With the FA Cup already a distant dream for another season, Newhaven hosted Bexhill United – another team who had fallen at the first hurdle in that competition – in the only league action to take place in the SCFL Premier Division yesterday afternoon.

With both sides scrambling for form in the early weeks of the season – The Pirates had picked up only a solitary point from their opening three matches compared to the Docker’s four – both sides will have been viewing the game as an ideal opportunity to kick-start their season.

From the off, it was Bexhill who looked far more likely to do so.

The visitors could have been ahead inside the opening two minutes. A misplaced defensive header sent a United player through on goal, but Newhaven’s latest stand-in ‘keeper, Josh James – the third different custodian in as many games – did enough to smother the first effort, and the hosts managed scramble the ball away.

With 18 minutes on the clock, Bexhill had another good chance to take the lead. More confusion in the Docker’s defence allowed Ollie Hull to break through, but his finish went high and wide with just James to beat.

Not to be denied, the Pirates eventually hit the lead just three minutes later. Newhaven carelessly gave the ball away in a dangerous area, and United took full advantage, countering quickly and freeing Tyler Capon who made no mistake from close range.

The Dockers were then denied an immediate response as Tom Vickers had the ball in the net, only to be quickly flagged for off-side by the assistant.

That moment aside, Newhaven were being restricted to half chances, with Ryan Warwick (twice) and Charlie Connell both clearing the cross-bar with efforts.

On the half-hour mark, the hosts were indebted to James for keeping the deficit to one, as he made an astonishing double save to keep the Pirates at bay.

Still, though, Newhaven continued to ride their luck. Billy Barker was perhaps fortunate not to see red when he brought down an opponent right on the edge of the area. It wasn’t a clear sending off by any means, but if it was against your team, you’d certainly be wanting it.

With half-time approaching, Newhaven finally started to settle and did at least force Bexhill’s goalkeeper into a couple of routine saves. Max Vardy and Jack Shonk with the efforts on target.

At the interval, however, it was impossible to deny that Bexhill were well worthy of their lead. The best thing we could say is that we were only down by one.

Something needed to change. And it did. In a move I don’t remember having seen before, the Dockers replaced their entire back three at half-time – although I think injury (possibly injuries) played a part in the decision – as they looked for a way back into the game.

Right after half-time, Lee Robinson had an early opportunity to restore parity, but he was always slightly off balance as he went through and could only shoot straight at the United GK.

Within a minute, Bexhill got through again. Another wasteful pass in the home defence presented Ollie Hull with the ball, and he struck the bar from a tight angle.

Still Bexhill continued to pour forward and just three minutes after striking the bar, James was once again called into action to prevent further damage to the scoreline.

With the hour-mark approaching, the Newhaven management once again turned to the bench to try and turn the tide of the game. Jake Robinson – struggling with a hamstring problem – was called into action at the expense of former Pirate Shonk.

Within a few minutes, Newhaven had not only levelled but, somewhat miraculously, actually found themselves ahead. All without Jake even needing to touch the ball.

Right on the hour, a Callum Edwards corner evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net.

A minute or so later, a tame effort, again from Edwards, somehow found its way past the Bexhill goalie and into the back of the net, possibly with the aid of a deflection (couldn’t see from my angle).

Bexhill were clearly stunned to be behind – we were stunned to be in front, in fairness – and struggled to launch an immediate response.

However, as time ticked on, the Dockers started to sit deeper and deeper. The closer the game got to the final whistle, the greater the inevitability about what was likely to happen seemed to grow.

Sure enough, with the game having just moved into injury-time, the Dockers conceded a late equaliser for the second time in two games. A hopeful free-kick into the box simply wasn’t dealt with, and the ball rebounded around the box before Jack Samways levelled matters.

Gutting though it was, in the context of the game it was the very least that Bexhill deserved; not, of course, that this makes conceding late equalisers any easier to stomach.

Bexhill were then reduced to ten men when one of their players was sent-off for dissent, but there wasn’t enough time for Newhaven to make the advantage count.

In fact, it was Bexhill who came closest to forcing a late winner, only for a goalbound effort to be well blocked by Tarun Rohilla.

So it’s another single point for the Dockers when three were (somehow) there for the taking with the 90-minutes having elapsed.

Results aside, the number of goals the Dockers are continuing to concede is a major worry (as is the amount of chances that we’re giving up).

If the other teams were scoring worldies and ripping us apart with liquid-quick football it would be one thing. But too often in the early weeks of this season we’ve been the masters of our own downfall. Giving the ball away in silly positions or failing to make routine clearances.

On the other side of the coin, we are scoring plenty (without creating masses of opportunities) so it’s not all doom and gloom. But we do need to start learning from our mistakes. And quickly.

Next week we travel to Tooting Bec (who play at Chipstead FC) in the FA Vase. Please note, the game is being played on Sunday 25^th August. Kick-off is still at 3pm.

We’re then back at Fort Road on Tuesday 27^th August when Saltdean are the visitors in the league.

Hopefully, these can be the games to really get our season going. As ever, your support at both games would be much appreciated.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Callum Edwards and Josh James. Joint award this week. As has often been the case in the early weeks of the season, Edwards always looked the most likely to make things happen in an attacking sense. Fortunate though his two goals may have been, he deserved them. However, without James making some key saves, those two goals would have been little more than consolations.