East Sussex League Premier Division
Parish Field, Westfield
Admission: None
Programme: None
Attendance: 70 (rough head count)
After a week in sunny Menorca, when I unfortunately chose the one weekend where no senior fixtures were being played on the island, it was back to local groundhopping for me this evening. On the face of it, there was little particularly appealing to take in this game, particularly with a reserve team being the home team. However, I did want to pay one last visit to the Parish Field, this being the penultimate match day ever to take place there, before the club takes up residency in their new ground across the road. In addition, with Rye having sealed the league title at the weekend with a couple of games to spare, there would be a presentation made to the visitors this evening.
Westfield II came into this game in sixth place in the 11 club division, and that is the lowest they can finish, but should they win all three of their remaining games, they would finish in third place. So far, they have won nine and drawn two of their 17 league games played. Following promotion as champions last season, Rye have had another superb season, winning 15 and drawing 2 of their 18 league games so far, conceding just five goals in the process. In the reverse fixture played in early April, Rye won 4-0.
On a sunny and mild evening, with a decent crowd in attendance augmented by a healthy contingent from Rye, this was a game which started quite evenly, but slowly Rye gained more and more control, and in the end eased to what was quite a comfortable win in the end. Rye came close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute, when a free kick from the right of the penalty area was drilled low across goal, and a powerful shot from 8 yards out smacked back off the crossbar. But within a minute, they did take the lead, following a long goal kick downfield, which Charlie Stevens ran onto and lobbed the ball first time over the keeper and into the net. Both sides had chances to score in the remainder of the half, with the best chances coming within a minute of the break. First Westfield saw a close range shot superbly saved by the Rye keeper, and then a Rye attack finished with the ball crossed to a team mate all alone 8 yards out, but he couldn't control the ball, instead letting the ball bounce tamely off his foot and into the keeper's grateful hands.
After the full 45 minutes were played in the first half, Rye doubled their lead within a couple of minutes of the restart, when a corner was headed from close range into the roof of the net by Sam Hesmer. Things started to get a little feisty as the second half wore on, and a Westfield player was sent to the sin bin on 57 minutes. The game seemed to be meandering towards a victory for the winners,and that was confirmed in the 82nd minute, when Rye were awarded a fairly soft looking penalty for a shove as the defender chased back .Sam Cooper convered low into the bottom left corner. The Westfield keeper was then sent to the sin bin on in the 85th minute, with a substitute coming on to take his place who certainly didn't look up for the challenge as he meandered onto the pitch with not the greatest body language. He was barely tested in the remaining minutes though, as Rye saw the game out with yet another clean sheet to their name.
Shortly after the final whistle, the league trophy and medals were handed to the Rye team on the pitch, with just the one game remaining, at home to bottom placed Robertsbridge, and a win would ensure that Rye will win the division by seven points.
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