The JC Tackleway 5 v 3 Crowhurst

Saturday 18th November 2014
Hastings FA Junior Cup Round One
Barley Lane, Hastings
Admission: None
Programme: None
Attendance: 30
Match Rating: 4

After my original plans to head to the outskirts of Eastbourne to visit Willingdon Athletic was thwarted when the visitors could not raise a side, and with a visit to Hastings Bonfire Night planned for this evening, I decided to take in another dose of junior football, by chance watching Crowhurst for the second Saturday running, albeit this time they were the away team.

Located on the eastern fringes of Hastings, the pleasant walk from Hastings rail station took just over half an hour, via the town centre, along the seafront, through the Old Town and up onto the East Hill and Hastings Country Park, from where one has lovely views overlooking the seafront and sea. On arrival at the ground, I found a predictably very basic ground, but one that was actually a very pleasant surprise, with a large grass (although mainly overgrown) bank along one length, which was a good vantage point to watch the game from, whilst a footpath behind one of the goals also offered an elevated view of the action, and from which one can see the sea and Beachy Head in the distance, a very attractive backdrop. Behind the other length, and on the other side of a small valley, are lots of houses, which actually makes for quite an interesting backdrop. Behind the remaining goal, towards one corner, there is a building housing the changing rooms. Built primarily to withstand vandalism, it does have a club badge above its entrance. All in all, its a very basic ground that has a rustic charm about it, with some interesting backdrops, although it would be a bleak, windswept place indeed on a winter's day.

Both of the teams contesting this Hastings FA Junior Cup tie play in the East Sussex League Division Two, The Junior Club Tackleway, to give the club its full name, looked certain to be promoted from this division last season, but spectacularly lost form in the final weeks of the season. They are currently in third place, having won three and drawn one of their five games, but lost last week away at leaders Old Hastonians. After Crowhurst's defeat at home to Eastbourne Rangers last Saturday, the league table probably gives Crowhurst a false position. They are in seventh place, but have lost all three of their league games so far (as well as a cup game), and although they were awarded three points when Punnetts Town failed to field a team, Punnetts Town's results will presumably be expunged shortly. No doubt it has been a disappointing start to the season for Crowhurst, who have signed a lot of players and off the pitch, seem to be far more organised and "professional" than virtually every other club in the East Sussex League.

On a surprisingly very warm day for October, with temperatures nudging 20c, JC Tackleway took an early lead with just five minutes on the clock. A ball was dinked into the box, was misjudged by a defender, and Toby Shaw headed the ball over the keeper and into the net. Crowhurst were soon given the chance of levelling the scores, when they were awarded a soft-looking penalty on 9 minutes. Karl Tomlin struck the an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner. The home side retook the lead on 19 minutes. A ball was played in from the left and was then hooked over the keeper, before being stabbed into the opposite corner of the net. They certainly looked the better team throughout the first half, forcing a fine point-blank one handed save from the keeper from a header following a corner, and on 37 minutes they extended their lead to 3-1 on 37 minutes. The ball was played low upfield, springing the high offside trap and allowing Charlie Cornford to run through on goal, and he showed great composure to fire the ball into the roof of the net on the run. Crowhurst were given a great chance to reduce the deficit to one three minutes before half time when they were awarded another penalty for a push, again it looked rather soft, but this time the low struck penalty came back off the post.

So, JC Tackleway held a two goal lead at half time, which was probably a fair reflection of the first half. Crowhurst had another great chance to pull a goal back within a minute of the start of the second half, when a free kick took a deflection off the wall and the keeper pulled off a good save to tip the ball wide. On 55 minutes, a third penalty of the game was awarded to JC Tackleway for a foul. After a long break, which included the linesman (a Crowhurst official) being replaced, the ball was struck low into the bottom left corner of the net. That surely put the game beyond doubt, but on the hour mark, Crowhurst pulled a goal back, following some neat passing in the area, the eventual shot took a slight deflection off the keeper before finding its way into the net. On 70 minutes, it was suddenly very much game on when Crowhurst pulled another goal back. The home keeper punted the ball forward from a wide position, only for the ball to fall at the feet of Gary Croft, who struck the ball firmly from almost the half way line, and the ball rolled gently into the unguarded net. Crowhurst really seized the initiative now and looked likely to complete a remarkable comeback to take this tie into extra time, but those hopes were extinguished five minutes from time. Glasses wearing Cornford, who always looked a threat throughout the game, showed some great footwork in the penalty area, eventually fired low inside the keeper's near post. Crowhurst still showed plenty of endeavour, but the game was up and it was the JC Tackleway who progressed into the net round. The right result overall, although Crowhurst will certainly look back and think with a little more luck, they could have at least forced extra time.

