Saltdean United Women 2 v 4 Chichester & Selsey Ladies

Sunday 26th October 2020, Kick-off 14:00

Sussex Women's Challenge Cup First Round

Hill Park, Saltdean

Admission: Free

Programme: Online

Attendance: 35 (estimate)

With my partner unusually having to work on a Sunday, the opportunity presented itself to take in another game today. After yesterday's wet and windswept adventures at Totton & Eling yesterday, I did not fancy travelling far, and with more rain forecast today, I decided to drive, to a ground I last visited in 2016, for an interesting looking women's county cup fixture.

Hill Park remains one of the more picturesque venues, with rolling hills all around and a superb panoramic view can be had from the top of a steep grass bank along one length. A stand with bench seating is set half way up the hill and straddling the half way line, whilst on the opposite side, additional seating has provided with a fairly long metallic metallic stand. Hard standing is available around three sides, and the area behind one of the goals is inaccessible. No admission was taken today, but the clubhouse bar and tea bar window were in full operation today, and the NHS Track and Trace QR Code was prominently available for scanning. A 20 page programme was produced and available for download online and was in full colour, nicely designed and included welcome message from the editor and manager, player profiles, a recent match report, club fixtures and results, news from the development squad, and plenty of action photos.

There was the potential of a major giantkilling this afternoon, with two steps between the clubs and the underdogs at home. Saltdean United play in the fifth tier of the women's game, in the London and South East Women's Regional Football League Premier Division, and they have had a great start to their season, winning both of their opening league games, and they had a great run in the Women's FA Cup, making it through four rounds before finally succumbing to Actonians, who play a step above Saltdean, 6-2 away. Chichester & Selsey play in the third tier, in the FA Women's National League Southern Division, and have had a steady start to their season, winning two and losing the other two of their four games played so far.

After heavy rain fell ahead of kick, happily it relented in time for the game, during most of which there was bright sunshine, although when cloud returned during the second half, conditions became decidely chilly. This game started evenly, and with nine minutes on the clock the visitors took the lead, when a ball down the left enticed the keeper to come out, but the Chichester forward got to the ball first to chip the ball over the stranded keeper and into the net. On 21 minutes, the Saltdean keeper found herself in no-mans-land, but this time a chip dropped just wide of the far post. On the half hour mark, Chichester doubled their advantage, and a real gift it was too. A goal kick was played short to a team mate inside the area, a Chichester player raced in to close the ball down, the ball was passed back to the keeper, and as she went to pass the ball back out, the ball rebounded off the striker's boot and rolled into the net. The remainder of the half passed by without much incident, with the favourites holding a comfortable half time lead, but Saltdean were far from out of it, having played well and an early goal for them in the second half could have made things very interesting.

But they struggled to build up a head of steam, and the visitors had the first real chance of the second half on 57 minutes, when a corner was met with a header, with the ball going just over the bar. And within a minute, it looked like game over when they scored their third, following a weak kick out by the Saltdean keeper, the ball was intercepted and passed forwards towards the penalty area, and the Chichester player curled the ball past the keeper. But within a minute, Saltdean pulled a goal back. The ball was played forward to the outer corner of the penalty area, the Saltdean forward showed good strength to gain possession of the ball, before crossing the ball low to an unmarked Tia Perry in front of goal, and she passed the ball into the net. Credit to Saltdean, they started to create some good attacking moves and had a few chances to pull another goal back, but the visitors scored their fourth to seal progression to the next round on 85 minutes, when a corner was whipped in above the keeper, and the ball was headed home amongst a crowd of players. There was still time for Saltdean to score another consolation four minutes into added on time with a lovely floated shot from outside the area by Millie Carter which went over the keeper and into the net. With regards to the goalscorers, Jane Yeates scored a hat-trick for Chichester, with Sophie Phelps scoring their other. 

So, as might have been expected, it was Chichester & Selsey who made it through to Quarter-Finals, where they face a home tie against Eastbourne United Association. They deserved their victory, but Saltdean deserve a lot of credit for putting in a very good performance today, for long periods there was little to choose between the two sides, but some crucial moments in the game went against them.

