Southern Combination League Premier Division
Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 125
Match Rating: 4
With evenings still mild and dry for now, I decided to take in a local midweek game this evening. I had the choice of a cup game at Seaford Town, or a league game at the home of Eastbourne Borough. In the end, I chose the latter, for the simple reason that it would be an easier journey home "on a school night". Although the Seaford game finished 6-1, I still chose an entertaining and eventful game.
This is the second season that Langney Wanderers are playing at Priory Lane, home of National League South outfit Eastbourne Borough, thereby benefiting from facilities superior to those usually found at Step 5 level. Programmes were produced for this fixture, and whilst I am generally loathe to criticise programmes these days as their existence is in grave danger - several league permitting clubs not to produce paper versions of the programme - the one produced by Langney Wanderers is probably a good example of why they are not purchased so much these days. Although it was well presented, and printed on good quality paper, content was very thin on the ground and overpriced at £2.00.
In their first ever season at Step 5 level, Langney Wanderers have found life a bit more of a struggle so far this season, still looking for their first league win, and have picked up three draws and three defeats from their opening six league games. Newhaven are one of the fancied teams to do well this year, and have made a decent start, winning three and drawing one of their opening five league games.
On a mild, dry evening, this turned out to be a very eventful match, although there was little sign of that in the opening half hour, which Newhaven had the better of, creating some reasonable chances, although Langney were holding their own. The home side's task was to become harder on 32 minutes when Wayne Wilkinson was shown a second yellow card and then a red for a bad, flying tackle - senseless as he was on a yellow card. The score remained goalless at the break, which the hosts would be the happier with but would have to work hard to get at least a point, with the prospect of playing almost an hour of the game a man light.
The second half was more even, although with the visitors still creating some decent chances, the hosts were grateful for their keeper being in good form and making some smart saves. But on the hour mark, Newhaven were awarded a penalty for a pull back in the box, but Lee Robinson saw his shot by keeper Dan Hutchins to his left, and also saving the follow-up shot. On 67 minutes, Langney were reduced to nine men, when Luke Denton was also shown a second yellow card for another late tackle, trying to retain possession after overrunning the ball. But incredibly, it was Langney Wanderers who opened the scoring on 72 minutes, when Gary Ingram struck the ball home from the edge of the box, beating the keeper at his near post. Their lead would last just three minutes though, after an initial shot was parried by the keeper, Seb Saunders drilled the ball home from a central position. It then felt like a question of whether Langney Wanderers would hold on for a point, which they probably deserved with their battling, organised display despite their numerical disadvantage, and were helped by their keeper continuing to be in great form, some poor finishing and decision making by the Newhaven forwards. In added on time, the hosts saw a looping header following a free-kick from deep tipped over by the keeper, before Newhaven's Oliver Davies went over in the box following an apparent trip. The referee did not give it initially, the linesman did not raise his flag, but then to most people's surprise, the referee eventually decided to award the penalty. Robinson took the penalty, and did well the smash the ball home. The referee blew the full-time whistle almost immediately after the restart, and Newhaven were celebrating a win they deserved, with the Langney keeper surely the man of the match, but it was impossible not to feel sorry for Langney Wanderers, who played really well despite their numerical disadvantage and really not getting of the rub of the green from the referee, particularly during the second half.
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