Southern Combination League Division Two
Limekiln, Crowborough
Admission: Free
Programme: Free
Attendance: 126
With trains not starting until after midday in my area due, yet again, to industrial action, and not fancying a round-trip of at least 170 miles to visit a new ground for me, I opted to stay within Sussex today and revisit three grounds within Sussex, starting with two clubs I am quite fond of, having lived in that area for half of my life.
Jarvis Brook have always been an impressive club from a community point of view, having always provided excellent opportunities for youth teams, but now appear to be ambitious for their first team. They are having a great season on the pitch, leading the table by ten points, having won 13 and lost the other of their fourteen league games. As things stand, facilities at their ground would prevent promotion into the National League System, with the ground only being railed off, and no hard standing. But pond have been submitted to the local council for floodlights and stands, and a positive outcome there would surely lead to Jarvis Brook playing at Step 6 next season. They already have an excellent modern clubhouse, serving s good range of hot and cold food and drinks. Former Step 5 outfit St Francis Rangers sit in seventh place in the 14 club Division, following five wins and four draws from their 14 league games. Rustiness may be an issue for both clubs today though, as weather related postponements have dictated that St Francis have not played since 10th December, and Jarvis Brook since the 3rd.
I drove through a torrential downpour en route to the game, but fortunately conditions remained dry throughout my visit to the Limekiln - mostly overcast, but with the sun occasionally breaking through, on a chilly morning at this exposed location. Although the visitors started fairly well, there was only going to be one winner of this game, once Jarvis Brook were rather gifted the opening goal on 20 minutes. Victor Penfold strode through midfield before laying the ball off to Steve Smith, who struck a low powerful shot from just outside the area which the keeper seemed to get behind, but somehow the ball squeezed past him and over the line. They doubled their lead on 24 minutes after winning possession in midfield, and a quick one two by the edge of the area resulted in Finn Chapman slotting the ball past the keeper. A bullet header from a corner sent the ball whistling just over the bar on 26 minutes, before the home side scored their third on 40 minutes. A fortunate deflection sent the Jarvis Brook player running forward and eventually Paul Gardner slotted the ball past the keeper. And Jarvis Brook all but sealed the three points a minute before the break when Steve Smith struck the ball home at the second attempt after initially missing the ball.
Perhaps predictably, the second half was rather more subdued, with St Francis looking more organised and putting together the occasional attacking threat, but Jarvis Brook still created more clear chances, denied by some good stops by the keeper, but they did score a fifth on 65 minutes when Smith dribbled from the left wing across the outer line of the penalty area, before thumping a wonderful shot into the top left corner, giving the keeper no chance.5-0 was how it remained, a fair reflection of a game which Jarvis Brook dominated, with some lovely incisive football player on what looked quite a tricky pitch to play on. They look in good shape to be crowned champions on the pitch, having opened an eleven point lead today, but they will have to hope for positive results from the relevant authorities if they be allowed promotion into step 5 next season.
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