Southern Combination League Premier Division
The Shooting Field, Steyning
Admission: Free (usually £7.00)
Programme: Online Only
Attendance: 207
After returning home for a few hours following my morning game at Montpelier Villa, I then headed back out, by car this time, for a revisit to Steyning. This was probably a game I would have come to anyway, given that the only other local option, at Storrington, was a venue I revisited only last December, and that game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch anyway. But added bonus was that Steyning announced that this would be free entry for all, which was very welcome indeed, given the expensive nature of this time of year.
Steyning came into this game in 15th place in the 20 club division, following six wins and four draws from 23 league games, and although they beat third bottom Loxwood 2-3 last time out, they had failed to find the net in their previous four league games, a run which included a goalless draw, and before that they lost their previous three league games, conceding 20 goals in the process. On paper, this evening's match represented a good opportunity for Steyning, with visitors East Preston bottom of the table, following a win and five draws from their 23 league games, and find themselves seven points from safety. And they have been in dreadful form - before picking up a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Alfold last time out, they lost their previous eight league games in all competitions. This match would also be between the two clubs with the leakiest clubs in the division, with Steyning having conceded 71 goals, and East Preston 78.
On a dry evening with a chilly breeze, this was a match that was high on effort but mostly rather low in quality, perhaps unsurprisingly. On 19 minutes, Steyning took the lead with a free kick from a central position, which Scott Murphy fired low around the wall and past the keeper, who may have done a little better, despite the free kick being struck very well. It was a lead they deserved, but East Preston came back into the game, and were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes for a trip in the box, which was despatched by Shane Brazil into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The second half was a rather scrappy affair, with both sides looking to send the ball over the top to make the breakthrough, and Steyning looked the more likely to score. But their final ball was mostly not good enough, or their shots were off target from good positions. Perhaps the most gilt-edged chance for them came in added on time, when a cross squirmed away from the keeper, but a shot from 8 yards was skied, and shortly after, another shot was blazed wide of the near post.
So the points were shared, which was a fair reflection of a match between two struggling sides, athough Steyning will rue missing some decent chances to secure the points.
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