Southern Combination League Division One
Culver Road, Lancing
Admission: £5.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 80 (approximate)
For my Bank Holiday action today, I had originally planned to take in three games, starting at Forest Row with a tenants v landlords clash at Tinsley Lane, followed by a revisit to East Grinstead, and ending up with an evening game at Steyning. However, the East Grinstead game succumbed to Covid amongst the intended visitors Ashford United, and with persistent rain yesterday and overnight, I presumed that the Forest Row clash would be postponed, and so I opted for the safety of the plastic pitch at Culver Road. The right decision as it turned out, as shortly after boarding my first train, Forest Row's game was indeed called off.
This would be my third visit to the home of the Sussex FA, and the third different home club, after I had previously watched long term residents Lancing, and very short term tenants Horsham, when their Hop Oast ground was being readied. The previous couple of times I watched Montpelier Villa at home, they were playing at Falmer Sports Complex, on the grounds of the University of Sussex. But their desire for promotion to Step 6 football necessitated a switch to a suitable ground, and they were duly elevated from the Southern Combination League Division Two in the summer. And they've made a steady start to life at step 6, coming into this game in eighth place, following nine wins and four draws from their 20 league games so far. Mile Oak are struggling at the wrong end of the table, down in 16th place in the 18 club division, following four wins and three draws from their opening 20 league games, and are just a point above bottom placed Storrington.
Although Montpelier Villa usually produce an online programme for their home games, there did not seem to be one for this game, possibly due to the issues with Christmas.
On a very windy morning, mostly overcast with the occasional drizzle shower passing through, this turned out to be an extremely entertaining game to watch, that was the ultimate game of two halves. The hosts took the lead after 4 minutes when a corner was looped high over the keeper and Ryan Walton nodded home from very close range at the back post. They came close to doubling their lead on 6 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area forced an excellent flying save from the Mile Oak keeper, but they did on 11 minutes, when Michael Lloyd received the ball towards the edge of the penalty area, and showed good composure in taking a few touches, past a defender who slipped, before rifling a shot across the keeper and inside the far post. Certainly aided by a strong wind, Montpelier Villa created plenty of chances, including several from long range, but Mike Oak had their best chance of the half on 37 minutes, when the ball was crossed low from the left to an unmarked Jack Stenning in the penalty area, and after getting the ball under control, his shot beat the keeper but was cleared by a diving block by a defender. And within a minute, Montpelier Villa extended their lead to three following a lovely pass picking out Marcus Richmond at the edge of the box, and he fired the ball home emphatically into the top right corner. It seemed that the game was all but over, with Mike Oak looking rather ragged at times and the home side probably should have scored a couple more, but having the wind behind them in the second half would certainly have given the visitors some hope that all was not yet lost.
And so that proved to be the case! Although the hosts started the second half on the front foot, Mile Oak gave themselves hope on 57 minutes, when sub Zak Kladis crossed the ball from the left, and Enzo Benn headed the ball to left of the keeper and into the net. Montpelier Villa came close to restoring their lead within a minute, when a lovely Cryuff turn in midfield opened up space to run forward and fire in a dipping shot from outside the area which hit the bar. That proved to be a crucial near miss, as Mile Oak went straight up the other end to reduce the deficit to just one, when the ball was passed for Kladis to guide first time inside the far post, beyond the keeper's dive. And sensationally, Mile Oak equalised on 65 minutes when Zach Kieran won the ball close to the half way line and kept on running and running, and then from a slight angle inside the area, smashed the ball past the keeper into the roof of the net. It was proving a real test of character for the home side now, and their cause was not helped when Lloyd received a second yellow card and then a red on 70 minutes after striking the ball at a Mile Oak player down on the ground after being fouled, which had also earned his team mate a yellow card. Both sides had chances to win it, as Villa responded positively to going a man down to still push forward, but in the end it was Mile Oak who grabbed the winner, in the 87th minute, with a fabulous goal by Kladis, receiving the ball 25 yards out, before curling a perfect shot into the top right corner. And so the comeback was complete, and the held on comfortably to seal the three points. No-one would have seen that coming at half time, so dominant were Montpelier Villa, but Mile Oak deserve enormous credit for rolling up their sleeves, with the knowledge that the wind behind them would assist them in the second half. This was the third time I have watched Mile Oak win 4-3 this season
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