West Sussex League Premier Division
Dragons Lane, Shipley
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 19 (head count)
Match Rating: 3
Following my morning game at Hassocks, I planned to drive half hour north westwards to visit a ground that I had wanted to visit during the club's four season stay in what was the Sussex County Football League until they tendered their resignation at the end of the 2012-13 season, but not having a car at the time made it difficult to visit a ground literally in the middle of nowhere. I was anticipating a leisurely drive before taking in a lunchtime pint in a nearby pub ahead of the 3 o'clock kick-off. But luckily I checked the West Sussex Football League website at half time during my game at Hassocks and noticed this game kicking off at 1.30, which meant a rather more hasty exit from the game at Hassocks and along the roads, arriving just ahead of the scheduled kick off time. As it happened, the game kicked off 8 minutes late anyway.
Dragons Lane is situated immediately adjacent to the busy A272, between Cowfold and Billingshurst, and the nearest train station is at Billingshurst, about five miles away. The ground is accessed along a small track leading into a long, narrow gravel car park alongside one length of the pitch. Beyond the car park, there are three wooden buildings, housing the changing rooms and the match official's room, either side of an intimate cafe/bar area offering two sofas and a range of hot and cold refreshments. The pitch is enclosed with wooden railing all the way around, with some rather ageing advertising boards placed on them intermittently. Hard standing in the form of wood chippings is available along the main length and behind one goal, while the other two sides were accessible, and the length in particularly provided welcome refuge from the hot sun, closely lined by tall trees. Indeed, apart from the traffic noise coming from the adjacent A272, this was a really pleasant setting, with plenty of greenery around. Unsurprisingly, no programme was produced for this, nor presumably any of TD Shipley's games these days in the West Sussex League.
TD Shipley have had a decent season, coming into this game in fifth place, following 11 wins and 1 draw from their 17 league games. Predators, who I recall watching win a league cup final on penalties in 2015, were second bottom of the division, having won four and drawn one of their 20 league games. They cannot finish bottom, and have four points to make up from their last two games if they are to rise a place. When the two teams met in February in Bognor Regis, the match finished 5-5.
On a hot, sunny afternoon, this was an understandably slow paced game, with the home team looking much the better side throughout, although it took them 25 minutes to open the scoring, Just after a short drinks break, a poor kick out by the Predators keeper so the ball pumped forward and the onrunning striker struck the ball past the keeper. They double their lead six minutes later, another poor kick upfield was met with a powerful header back downfield, presenting a one-on-one for the forward, and he slotted home. But two was how it remained at half time, a scoreline which did little justice to the home side's superiority.
The match was actually rather more even for a long period after the break, not that the visitors ever really looked likely to threaten a comeback. And after spurning several good chances, TS Shipley added a third on 74 minutes, when a lovely cross close to the corner flag was headed home from close range.They added a fourth on 78 minutes, following a drive along the byline and after the ball was passed into a more central position, the ball fell at the feet of the TD Shipley player by the penalty spot, and he struck the ball home. And TD Shipley made in five on 89 minutes following a quick break, the onrunning forward eventually passing to his unmarked team mate for a simple finish inside the near post.
The final whistle was probably welcome for everyone involved, in conditions much more suitable for enjoying a few beers and a barbecue rather than chasing around a football pitch - although the match was unsurprisingly played at a rather pedestrian pace for long periods.
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