us the lead in the 13^th minute, finishing off a well-worked move with a fierce shot that bounced in off the post.

Things got worse for Seaford when defender (and former Docker) Max Vardy limped off injured, further depleting their backline. Everything was pointing towards another home victory.

We then had a strong-looking penalty appeal turned down when Blunt looked to have been clipped. Although given our record from 12-yards this season, there’s no telling how important this would have been even if it had have been given.

The game was turned completely on its head, though, in the 24^th minute when Seaford scored with practically their first chance of the match.

A long-range effort swerved awkwardly in front of Roman Chiosa. The goalkeeper could only pat it down, and Hayden Beaconsfield reacted far quicker than any Docker defender to reach the rebound first and fire home an equaliser.

This goal changed the flow of the game, with the Dockers to a man suddenly looking strangely lackadaisical and unable to respond to the setback.

Eight minutes later, a Ryan Knight free-kick struck a post; once again Seaford reacted quickest to the rebound, this time Max Howell taking advantage of some slack defending to give Seaford the lead.

Newhaven had a couple of chances to get back on level terms before the interval with Blunt clipping the top of the bar from the edge of the area, before an overhit cross almost fell to Roeg at the back post.

The truth, however, was that the response to falling behind had been strangely mooted, with Seaford looking, on the whole, far too comfortable.

Hopefully the second-half would bring a more energised looking Newhaven sign to the field.

It didn’t.

Aside from a Robbo effort that was charged down inside the open ten seconds of the restart, Newhaven found clear chances few and far between.

Seaford were more than happy to let Newhaven continue to dominate the ball and then hit fast and direct on the counter attack.

And it was ‘the Harriers’ who looked more likely to add to the scoreline for much of the second half.

With 20 minutes remaining, Seaford got the killer third. Chiosa made a good save to deny the visitors after Elliott Bresciani had been dispossessed in a dangerous area.

But the relief was short-lived. From the resulting corner, Seaford exploited an area that has caused us a few issues this season, with Ryan Knight heading in from close-range.

Five minutes later, Robbo had probably our best chance of the entire second half when his flicked header went just wide.

But there was never any real sense that Newhaven would launch a comeback. Nothing they tried was working. I doubt Seaford could believe how comfortable they were finding things.

As the game moved towards its conclusion, it was the visitors who continued to carry the greater attacking threat. Twice they went close to adding a fourth; one with a shot that drifted just wide, then again with an effort that was well saved by Chiosa.

Come full-time, Newhaven had been well beaten. There could be few complaints. Seaford were worthy winners.

An unfortunate time to have an off-day for sure, but one trait this young Dockers side has shown time and again this season is their ability to bounce back  from poor performances. They will hope to do that next Saturday when we travel to play-off contenders Forest Row (who play at Three Bridges FC).

We’re back at Fort Road on 6^th December when we host Midhurst and Easebourne.

Your support in getting us back to winning ways would be appreciated.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): No one. A strange day where every player seemed to be slightly off the pace. There was no shining light in a Dockers shirt on this occasion.