Hollington United II 2 v 1 Bexhill AAC

Tuesday 29th April 2014
East Sussex League Division One
Gibbons Memorial Field, Hollington
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 47 (head-count)
Match Rating: 4

I resumed my groundhopping silly season this evening, albeit with a late change of venue. I had planned to take in a Kent County League game at Staplehurst monarchs United this evening, however being able to leave work early today, and with Staplehurst playing again on Thursday, at the last minute I changed plans and beaded to the outskirts of Hastings.

Hollington II, reigning champions of Division One but who cannot get promoted as the club's first team are in the Premier Division, went into this game in fourth place in the division, nine points adrift of leaders Sedlescombe Rangers but with three games in hand. Their recent form has been poor though. Before winning last time out, picking up just a point from four games against teams above them (including a double-header against Battle Baptists). Bexhill AAC were a position below their hosts, in fifth place, five points adrift of Hollington having played two games more. They have also been in poor form, losing their last five league games straight. When the two teams met in the reverse fixture in November, Hollington won 0-1, as they did when the clubs met in the league cup in March, on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

On a beautiful evening of blue skies and warm sunshine, although Hollington dominated the game in the first half, Bexhill had the best early chances to score, a rasping drive forcing an excellent fingertip save on four minutes, and on 24 minutes the ball was played low into the area to an unmarked player in a central position 12 yards, but he blazed the ball over the bar. As the half wore on, it was Hollington who created the best chances - on 33 minutes, the ball was rolled across the goalmouth but it couldn't be tapped in at the far post, whilst on 42 minutes, a free kick has headed on towards goal, and although the goalkeeper was blinded by the setting sun, he just managed to react at the last moment to parry the ball wide. On the stroke of half time, the sun contributed to the opening goal for the home side. The Bexhill misjudged the bounce of a long goalkick, just managing to scramble the ball away before it crossed the line and eventually the ball was floated into the goal from about ten yards by Charlie Whybourne.

The second half was a very different affair, with Bexhill now dominating the game and they got back on level terms on 53 minutes. A long diagonal ball forward found the forward to the outer left corner of the area, who took a touch before slotting the ball low across the keeper and into the opposite corner of the net. They almost took the lead on 62 minutes when a corner went through the keeper's hands, but the ball couldn't be forced home. Against the run of play, with virtually their first attack of the half, Hollington went back into the lead with a fabulous goal, Andrew Pegman connecting with a cross into the box with an overhead kick, helping the ball into the net. That really seemed to take the wind out of Bexhill's sails as they barely threatened for the rest of the game, and Hollington had a few chances to extend their lead, but 2-1 was sufficient to keep their faint hopes of retaining theit title alive.

Non matchday photos of Peacehaven, Newhaven and Seaford

Below are a few photos taken during July 2013 on my drive along south coast from Brighton to Eastbourne...belatedly posted now!

Piddinghoe Avenue, Peacehaven and Telscombe, champions of the Sussex County League Division One the previous season.

Fort Road, Newhaven, runners-up of Sussex County League Division Two in the previous season.

The Crouch, Seaford Town, members of the Sussex County League Division Two in the previous season.

Mountfield United 1 v 1 Battle Baptists

Saturday 26^th April 2014

East Sussex League Division One

Riverhall, Mountfield

Admission and programme: None

Attendance: 14 (head count)

Match Rating: 3

Today I decided to stay local to watch a local derby that could result in promotion for the visiting team.

Riverhall is located about three miles north west of Battle, and is adjacent to both the busy A2100 road and a railway line. Despite this and the inevitable accompanying traffic noise, this was a really pleasant venue to watch football at, surrounded by trees, which cover a steep hill behind one of the goals. Facilities are very basic, although there is a waist-high wooden fence along one length of the pitch and a wooden building houses the changing rooms in one corner of the ground, with a further smaller corrugated iron building located adjacent. The pitch is certainly not conducive in any way to good football, undulating considerably throughout, and with a pronounced slope towards one of the goals. The pitch has been poorly maintained in recent times too, with the grass rather long but with some bare patches also.

Coming into this game, Battle Baptists led the division with two games remaining (including this one), and a victory here would virtually guarantee promotion, and might also be enough to become champions, if third place Sedlescombe failed to beat second placed Crowborough Athletic III today. Battle had accumulated 35 points from 16 games, Crowborough 34 points from 17 games, Sedlescombe 34 points from 16 games, whilst fourth placed Hollington had 12 points less than Battle but had three games in hand.  Battle have been in great form recently, dropping just two points from their last six games, which included win against promotion rivals Sedlescombe and Hollington United II. Mountfield went into the game in seventh place in the ten team division with 19 points from their 16 games. They have drawn their last five league games and unbeaten in their last six. In the reverse fixture of today’s game, Battle comprehensively won 5-0 in early September.