Little Common 1 v 3 Hailsham Town

Tuesday 14th October 2014

Sussex County League Division Two

Recreation Ground, Little Common

Admission including Programme: £4.00

Attendance:74

Match Rating: 4

For the third consecutive midweek, I watched Little Common in cup action this evening, for an interesting looking match between two teams that seen plenty of goals in their games so far this season, and the possibility of a giant killing.

This match would be between the fourth placed team in the Sussex League Division Two, Little Common, and the second from bottom team in Division One, Hailsham Town. Following the very one-sided cup victory at Seaford Town last Wednesday, Little Common had a very disappointing defeat at home against Rustington. Hailsham have claimed just one win and one draw from their ten league games so far. To reach this stage of this competition, Little Common had beaten Bexhill United 4-3 and Westfield 2-1, whilst Hailsham Town beat St Francis Rangers 2-1 at home.

On a cool but dry evening, this match had a really entertaining beginning, with both sides looking to attack as the play switched quickly from end to end. The home side almost took the lead with less than two minutes on the clock, Lewis Hole seeing his strike come back off the post. They were to rue that as Hailsham took the lead just four minutes later, Jack Divall hitting a shot from the edge of the area which, although was mishit, took a deflection and gently went past a wrong-footed goalkeeper. Hailsham doubled their lead on 14 minutes, Sam Divall crossing from the left for Danny Leach to thump his shot high into the net. By this stage it was looking like the higher division team would be easing through to the next round, but Little Common pulled a goal back just two minutes later. Steve Morris dinked the ball over the defence, and Hole just managed to beat the keeper to the ball to poke the ball goalwards and into the net. Little Common went on to have the better of the remainder of the half, creating several good chances to get back on level terms, but they went into the break a goal behind but still very much in the game.

Into the second half and the game was much tighter, which suited Hailsham, as Little Common looked much less threatening than they had before the break. However, the game remained in the balance until six minutes from time, when Hailsham made it safe when they scored their third. Jacob Adlam played the ball forward, springing the offside trap and setting Sam Divall through on goal, and he eventually placed the ball past the keeper. Hailsham really should have scored a fourth in added-on time after Adlam managed to dance past the keeper with the ball, but inexplicably fired wide of an open goal and the far post. But it was Hailsham who progressed to the next round and a home tie against another Division Two side in Wick and Barnham United. Hailsham deserved the win overall, although the result could have been very different had Little Common scored more than one when they created plenty of chances in the first half

Crowhurst 1 v 2 Eastbourne Rangers

Saturday 11th October 2014
East Sussex League Division Two
Recreation Ground, Crowhurst
Admission: None
Programme: Free
Attendance: 23 (head-count)
Match Rating: 3

Just occasionally on the long and winding road of a groundhopping season, an absolute gem of a club is unexpectedly discovered. One of those days very much took place for me today at a venue hosting a game in third tier of the East Sussex League - or the second tier of junior football, the kind of day that reminds me that watching professional football is an overpriced experience that is losing sight of what football should be about, and even that senior non-league football is heading in that direction too (witness clubs at step four of non league charging as much as £10 for admission, and at step 5, £7), making a dip into intermediate or junior football very worthwhile.