The electronic programme can be viewed by clicking here

Totton & Eling 2 v 3 Petersfield Town

Saturday 24th October 2020, Kick-off 15.00
Wessex League Division One
Miller Park, Totton
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 109

 

Given that that the weather forecast predicted a band of heavy rain and strong winds sweeping up from the west today, hitting the Southampton area just after lunchtime and not reaching the eastern counties until late afternoon, a sensible person would have decided to stay east this afternoon. However, I was determined that I would visit Miller Park today if at all possible, given that it would be my last Wessex League ground to visit, and it has proved to be remarkably elusive for me over the last couple of years, when intended visits have been thwarted by waterlogged pitches, games switched to Friday evenings, I had commitments elsewhere or, earlier this season, a game being postponed due to Covid concerns whilst I was en route. And with the next Saturday game at Miller Park not currently scheduled until mid December, and my sadly not being at all confident that we'll still be allowed to watch football by then, I took my chances with the weather and headed to this game.

Miller Park is about two miles north westwards from Totton station, the more direct path taking about 40 minutes along a main road which I followed back to the station after the game, but to get to the ground, I took a more scenic and indirect walk across Lower Test Nature Reserve. Normally, this would surely be a really pleasant stroll, but today was rather bleak as misty rain blew diagonally across the marshland. Miller Park is on the same complex as AFC Totton's home ground Testwood Stadium, with little more than a stone's throw between the grounds. Although there is a wooden turnstile block, entrance today was gained through the adjacent open gate, with admission being taken just inside, where it was also, quite rightly, ensured that all visitors made use of the NHS Track & Trace QR code and a hand sanitizer gel dispenser. To the left of the entrance is a brick building housing the changing rooms, whilst to the right is a stand, with the outer two thirds having four rows of wooden boards to sit on, with the middle section having individual plastic seats and a disabled area. Further along the length is another brick building, which has a tea bar window, and also a very smart looking hospitality suite, although this is obviously not currently in use due to Covid concerns. A modern metallic stand is located immediately behind one of the goals, whilst there is just hard standing around the rest of the ground. Celebrating its ten year anniversary, it's a neat, tidy and perfectly adequate ground, and the surrounding colourful trees looking their best with autumnal colour make a pleasant background. Totton & Eling do still issue paper programmes, and a decent one it is too, consisting of 12 pages with a colourful and nicely designed cover, welcome message, fixtures and results, club histories for both of and away clubs, a recent match report, and predicted team line-ups.

Totton & Eling have struggled in the last couple of seasons, as they were second bottom and in a relegation spot when last season was abandoned, and the previous season they were reprieved from relegation following a rock bottom finish. And this season started poorly too, losing their opening seven league fixtures, as well as fixtures in the FA Cup, FA Vase and League Cup, although last Saturday they claimed their first three points of the season, winning 3-4 away at fellow early strugglers Whitchurch United. Petersfield United have had a steady start to their season, winning three and drawing one of their opening seven league games, and were in tenth place in the table coming into this game.

I have known worse conditions for watching football than today, but not often, as heavy prolonged rain showers blew across the ground, falling almost horizontally. The first half saw the visitors dominate and create most of the chances created, most notably having a goalbound shot fantastically blocked by Tyler Beech on 12 minutes, whilst on 18 minutes, a drilled shot from the edge of the area deflected off the keeper on its way to brushing the top of the bar. Totton had a rare chance on 24 minutes when a cross shot from the edge of the area by Beech forced a flying save from the keeper. Petersfield had another decent chance on 37 minutes following a cross from the left which was stabbed just over. But the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

