Southern Combination League Division Two Supplementary Shield
King George V Field, Copthorne
Admission & Programme: None
Attendance: 20 (rough head count)
Although today would be a sad day nationally, with the funeral of Prince Philip, the strong recommendation from the FA that no game should be taking place at 3pm - the timing of the minute's silence - opened up the possibility of taking in a double of games today, with most games being brought forward to a lunchtime kick-off, and a relative handful delayed until late afternoon. For my first game, I headed back to the Gatwick area for the second time in four days to visit my penultimate ground in the Southern Combination League.
The King George V Field is located on the north eastern fringe of the West Sussex village of Copthorne, but with this sports facility immediately over the county border in Surrey. An adequately sized car park is available, next to which is the Copthorne Jubilee Pavilion which, as well as providing facilities for the village's football, cricket and stoolball clubs, also hosts various health and wellbeing activities, and includes a main hall. It's a large and smartly designed building which blends well into the surroundings. Refreshments could be purchased from a pitch facing window today, with the building otherwise inaccessible currently due to Covid restrictions. The football pitch was roped off along the length closest to the pavilion and along both ends, and a portable dugout was made available for the visiting club. The venue is quite open, which allows scenic views towards the South Downs in the distance, and the ground is naturally enclosed by tall hedges. I believe there is no possibility of the football pitch being developed with any permanent additions and therefore will presumably never be able to host higher level football than the Regional Feeder Leagues (step 7).
Although Copthorne had a very decent regular season in the league before it was curtailed, in third place following seven wins and three defeats in their ten league games, their campaign in the Supplementary Shield has been disappointing so far, losing their opening two games, 2-3 at home to TD Shipley and then 3-2 away to Jarvis Brook, before earning a goalless draw at neighbours Charlwood on Tuesday. St Francis Rangers were also having a reasonable league campaign, and were in fifth place following five wins and two draws from their eleven league games. In this Supplementary Shield, they have lost both of their home games, 2-3 against Upper Beeding and then Jarvis Brook 0-1, although sandwiched in between was a 0-2 win away at TD Shipley. Today's teams did meet in the regular season, on the opening day, with Copthorne winning on the road 0-2.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon, although accompanied by a breeze with a chilly edge, Copthorne started well, but it was the visitors who had the first decent chance on 15 minutes, when the ball was pumped forward high, the forward won a shoulder to shoulder with a defender to run clear, but his shot was parried by the keeper. And five minutes later they had another decent chance when the ball was crossed low outside the penalty area, and a first time shot was drilled just wide. The Copthorne keeper saved with his legs on 28 minutes, and then on 33 minutes, a poor clearance by the defender went straight to a St Francis player, who lobbed the ball into the box for a team mate but his fairly weak shot was parried by the keeper. Copthorne had been playing quite well but, similar to when I watched them on Tuesday, just had no real cutting edge, and the closest they came to opening the scoring was on 41 minutes when a free kick from the right wing swirled over the keeper and dropped beyond the far post. On the stroke of half time it was St Francis who opened the scoring. After the referee played advantage, their forward run clear of the defence towards goal, and showed good composure to strike the ball into the top left corner. It turned out to be the last action of the half, with the referee blowing his whistle for half time immediately after the restart.
The second half saw the visitors fairly comfortably holding their advantage, although on 65 minutes, a whipped free kick by Copthorne brushed the keeper's fingertips as it went just wide of the far post. But three minutes later, St Francis doubled their lead when the ball was perfectly passed along the six yard box for a tap in into the roof of the net. That really did all but seal the win for the visitors as the hosts continued to struggle to threaten, and the closest they came to scoring was in the final minute, when a free kick was drilled just wide of the far post, and so with just a point from their five group games so far, next week's last group game at Upper Beeding will be their final game of the season. St Francis' win today means they still have a chance of a top two finish and a semi-final berth, but as well as winning at home to Charlwood next Saturday, they will need results to go their way, with Upper Beeding and TD Shipley above them, both having a game in hand.
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