The Recreation Ground is situated in the centre of the very small and peaceful village of Crowhurst - a village well off the beaten track and is only reached by a small country lane. Although there is a train station in Crowhurst about a mile away from the ground, I chose to walk from Battle, following a three and a half mile path along the 1066 country walk and through the RSPB Fore Wood reserve. On arrival at the ground - following a very enjoyable pint of Harvey's in the pleasant village pub - one walks across a cricket field to reach the football pitch. As one would expect at this level, there are no facilities around the pitch, but it does have a lovely rural, beautifully peaceful setting, closely lined by trees along one length, with fields below trees gently going up an incline into the distance behind the other. Behind one goal is a tennis court, whilst behind the other, beyond the cricket field, are the village houses. Between the cricket field and football pitch is an attractive wooden pavilion, from which tea and coffee was offered to all free of charge. Very surprisingly, a full colour programme was issued for this game, and Crowhurst intend to issue for all of their games this season. A fabulous effort by a small club so far down the football pyramid, as far as I am aware, no other club in the entire East Sussex League issues programmes. Special mention must also be made of the pitch, which was in absolutely superb condition, flat and closely cut, and which took recent torrential rain very well and remained in fine condition throughout the game.

Although Crowhurst seems to be a club on the up off the pitch, and I witnessed a fabulous performance from them when they demolished Premier Division outfit Robertsbridge United 1-5 away, they have had a disappointing start to their season so far, losing both league games they have played this season, and although they were awarded a win after the opposition, Punnetts Town, failed to field a side, one would assume that Punnetts Town will be withdrawn from the league and their record expunged. They also lost in the League Cup. Eastbourne Rangers, on the other hand, have had a sensational start to their season, winning all three of their league games, scoring 16 goals in the process, whilst they won 0-11 away in the Sussex Junior Cup last weekend on their long trip down to Bognor Regis to play The Unicorn.

Further rain in advance of kick off during the first half made the pitch a little slippery, although happily the grey skies gave way to blue skies and bright sunshine about half an hour into the game. As expected, Eastbourne Rangers started the match very much in the ascendancy as Crowhurst struggled to cope defensively and to mount meaningful attacks. On ten minutes, the visitors almost took the lead. An initial shot was parried by the keeper straight to the feet of a striker eight yards from goal, but the keeper saved well again. On 18 minutes, Eastbourne did take the lead, an unmarked Tony Derese heading home a corner. Rather surprisingly, Crowhurst got back on level terms just after the half hour, when the ball was headed into the roof of the net from close range by Nick Walker following a corner. Eastbourne had plenty of chances to retake the lead, the best of which came just before half-time when a Crowhurst player sloppily gave away possession inside his own penalty area, the ball was passed across the box but a strong goalbound shot was blocked with a desperate flying tackle.

No doubt Crowhurst would have been the happier with the level scoreline at half time, but they came much more into the game as the second half progressed and had several presentable chances to take the lead - which would not have been undeserved. Rangers still looked a real threat though and had the clearer chances - a shot on the run from the edge of the area brought a fine low save low to the keeper's right, whilst a few minutes later, a wonderful low diagonal ball forward dissected the defence to find the striker through on goal, but the eventual shot was well saved by the keeper. Crowhurst had a great chance to win the three points on 82 minutes. Following a fast break down the left, the ball was played across to a striker in a central position on the edge of the area, but his shot was saved. They were left to rue that as, on 87 minutes, they conceded a penalty for a very strong but slightly late tackle. Substitute Jamie Strong struck the ball firmly low into the bottom right hand corner of the net to visibly break Crowhurst's hearts. Eastbourne comfortably saw the game out, and although they probably just about deserved the win as they always looked the classier team, full credit to Crowhurst for putting in a strong second-half performance, and with a little bit of good fortune, could easily have taken a point or even three against a very strong outfit.

Whilst the standard of football may not be the best here, I would strongly recommend a visit to Crowhurst, with an incredibly friendly welcome and atmosphere, the whole club, on and off the pitch, wanting and trying so hard to win without resorting to foul-mouthed verbals or cynical tactics, and a scenic and peaceful setting. With refreshments freely available and even a programme to satisfy the paperchasers, what's not to like? Today was a breath of fresh air, and I wish Crowhurst Football Club all the very best, a club that really deserves to develop as far as it wants to.

