The Dockers made it a magnificent seven wins from seven games as three goals in the last twenty-five minutes saw off a hard-working Loxwood side.
Battling against relegation, seven points from their last three games had given the Magpies a slight cushion from the drop zone.
And it was clear to see from the outset that this was a much-improved Loxwood side from the one that had we had beaten comfortably at Fort Road earlier in the season.
Thankfully, even with a host of absent players which saw a late call-up for under 18s goalkeeper Ashley Overton, this is a far more confident Newhaven team, too.
That said, after a frankly unentertaining opening 20-minutes of the match (it was reminiscent of a pre-season match, being played in pre-season temperatures), the Dockers got the benefit of a decision that could easily have led to young centre-back Liam Osborne being given his marching orders.
A long ball over the top led to the Loxwood striker getting the wrong side of Osborne, leading the centre-back to pull him back when he was through on goal. In truth, I fully expected a red to be brandished (I think most people did to be honest) but only a yellow was shown.
The fact the Loxwood player didn’t have the ball under control probably saved the defender.
To compound the host’s feelings of injustice, Newhaven were in front barely a minute later.
Henry Watson surged down the right flank, before crossing low into the box where Lee Robinson was waiting to finish. That magical 500-goal milestone is edging ever closer.
The lead lasted barely ten minutes. From a throw-in that was bafflingly awarded to Loxwood (although it’s hard to complain too much given what went before), the hosts won a free-kick that was subsequently dispatched by Pacey Bean.
With the referee’s decisions now seemingly starting to go against Newhaven (perhaps he was looking to make-up for his earlier perceived error in our favour) frustrations started to boil over, and with half-time approaching Lee Robinson was sent to the sin-bin for one comment too many.
With the Dockers temporarily down to ten, Loxwood missed a decent opportunity to take the lead when their player pulled a shot wide when through on goal; but Newhaven saw-out the majority of the allotted sin-bin time comfortably enough.
Robinson’s return almost brought an immediate impact for Newhaven. He combined well with Alfie Rogers, before sending over a pin-point cross that Rogers could only head wide from close-range.
A couple of minutes later, Overton did well to deny Loxwood in what was to be their only chance of note in the second-half.
For the most part, it was the Dockers who were starting to carry the greater threat, and when they retook the lead in the 68th minute, it was just about deserved.
Half-time sub Alfie Rogers received the ball on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a shot that squirmed past the goalkeeper at his near post. He’ll probably feel he should have done better with it.
Four minutes later Newhaven gave themselves breathing space. Loxwood could only half-clear a corner and Watson hooked the ball back into the danger area where Lee Robinson was waiting to head home.
With the game all but won, Newhaven rang the changes, giving some of the members of the newly-crowned Under 23s league champions (and even another under 18) a chance to shine.
In fact, one of the most pleasing aspects of the recent upturn in results has been the number of players from our feeder teams who have been involved in the squads. Of course, having our best players back from injury has been a major factor in our winning run, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that the likes of Jonny Barnes-Galloway, Dexter Lambert, Mo Huchu, Corey Smart, Liam Osborne, Overton, Beau Bennison-Millsm to name a few, have all been given game time. Under 18s alumni Ryan Blunt also finished this game as captain.
Deep into injury-time, the Dockers extended their lead when Alfie Rogers picked up the ball near the half-way line, strode up the pitch, and launched an absolute rocket into the top corner from just outside the area. A fine way to cap off what had ultimately ended up being a good afternoon’s work from Newhaven; even though the scoreline may suggest a more comfortable 90-minutes then it perhaps was.
This Saturday sees us make our final lengthy away trip of the season as we visit Midhurst and Easebourne.
We then finish the campaign with two home games against Roffey and champions Hassocks, either side of Easter Monday’s trip to local rivals Peacehaven.
Here’s hoping we can keep the winning run (or at the very least the unbeaten run) going until the end of the season.
Your support, as it always is, would be much appreciated.
Come On You Dockers!
My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Alfie Rogers. He may have only been on for half a match, but there’s little doubt that Alf’s arrival turned the game in our favour. Two goals, a few missed opportunities and some clever passes capped off what was arguably Alfie’s best performance since returning to the Dockers.
