The season may still be in its infancy, but Newhaven met Horsham YMCA for the third time in less than two months last night, this time in the RUR Cup.

Having been heavily beaten in the FA Cup, then denied three-points in the league after conceding an injury-time equaliser, the Dockers were hoping it would be a case of third time lucky.

However, with a frankly astonishing 16 first-team players unavailable (mainly through injury), progression into the third round of the cup, against the competition’s current holders, would be far from straightforward.

It’s no longer a case of not knowing what team we’ll have out each week, it’s whether we’ll even recognise all those who are there! The answer for the past couple of games has been no.

After an even start to the match, it was the Dockers who had the first meaningful shot, with a long-range effort from Ryan Warwick stinging the palms of the YM keeper.

In truth, though, neither team could rightly claim to be on top, with chances few and far between.

The opening goal arrived around the 25-minute mark. Warwick’s floated free-kick found Jake Robinson, and he bundled the ball home at the second attempt.

As has been the case a little too often this season, though, the lead didn’t last long. As has also been the case a little too often this season, we were very much the masters of our own downfall.

A sloppily taken throw-in needlessly presented the ball to the hosts, and two seconds later Conner Collcutt slammed it past the helpless Paul Woods (the sixth different keeper we’ve used this season!).

With half-time approaching, we really should have been ahead. Lee Robinson did superbly to burst down the right before pulling the ball across to elder brother Jake, who could only shoot wastefully over from close-range. The assistant did have his flag raised, although whether this was for offside or to signal a goal-kick I’m still not sure. The striker will definitely hope it was the former.

However, parity at the break was probably just about the right scoreline, with both sides finding opportunities hard to come by.

It was a different story in the second-half, as both teams went in search of a winner; evidently neither fancying the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

The Dockers started far brighter, and within a couple of minutes of the restart Jake Robinson should probably have scored again, but his scuffed effort was tipped wide by the YM goalkeeper.

Luca Page and half-time sub Charlie Curran, who had a lively and promising cameo, also went close to scoring in an enterprising start to the half, before YM had a chance of their own that was deflected just wide.

With the game still in the balance as it entered the final 15-minutes, the hosts thought they’d scored when a header came back off a post and, following a scramble, there were pleas that they had forced it over the line. Neither the ref nor assistant gave anything, though, and from my vantage point some 60 yards away, there was no chance whatsoever that I could see anything. Even the Veo footage is completely inconclusive.

Two minutes later, the hosts were reduced to ten men following a horrible-looking late challenge that left Page writhing on the ground and unable to continue. It was officially a second booking that led to the dismissal but it could just as easily have been a straight red. Hopefully the injury is nothing too serious and that Luca is back on his feet soon.

With YM down a player, Newhaven laid siege to the Horsham goal in a bid to grab a winner and prevent penalties.

That goal duly arrived with five minutes of normal time remaining. Jack Shonk’s brilliant through ball completely dissected the YM defence sending Jake Robinson away, and his composed square pass to Warwick culminated with the midfielder sliding the ball home.

The remainder of the match was something of a rarity this season, as Newhaven held on without ever really looking likely to concede. YM being down to ten admittedly helped matters, but it was still good to see the team in full-control of a match.

If anything, it was Newhaven who looked far more likely to score another, as Curran twice had decent opportunities saved following good work from each of the Robinson brothers.

Full-time, though, brought with it a real feeling of satisfaction of a job well done. The only blot of the evening being yet another potential injury.

We now move into the third round of the RUR Cup, where we will face a midweek trip to Oakwood in late October.

After five consecutive away games, the last three of which have yielded single-goal victories, we’re finally back at Fort Road this Saturday, as we face SCEFL side Lydd Town in the FA Vase.

Much like buses, having waited ages for one, there’s another couple coming soon after. We have another home game next Tuesday evening as we host Eastbourne United in the league, before we entertain Midhurst on Saturday 28^th September, again in the league.

Let’s hope for three big crowds, progression in the Vase and some more valuable league points. Your support in helping the players achieve this will be most welcome.

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Ryan Warwick. A goal and an assist from the always hard-working midfielder. Composed on the ball and a bundle of energy off it, Warwick looked sharp throughout.