Mid Sussex League Premier Division (Bottom Section)
Whitemans Green Recreation Ground, Cuckfield
Admission & Programme: None
Attendance: 35 (approximate)
Following my morning game at Adastra Park, I then made my way eight miles northwards to take in this game from the top flight of the Mid Sussex League.
Whitemans Green Recreation Ground is located on the northern edge of the village of Cuckfield, and is quite an open expanse of playing fields. Just inside from the passing road there is quite a large car park, with a path leading towards the complex's pavilion, and the pitch on which this game would be played is located to the left of the path. A tall hedgerow lines the opposite length, whilst tall trees are located behind the end closest to the passing road, and stretch round the corner by the car park and behind the path way to the pavilion. Behind the remaining end, the playing fields stretch out, with the South Downs visible in the distance, offering quite a scenic backdrop. There is no football furniture here, nor hard standing and the pitch is not roped off
Although the junior divisions of the Mid Sussex League are being played to a natural finish despite the COVID disruption, a more contrived solution was necessary for the top two divisions in order finish the league season, with each division split into two based on points per games placings. In recent seasons, Cuckfield Rangers have been one of the stronger clubs in the division, indeed winning the last complete season in 2018-19, but were down in eleventh place in the 14 club division at the time of the split, following three wins and a draw from their ten league games, and since the restart, have won two and drawn two of their five league games. In their first season in the Mid Sussex League following their transfer from the East Sussex League, Sedlescombe Rangers were in 13th place, following two wins and a draw from nine league games, and since the split have won a further three and lost two on their five league games, although they were brought back down to earth after three consecutive wins with a 7-0 defeat at neighbours Westfield on Saturday.
The wind which affected my earlier game at Adastra Park certainly picked up in its intensity here, probably not helped with the ground being rather exposed from the southerly direction that the wind was coming from. Sedlescombe certainly had the better of the first half, looking much more dangerous as Cuckfield seemed to struggle to get going, or adapt to the conditions, and the visitors took the lead on 8 minutes following a corner which was played out to a team mate all alone at the edge of the area, and he drilled the ball home low inside the keeper's near post. And they had some decent chances to double their lead, but the visitors held their one goal lead at the break.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with the visitors creating plenty of chances, but Cuckfield equalised on 52 minutes following a good run down the right wing, and the player just kept running and running with the ball, ignoring a team mate in the centre, and eventually driving the ball past the keeper. On 54 minutes, Sedlescombe came close to restoring their lead when the keeper couldn't grasp a long range shot and the ball bounced back off the bar. And two minutes later, they came close twice in quick succession, first a header from a diagonal free kick was just fumbled past the post by the keeper, and then another long range swirling shot sailed over the keeper but came back off the far post. They finally did retake the lead on 68 minutes following a drive in from the left and the ball was struck home. They were almost gifted a goal to extend their lead two minutes later when the ball was crossed and the ball bounced off a Cuckfield defender and his keeper had to make a desperate stretch to prevent the ball creeping into the net and instead behind for a corner. But on 73 minutes, Cuckfield got back on level terms again when the ball was crossed and bounced high in the area, and the Cuckfield player got there first to head the ball over the keeper and into the net. And three minutes later, Cuckfield took the lead for the first time when the ball was crossed from the left, the keeper couldn't intercept the ball, which was tapped home at the far post. The visitors did have a chance four minutes from time when a header from a corner went just wide, but they will be disappointed to have ended up with nothing from a game which they dominated for spells and created the majority of good goalscoring opportunities. But it was Cuckfield who finished in fourth place in the seven club "bottom" section, to secure eleventh spot overall, with Sedlescombe having to settle for fifth, or twelfth, place.
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