On a warm afternoon which frequently alternated between bright sunshine and overcast skies, with Mountfield kicking down the slope, they almost took the lead inside the first minute when a looping cross struck the top of the crossbar. They did take the lead on 7 minutes though, when a free kick from the left was floated into the area, and Johnathan Novis was completely unmarked as he headed across the keeper and into the net. Battle were very disappointing given their lofty status in the first half, and only on 35 minutes did they have a good chance to equalise, when a cross from the right was poked just wide of goal. But by the time half time arrived, Mountfield were worthy of their lead.

Battle did look a little more threatening in the second half, now kicking down the slope, and another close range toe poke following a cross went just wide. Mountfield almost doubled their lead twice though – on 68 minutes, a gentle looping cross seemed to be an easy take for the keeper, but the ball went through his hands and hit the cross bar, whilst on 73 minutes, the ball was ballooned over the bar from close range after the Battle keeper spilled a previous shot. On 78 minutes, Battle got back on level terms with a slightly controversial goal. There seemed to be a high boot from a Battle forward as he took control of the ball before crossing the ball low, allowing Josh Barraclough to hit the ball home at the far post. From this point, the game could have gone either way, on 82 minutes a Mountfield striker headed the ball over from a central position at close range following a cross from the right, whilst on 86 minutes, following sustained Mountfield pressure, Battle broke to the other end and forced a point blank save from a shot, and in added on time, another breakaway move ended with a shot that went just wide of the left hand post. But eventually the points were shared, for Mountfield’s six consecutive draw, whilst Sedlescombe’s win at Crowborough meant that Battle dropped to second but cannot now be overhauled by Crowborough, and a win at home against mid-table Orington next week will ensure promotion.

Westfield 3 v 0 Bexhill United

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
Hastings & District FA Senior Cup Final
Recreation Ground, Little Common
Admission and programme: £5.00
Attendance: 125 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

For this week's midweek action, I was tempted away from another silly season cup final by the opportunity to watch a senior cup final. The running of the Hastings Senior Cup this season had been in some doubt, as only two clubs entered this season's competition, and the holder's, Sidley United, are taking a year's sabbatical from the game. However, it was decided that the two entrants would indeed contest the final this evening.

On paper, this looked a match between two very evenly matched teams, separated by one position in the Sussex County League Division One, with Bexhill United four points better off in eighth place, with 42 points from 31 games with one game of the season left to play. They are guaranteed to finish in eighth, and tonight would be the first of two cup finals for Bexhill, who will be contesting the Division Two cup final on Early May Bank Holiday. Westfield have accumulated 38 points from their 31 games. In the two league matches between the two sides, the match in Westfield ended goalless in September, whilst Westfield secured a 0-1 away win in March.

On a cool, drizzly evening, this was the definitive game of two halves. Bexhill were by far the better side in the first half, hitting the woodwork in the first minute and a further two times by the twelfth minute. They had other glorious chances but just couldn't convert them, and they would ending up paying dearly for that. Westfield were very disappointing up to half time, creating a couple of good chances to score but generally struggled to get into the game apart from making numerous rather ugly late challenges, raising tensions which threatened to boil over with the officials seemingly reluctant to take decisive action, even when the Bexhill manager, Kenny McCreadie, screaming a threat to "f***ing break your toes after the match" to a Westfield player from the sidelines.

Into the second half and Westfield were a team transformed. They took the lead on 54 minutes. A good ball was played to Mike Booth to the left outer edge of the penalty area, and he dribbled the ball to a more central position before lashing a right footed shot in off the far post. Four minutes later and they almost doubled their advantage. A low free kick was parried by the keeper, with the ball falling to a Westfield forward, but he could only nudge the ball wide under pressure. They did double their lead on 67 minutes, when a cross from the right was headed into his own net by Steven Earley. Westfield were completely dominant by now, as Bexhill never looked capable of pulling a goal back, struggling to get in Westfield's half and even when they did, their final ball was poor. Deep into added on time at the end of the game, Westfield scored a third with a free-kick from a central position 25 yards out, which was struck low into the bottom right hand corner. So it was Westfield who lifted the cup soon after the final whistle, which they deserved on their second half performance, although the result could have been completely different had Bexhill made their early superiority count.