Seaford Town 0 v 7 Little Common

Wednesday 8th October 2014
Sussex Senior Cup First Round
The Crouch, Seaford
Admission including Programme: £5.00
Attendance: 19
Match Rating: 4

For this week's midweek action, I headed along the south coast to revisit a ground eight years after my last game there, for a cup match that certainly promised goals.

The Crouch is situated about a five minute walk from the town centre, and in truth, one cannot fully appreciate the charm of the ground when visited at night time. The main entrance to the ground is behind one corner, although as this is a recreation ground, there are a couple of other unmanned entrances around the ground where one can walk in without paying the entrance fee, if one is inclined to do so - and indeed, plenty of people did just that, which explains why the number of people actually watching the game was at least double the official attendance. Beside the official entrance is a building housing the changing rooms and clubhouse, with a veranda from which one can pleasantly watch the game from. Apart from hard standing being present all around the pitch, the only other spectator accommodation is a small, modern all-seater stand straddling the half way line, which is actually quite pleasant on the eye, with its green colour blending in quite well with the surroundings. From this stand, during daylight hours, one can see Seaford Head in the distance, providing a scenic backdrop. Being a recreation ground first and foremost, there is plenty of grassed area beyond the pitch, with a stone wall all around providing an attractive border. Photos taken during daylight hours a couple 18 months ago can be found here. There is a noticeable slope from side to side. The programme consists of a 24 page generic glossy shell printed in colour containing mainly advertising but also some club history, with a 12 page black and white insert containing all of the basics such as welcome message, league fixtures and results, and introduction of the visiting team.

This evening's game certainly had the look of an "away-banker". Seaford, who finished seven points adrift at the bottom of the Sussex League Division Two last season and were only reprieved from relegation to intermediate football thanks to ground-grading, are having an even worse season this time around, having lost every competitive game they have played so far - eight league games, and two cup games, as well as failing to find enough willing players for a midweek trip to Division One leaders Littlehampton in a cup game. One would imagine that Little Common, a team renowned for creating plenty of goalscoring chances in games, would fancy their chances this evening. They have had a strange season so far. After a poor August, picking up just one point from their three league games, they had a fabulous September, taking full advantage of every game being at home, winning six of their league and cup games in the month, but then lost their last game in September and first in October, both away from home in cup competitions. Tonight's teams met in the Sussex League Division Two just ten days previously, Little Common winning 3-0.

After a very wet day, the rain thankfully relented ahead of kick off leading to a moonlit sky, but a very strong, blustery wind blowing in from the English Channel remained, which Little Common would kick into during the first half. That didn't stop them taking the lead with less than two minutes on the clock. Steve Morris - hardly quick on his feet himself - latched onto a throughball and outpaced the covering defence as he ran towards goal, before firing the ball into the back of the net despite deflecting off of the keeper. One might have expected a very one-sided game, but that was not how the first half panned out as Seaford, perhaps aided by the wind, held their own and occasionally mounted some good attacks on goal. The closest they came to equalising was on 17 minutes when a header from a swirling cross from the right was parried onto the post, and from the rebound, the eventual shot was blocked. On 23 minutes, it was the visitors' turn to hit the woodwork, Jake Sherwood saw hit shot come back off the underside of the bar. Little Common did score a second two minutes before the break, Martin Denny playing a one-two before passing the ball low into the opposite corner of the net.

