Newhaven travelled to Little Common on Saturday afternoon for an unlikely battle between two of the division’s most in form teams.
It just shows how quickly things can change around. When this fixture was postponed just a few weeks ago, the Dockers were struggling for form while Little Common looked to be dead and buried at the foot of the league.
Come Saturday, though, Newhaven were on a run of five successive victories, while Little Common had taken ten points from a possible 15 to propel themselves just outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.
In fairness, the subsequent encounter won’t live overly long in the memory.
On a blustery sunny Spring afternoon, on a typical bobbly end of season grass pitch, it would be fair to say that both teams struggled to get to grips with the conditions.
Moments of quality were few and far between. In fact, probably the only true moment of quality occurred in the fifth-minute – and was enough to win the game.
Emmanuel Abudiore intercepted a sloppy pass in the centre of the field, before sending a perfectly executed lob from distance over Common’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net. If you haven’t done so already, check it out on our socials. It’s well worth a look.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the Dockers understandably continued to pose the majority of the attacking threat in the first-half.
Jake Robinson shot just over from the edge of the area, while Lee Robinson was within inches of nabbing one with a lob from a tight angle that drifted just wide.
At the other end, Little Common’s best moments were coming from player manager Russel Eldridge’s on-point set-pieces (in fact, this looked to be the host’s best route back into the game throughout the match).
From one corner, a huge appeal went up from Little Common’s players, although from my vantage point at the opposite end of the pitch I have no idea what this appeal was for. Whatever it was, the ref and his assistant weren’t interested and play continued.
Early in the second-half, the hosts created what was probably their best chance of the afternoon, culminating in a free-header from just inside the six-yard box which was thankfully close enough to Jonny Barnes-Galloway for him to be able to react. A good save, but one he probably shouldn’t have been given the chance to make.
The Dockers barely featured as an attacking force in the second-half, with Little Common, now with the wind advantage, doing most of the offensive work.
However, set-pieces aside (which as already mentioned were a constant threat), Common failed to create any further real chances from open play.
Not that I’m saying the Dockers’ lead was a comfortable one. It wasn’t. Little Common battled all the way, and Newhaven’s defensive shape was tested throughout.
The already tricky task of holding on for the three-points was made considerably more so when, with seven minutes of normal time remaining, Jake Robinson was sin-binned. Probably for pointing out to the ref that there were actually two teams he was allowed to give decisions to. You know, just in case he didn’t realise.
Thankfully, going down to ten (I would say temporarily, but the match ended before Jake re-joined play) didn’t cost us. In fact, I can’t remember the hosts getting a clear shot away in this period, as Newhaven did enough to cling on to victory.
So it’s now six wins in six for the Dockers. Pleasingly, not for the first time in this run, Newhaven seemed to have regained the knack on winning games when they’re not at their best.
With five games to go, the focus remains on building for next season, and ending this campaign as strongly as possible to propel ourselves as high up the table as we can. A top-half finish now looks a certainty (it hadn’t necessarily done so back in February) so now it’s all about where in the top half we finish.
On another positive note, the Docker’s run of five wins in March, scoring 15 and conceding just four, saw them named The SCFL Premier Division team of the month. I’m sure you’ll all join me in sending congratulations to the management and players for this deserved award.
We have two further away trips coming up. Loxwood on 5th April and then Midhurst and Easebourne on 12th April, before we host Roffey at Fort Road on the 19th April.
We’re into the last month of the season and, as ever, your support at any of the remaining matches will be very much appreciated.
Come On You Dockers!
My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Ryan Blunt. In fairness, the award could have easily gone to either of the two centre midfielders (Charlie Connell being the other) who both worked tirelessly to help preserve the three-points. Having just missed out last week, though, Blunt takes the nod this week. Honourable mention to Richmond Osei, who enjoyed arguably his best game in a Newhaven shirt and was also very impressive.
