After an extremely mixed seven days result-wise, the Dockers faced arguably their toughest test this season to date, with the visit of Haywards Heath to Fort Road on Saturday.
Prior to the season, Heath were many people’s (including mine) tip for the championship, and they’re certainly living up to the hype, with a 100 per cent win rate from their opening nine league games.
Boasting a squad (and, let’s be honest, a budget) that’s the envy of many in the division, on paper it’s hard to see a weakness in the Heath armoury. And it turns out it’s pretty hard to see one on the pitch, too.
Newhaven went into the game with a clear plan. To be compact and try to stop the visitors from playing through us.
In fairness, on this count, the young Dockers did extremely well. While the league leaders were certainly dominant and saw plenty of the ball throughout, they didn’t exactly pepper Roman Chiosa’s goal with shots.
Aside from one early Chiosa save in the opening minute, Newhaven were protecting their goal fairly well and, while they never really looked like scoring themselves – one speculative Teddy Wood effort flew a few feet over – their plan to frustrate Heath from open play worked well for much of the first-half.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have quite the same success in keeping the visitors at bay from set pieces. Particularly the long throws of Kyle Sim.
In the 12th minute, the visitors hit the front in the most route-one way possible as a very long (and wind-assisted) Sim throw from the left was headed home by Jack Barnes. A disappointing way to concede in a game in which we could ill afford to make any sloppy mistakes.
Imagine the collective disappointment among the Newhaven collective, then, when just 13 minutes later the exact same thing happened. This time Sim’s throw was met by the head of former Docker Ryan Warwick, who got just enough on his header to force the ball over the line (according to the assistant) in spite of Chiosa’s best efforts to keep it out.
The sense of disappointment surrounding both of these goals was heightened by the fact that, while both scorers undoubtedly possess many attributes, aerial ability is arguably not the most prominent among them.
Two-down with only 25 minutes on the clock, it was always going to be a tall order for the Dockers to find a route back into the game, especially given Heath’s fine defensive record.
And while Newhaven did indeed struggle to make an impact in their attacking third (I doubt Heath’s goalkeeper will enjoy many more comfortable afternoons), they did at least continue to keep Heath at bay, ensuring that the visitors only went into the interval two in front.
Early in the second-half, Heath twice went close to extending their lead; first seeing a goal chalked off for off-side, then being denied by the crossbar.
Newhaven then started to apply a bit of pressure themselves. Charlie Gibson, a half-time substitute, shooting just over from the edge of the area.
Disappointingly, though, just as it appeared Newhaven were starting to grow as an attacking force, they were undone by yet more sloppiness.
With 65 minutes of the clock, a hopeful looping cross into the box was misjudged by Ashley Wadhams (not helped by the swirling wind, in fairness) and Warwick was on hand to fire the ball past Chiosa, who just couldn’t get quite enough on the ball to keep it out.
That all-but finished the game as a contest.
Another rare chance did fall Newhaven’s way soon after the Heath goal, but Ryan Blunt was just off target.
Then, with nine minutes left to play, Newhaven conceded a fourth from yet another long throw. The Sim-Barnes combination working to perfection once again to add some gloss to the score-line.
For Newhaven, this was an afternoon of pure frustration. While on the one hand we were well beaten by a better team (that much was clear for anyone watching) it will be the manner in which they conceded the goals that will leave the management (and, I’m sure, the players) hugely frustrated.
The visitors didn’t have to do anything fancy for any of their goals – three long throws and a defensive mistake. Yet you could also argue that’s what makes Heath such formidable opponents. They’ve got a number of different weapons in their arsenal with which they can open you up. Starve them from open play and they’re more than happy and able to go direct.
However, I’ve said it countless times already this season (and I’ll arguably say it a few more over the coming months) this is a very young, largely inexperienced Dockers team. They will make mistakes. It’s natural. They just need to – and will – learn from afternoons such as these.
Despite two heavy league defeats in a row, we still sit sixth in the league after nine games with most of the teams above us having played a game more. Overall, the start to the season has been very good indeed, let’s not lose sight of that. There is certainly no need for any panic.
There’s a chance to get back to winning ways on Tuesday evening when on-form neighbours Seaford visit Fort Road for the second time this season in a cup competition. This time the Sussex Senior Cup.
We then head to another play-off contender in the league on Saturday, as we make the trip to third-placed Horsham YMCA.
Let’s hope the Dockers can once again show their resilience in these two games.
Your support, as ever, will be appreciated.
Come On You Dockers!