Seaford were perhaps slightly unfortunate to be two down at the break, but Little Common would go on to take full advantage of the wind being behind them in the second half. On 47 minutes, a long free kick taken by captain Zac McEniry in his own half was headed into the net by Lewis Hole, whilst on 53 minutes, Denny got on the end of a throughball by Sherwood before slotting the ball low past the keeper. On 57 minutes, the visitors scored their fifth, direct from a corner taken by Morris. Seaford still showed willing and looked like they had a goal in them even at this stage in the game, but it was Little Common who scored the next goal, and their sixth, on 73 minutes, Paul Feakins smashing the ball into the near post top corner of the net, and they completed the scoring with their seventh goal three minutes from time, when Casey Ham tucked the ball home from a narrow angle after his initial shot was well blocked by the keeper. So, a thoroughly convincing win as predicted for Little Common, who could easily have reached double figures having seen plenty of chances fly over the bar, saved or blocked, but this was a more competitive game than the scoreline suggests, Seaford not looking too bad going forward but were far too easily cut open at the back, but credit to them for the way they kept battling away in the second half even when the game was lost, an all too familiar position they are finding themselves in this season.

Charlton Athletic 1 v 1 Birmingham City

Saturday 4th October 2014
Football League Championship
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 16,369 (1,500 away)
Match Rating: 2

Continued bizarre vagaries of the Football League Championship fixture list meant a second consecutive Saturday trip to The Valley, with the following three Saturdays taken up with away games and an international break - after a similar pattern in late August/early September. The old routine of home one week, away the next, really does appear to be a thing of the past now.

Although it is a theme I keep mentioning on this blog, it is still hard to believe that Charlton went into this game, the tenth of the season, still unbeaten in the league. Even more surprising considering Charlton went to top of the table Norwich City, and pulled off a smash-and-grab victory thanks to Johnnie Jackson - rather ironically, as he was the player that many Charlton fans - myself included - felt was living on borrowed time in the Charlton line-up. But no-one could ever doubt his commitment and leadership skills, or his ability to come up with crucial goals in big games. And so Charlton came into today's game in sixth place, just two points adrift of the the top three, with four wins and six draws from their ten games. After only just escaping relegation from the Championship on goal difference last season, this season has been similarly hard going, and came into this game in 20th place in the 24 team division, after two wins and four draws from their ten games. They did win 1-3 at Millwall in midweek though, which brought to an end a run of seven games without a win.

On a damp and very chilly afternoon, Charlton dominated the early stages and star stiker Igor Vetokele almost gave them the lead with just three minutes on the clock. With a mixture of strength and skill, he managed to break free of covering defenders to the left of the area, before curling a shot past former Charlton keeper Darren Randolph, but also the wrong side of the far post. They did take the lead on 11 minutes though, with a very well worked goal. Frederic Bulot sent in a perfectly judged cross from the left, and an unmarked Vetokele headed down into the bottom left corner of the net for his sixth goal of the season, although first in six games. Inexplicably, that was as good as it got for Charlton, who allowed Birmingham increasingly into the game. They had some good chances to equalise, and it appeared that they had on 34 minutes. The ball was cut back from the byline, and Koby Arthur's shot beat keeper Stephen Henderson and was goalbound before Clayton Donaldson headed the ball in from very close range. It was unfortunate poacher's instinct though, as he was offside and the goal was ruled out.

So despite a strong start, Charlton held a slightly fortunate half time lead in the end, but they came out with good intent in the second half, and almost extended their lead within a minute. Vetokele yet again showed good strength in recovering from a slip to send in a cross to Lawrie Wilson in the box, but he matched a dreadful overall performance with a shot that was sliced high of the goal, although admittedly with his "wrong", left foot. Similar to the first half though, Charlton's performance soon waned badly, and Birmingham scored a deserved equaliser on 53 minutes. A corner was played to an unmarked Stephen Gleeson in a central position just outside the area, and he passed the ball to his left to David Davis, who checked, and despite facing towards the corner flag, placed a low shot on the turn which just eluded Henderson's hand and went just inside the far post. Despite some huffing and puffing, neither side looked likely to score a winner, and a point apiece was certainly a fair reflection on the game. Another point and stretching their unbeaten start to the season to eleven league games was very welcome, yet there was much disappointment at a lacklustre performance, when three points really could have been there for the taking. None of the Charlton players really stood out, and unfortunately Yoni Buyens, who looked so good in the opening couple of games, had another poor afternoon, being wasteful is possession too often, and whilst Michael Morrison, a regular last season, did not really take his chance to demand retaining his place after stepping in today for Tal Ben Haim, who sat this one out due to observing Yom Kippur. What is becoming glaringly obvious is that Charlton really need a second striker, to stop Vetokele being so isolated, and to provide the knock-downs and divert some of the defenders' attention away from him.

