East Sussex League Premier Division
Gibbons Memorial Field, Hollington
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 150 (rough headcount)
Match Rating: 4
Visits to games in the East Sussex League are usually very unremarkable affairs, played on recreation grounds – although I do enjoy taking in the occasional game in this league, being rather relaxed in nature. This evening's fixture would be something a bit special however, being played at probably the best ground in the league in terms of facilities, and would be a genuine winner-takes-all affair.
Since my last visit to the Gibbons Memorial Field in 2014, the clubhouse has been dramatically improved and now serves as the Hollington United Community Café, which opens every morning to the general public, as well as when the football club are playing at home. With a varied menu, colourful decor, a sofa, tables with tablecloths and some trophies and club memorabilia scattered around, it makes for a nice venue to enjoy refreshments. A club sign has been placed on the exterior welcoming visitors, but otherwise the ground is unchanged, with metal railings all around the pitch, and hard standing only available in front of the clubhouse to one side of the goal. It is not possible to walk beyond the goal, however it is around the rest of the ground, on grass which is very overgrown in places the further around one walks from the clubhouse. The pitch has a bit of a slope from one side to the other, and trees tightly line one length and behind one goal, while the remaining length has a large overgrown grass bank, with a row of houses behind. As usual in this league, no programme was produced.
This fixture really could not have been better timed, as the winner would be crowned champions. Tonight would be Battle’s last league fixture of the season and they led the table by two points from Hollington, having won 17 and drawn one of their 19 league games. Hollington have a game in hand, and have won 16 and drawn two of their 18 league games. No doubt these two teams have proved a class apart from the rest this season, with a 17 point gap between Hollington and Sidley. Hollington have had the better of the fixtures between the two clubs this season, winning 1-3 away in September in the league, 2-1 at home in the League Cup in November, and 0-1 in Battle in the Hastings Intermediate Cup last month.
On a bright evening though noticeably cooler than over the bank holiday weekend, and with quite an impressive attendance for intermediate football, the first half was quite an even, entertaining game for the most part, and although Battle created some good chances themselves, Hollington will wonder how they did not score, missing something glorious chances.
The game continued in much the same vein after the break, with the Battle goal continuing to lead something of a charmed life. Hollington thought they had scored on the hour mark, when a goal was ruled out for offside by the Battle official linesman, who only put his flag up after the ball hit the back of the net and the general consensus was that it was not offside. On 65 minutes, Battle saw a looping header hit the top of the bar, but within a minute they took the lead, the ball headed home from a corner, just finding its way between the crossbar and above a defender’s head on the line. On 84 minutes, it looked like Battle had scored the goal to win them the title, a ball forward being flicked on into the path of his teammate, who struck the ball across the keeper and inside the far post. One sensed that the game was far from over, given Hollington's strength and their winning mentality as a club built up over the years, and so it proved. On 88 minutes, a driven shot from towards the edge of the area flew into the top corner, and a minute into added on time, Hollington equalised with a header from a corner to break Battle's hearts.
Whereas a positive result tonight would have decided the destination of the title, tonight’s draw means that Hollington should be confirmed as champions on Saturday, as long as they win at home to Sidley United. Although Sidley are third and will probably need to win themselves to finish third, it would be a major shock if Hollington did not win. But if they do not, then Battle would be crowned champions.
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