Consecutive victories at last for dominant Dockers

Newhaven 3 Forest Row 0, SCFL Premier Division match #33, Saturday 28^th March 2026

After a ten-day break, Newhaven began a run of four games in nine days with a home league fixture against Forest Row on Saturday.

It was a match that gave the Dockers a chance to finally put to bed the win-a-game/lose-a-game sequence that has plagued them for much of 2026.

Having beaten Lingfield last time out, Newhaven would have been confident of gaining three-points against a Row side who we had already beaten twice this season, and who have tasted victory just once in any competition since the turn of the year.

However, both teams looked equally nervous in an error-strewn opening ten-minutes in which the ball was repeatedly given away needlessly.

Newhaven created the first half-chance of the match, when Ryan Blunt’s inviting low free-kick found Lee Robinson in space, but the striker couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball to guide it goalwards.

Seconds later, Row had what would probably turn out to be their best chance of the match, when we sloppily presented them with the ball inside the area, but the final shot was dragged just wide.

On the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Robbo missed a very good chance to hand us the lead when a raking ball over the top from Rudi Jones sent him free, but he could only send his lofted effort just wide of the far post.

The miss was not to prove costly, though.

Just four minutes later the Dockers were in front. Following a brilliant flowing move that had been out-of-keeping with what had been on display up to that point, 16-year-old Harley King, making his full debut, was sent through on goal, and the youngster kept his composure brilliantly to finish smartly despite the best efforts of the visiting keeper. A dream full debut for the teenager.

Forest Row were temporarily reduced to ten-men in the immediate aftermath of the goal, after their winger was deemed to have complained too vehemently to the ref's assistant about something. I’d no idea what he was moaning about at the time. And having seen the goal back on Veo, I’ve still no idea now. There was literally nothing controversial in the build-up at all, as you’ll be able to see when the highlights hit our Tik-Tok account later this evening.

From this moment on, there was only ever going to be one winner. Although Newhaven didn’t take advantage of the temporary numerical advantage, the visitors sitting in and keeping it tight allowed Newhaven to take a strangle-hold of the game which they never relented.

Blunt went close with a header, while Jones shot wide after more impressive build-up play, but the Dockers would have to wait until two minutes before the interval to gain some breathing space.

This time, King turned provider, flicking the ball on for Robbo who finished brilliantly into the corner from a tight angle.

Of course, anyone who has watched the Dockers even only semi-regularly over the past couple of seasons will know two goals is not always enough to be assured of victory. There could be no resting on laurels in the second-half. There was more work to be done.

Blunt almost gave Newhaven the perfect start to the second-half only to be denied by a good save, before Roman Chiosa was called into rare action to field a routine strike from long-range.

Forest Row probed for openings, but Newhaven’s defence was looking firm and largely untroubled.

Having weathered a very brief period where Forest Row suggested they might be able to make a contest of things; the game swiftly reverted to what it had been for much of the first-half – Newhaven on the attack.

Wood was denied after a brilliant burst forward from the ever-influential Blunt, Ezra Roeg was just off-target from a tight angle, before Robbo was denied after more good work from King.

Still the chances kept coming. Lambert went close after a sublime pass from Blunt, before Robbo should have scored from close-range after being teed-up by Teddy Wood, who arguably could have shot himself.

Normally, missing a host of chances will leave a certain degree of tension in the air, as people start to worry that the wasted opportunities could come back to haunt you. It never really felt like this would be the case yesterday, however, so comfortable were Newhaven looking.

With four minutes remaining, a third goal finally arrived. One that gave the score-line a more accurate reflection of the Docker’s overall dominance.

Robbo was the scorer again, dusting himself off after being fouled in the area to convert from 12-yards. The evergreen veteran striker’s 29^th goal of the campaign!

In injury time, Chiosa made what was arguably his only serious save of the match, pushing a shot wide. In truth, the ball may have been going wide anyway, but you can’t blame him for wanting something to do. He was probably quite bored by that point.

So it’s back-to-back wins for the Dockers for the first time in what feels like forever.

Hopefully we can now kick-on and build on that momentum.

Doing so, though, will be easier said than done.

Our next match comes on Tuesday night when we travel to Shoreham to take on current league leaders Steyning in the semi-final of the Peter Bentley Cup (19:30 kick-off). A tough task, but not an impossible one. The Peter Bentley Cup has been kind to Newhaven over the years; let’s hope it can be again this season; there's little doubt the young Dockers certainly deserve something for their efforts.

Then we move onto Easter Weekend – or Derby Weekend as it can otherwise be known. On Good Friday we make the short trip to Seaford for our fourth encounter with our neighbours this season (19:30 kick-off), before on Easter Monday morning we welcome Peacehaven to Fort Road for our third meeting with them this campaign (11am kick-off).

Hopefully we’ll see as many of you as possible at all three games. Your support is always appreciated.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Harley King. A goal and an assist on the 16-year-old’s first start for the Dockers was impressive enough, but the stats only tell part of the story, as the youngster was hugely impressive in the centre of the park. He’s going to be some player!