However, four minutes into the second half, a Petersfield player went on a terrific mazy run through midfield, which was ended with a foul in the penalty area, and a spot kick was awarded to the visitors, and Bailey Newbury struck the ball down the middle to give his side the lead. The visitors had a couple of good chances to double their lead - on 57 minutes, the ball was pumped down the middle and the Petersfield player spun past the defender to run through on goal, but as he eventually tried to knock the ball to the side of the keeper, the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball, and four minutes later, a quick break down the left, ended with the ball being struck into the side netting. But on 67 minutes, Totton & Eling got back on level terms, after the ball was swung in high from the left, bounced off a player and Danny Clarke prodded the ball home. The visitors kept creating decent chances though, and on 83 minutes they regained the lead, when the ball was played in from the left and Newbury stabbed home at the far post. That wasn't enough to seal the three points though, as Totton & Eling equalised for a second time on 86 minutes, James Matthews applying the finish after some good work by Clarke. But as the game entered added on time, Petersfield went back in front for the third time, Newbury sealing his hat-trick following a quick break down the left culminating with the ball drilled low across the keeper and into the net. This time, it was a bridge too far for the home side, and four minutes into added on time, they were reduced to ten men, when Tom Lycett was initially shown a yellow card for a foul, but was upgraded to a red card for some afters. There was little disputing that Petersfield deserved the three points today on the balance of play and chances created, but defeat was still rather cruel on Totton & Eling who battled hard to stay in the game, showing good character to draw level twice, only to be denied at the death.

Hastings United 3 v 0 Three Bridges

Tuesday 20th October 2020, Kick-off 19.45

Isthmian League South East Division

Pilot Field, Hastings

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: None

Attendance: 400

For this midweek's action, I had the welcome change of having a free evening out, using my season ticket to take in this game, which was rearranged from a few weeks ago due to Hastings' progress in the FA Cup.

Hastings had not played in the league since beating VCD Athletic 2-1 at home 10 days ago, but they did win 3-0 at home against FC Romania in the FA Trophy. They came into this game in sixth place, following two wins and two draws from their opening four league games. After "finishing" last season second bottom in the table when the season was abandoned, they were in the same position in the table going into this game, following a win and three defeats in their opening four league games, although that win came in their last league game, winning 1-2 away at Ramsgate, and in their last game, on Saturday, they defeated Chipstead by the same scoreline away from home, in the FA Trophy.

Programmes are still not being issued at Hastings, but at least chairman Billy Wood gave an update, explaining that their previous printers had increased costs to the extent that printing would lose the club money, and were actively seeking cheaper quotes to resume issuing.

On a mild evening but with a stiff breeze at time, Hastings started the game on the front foot, and duly took the lead on ten minutes when, after Kenny Pogue's initial cross was blocked, chipped the ball to the back post for Ben Pope to head the ball home. But just as it was looking like Hastings would go on to take control of the game, they were reduced to ten men with just 16 minutes on the clock, when Ollie Black left his foot high as the ball came down, and perhaps helped by the loud squeal from the Three Bridges player who went down in apparent agony, he was shown a straight red card. With Black's eyes on the ball above and little if any intent to make contact with the man, it looked a very harsh red card. On 23 minutes, Three Bridges had a great chance to equalise, when a far post header from a cross was blocked at point blank range by Hastings keeper Louis Rogers. On 31 minutes, Three Bridges lost their numerical advantage when Brannon O'Neill was shown a second yellow card in quick succession for scything down a Hastings player running at full tilt down the wing. On 39 minutes, Sam Adams struck a free kick just past the post for the hosts, whilst two minutes before the interval, Three Bridges saw a drilled shot go just wide of the post with the keeper watching. 

So an intriguing second half would surely follow a feisty first half with both sides a man down and all still to play for with just one goal the difference. After Hastings resumed the game on the front foot, coming close to doubling their lead on a couple of occasions, the game then settled down, with the visitors enjoying more possession without looking particularly dangerous with it. But on 68 minutes came the moment that probably took the game away from the visitors. Davide Rodari burst forward through the midfield, a fortunate deflection guided an intended pass back into his path, and as he ran into the penalty area, Steve Smith shoved him to the ground, conceding a penalty and earning a second yellow card followed by a red in the process. Pope drove the ball down the right of the goal, sending the keeper the wrong way. Hastings made absolutely sure of the three points on 82 minutes, when Dixon ran down to the left side of the penalty area before crossing the ball low across the goal, and Rodari tapped the ball home from a couple of yards. 3-0 was how it finished, and although Three Bridges played quite well in patches, they lacked a cutting edge and Hastings, who rose to second in the table after this victory could have won even more convincingly, and they did well after being reduced to ten men with 76 minutes of the game left to play.