Video highlights can be found here

Little Common 1 v 2 Mile Oak

Tuesday 30th September 2014
RUR Charity Cup Second Round
Recreation Ground, Little Common
Admission including Programme: £4.00
Attendance: 36
Match Rating: 2

For this week's midweek action, I made my second visit of the season to the outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea, for an interesting looking cup match between two of the stronger teams in the Sussex County League Division Two.

Both teams have had good starts to their league season, with Little Common, in fourth place, winning five and losing two of their eight games so far, with Mile Oak having an almost identical record, apart from drawing their extra game played and were in third place. Little Common have had a fabulous September, winning all six of their league and cup games, all at home. Mile Oak also came into the game in good form, winning three and drawing the other of their four games so far. Unlike Little Common, Mile Oak had to play a match in the First Round of this competition, comfortably dispatching Rustington 6-0 at home a fortnight ago.

On a cool, moonlit evening with a very slight mist hovering over the pitch, the first half was very competitive but with the teams tending to cancel each other out, with few goalscoring chances being created in the first half hour. The first real chance fell to the visitors on 32 minutes, when a header from a cross from the right was palmed out by the keeper. A couple of minutes later and the hosts had their first good chance. After an initial shot was blocked, a follow up shot from the edge of the area flew just wide of the left hand post. Three minutes before half time and Little Common had another good chances, this time a powerful shot was parried up high in the air by the keeper and as it looped down goalwards, the keeper managed to catch the ball.

The visitors came out after the break looking more threatening, and duly took the lead on 58 minutes. Andrew McDowell intercepted a ball, strode forward and floating the ball over the keeper and into the net. Although Little Common were not playing well or coherently, they still managed to create some good chances - as they usually do. On 62 minutes, a shot from the edge of the area took a slight deflection just over the bar, whilst on 66 minutes another fierce shot from distance was well saved to the keeper's right. It increasingly seemed that Mile Oak would hold out for the narrow win, until Little Common were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Player-manager Russell Eldridge is one of the best dead-ball specialists in the league, and he didn't disappoint this time striking the ball into the right side of the net, with the keeper rooted to his spot on the other side. It seemed that the home side had got out of jail and were to force extra time, but just three minutes later, Mile Oak retook the lead. Following a slip by a Little Common defender, the ball was eventually crossed from the right and the ball was firmly struck into the net from the edge of the area. The hone side piled on the pressure in the final minutes, and in injury time a difficult shot on the turn inside the area was blazed over the bar. And so it was Mile Oak who progressed to the next round, to set up a home tie against Sussex Division One club Ringmer. No doubt the right team progressed, as Little Common did not play well this evening, even though they are a team that always has goals in them.

On my way to this game, I took the opportunity of taking a look at the state of The Gullivers, the former home ground of Sussex County League Division One club Sidley United. It made for sad, depressing viewing. The ground has been unused since Spring 2013, when Sidley Sports and Social Club was wound up, leaving the football club homeless and causing the club to have a one season hiatus last season, and this season are playing down in the East Sussex League Division One, at the very humble surroundings of the recreation ground in Hooe.

Unsurprisingly, the Gullivers has suffered from considerable vandalism in the past 18 months. The clubhouse in the corner of the ground has had its windows smashed in, and are now boarded up. The pitch has litter and debris, including chairs and a roller, scattered amongst the long grass, whilst in the older stand, the dugouts have been ripped apart, with more debris scattered inside, whilst the newer stand has had some of its seats ripped out or burnt. Quite surprisingly, the floodlights remain standing.

It's a sad scene indeed, with the future of the Gullivers very uncertain. It would take an awful lot of work to get the ground back in a fit state to host football, and although it seems most likely that eventually the ground will redeveloped with housing, there does remain a proviso that the ground must be used for sport, after the land was donated by a farmer in the late 1940's.