Deal Town FC – FA Vase Third Round Proper

Our results coming into this big game were about as poor as they could be and yet the performances had been spirited, losing only by single goals. With Deal Town sitting fifth in their division and on a good run of results, this match went to form. For the first time since our game at Crowborough Athletic at the end of August, we failed to score while Deal Town took a chance in each half. The lads made a game of it and Deal Town had to work for their win. Losing 0-2 to a side that won 4-1 at Newhaven in the last round was creditable.

In just the second minute, a free kick from Jason Stripp was floated into the Deal Town box from the right and Tom Green got his head on the ball but could not keep below the bar. After five minutes, Haydn Dickinson had a shot from outside the box that went wide on the left. On 12mins it was the Stripp/Green connection again but with the same result. So far so good but on the quarter-hour, possession was lost just on the halfway line leaving us exposed to the long ball. Their forward was clear and advancing one on one with Jack Webb-Olley. He came out to challenge and took the Deal Town forward down for a penalty except that the ball bounced clear and was put into the net for a goal. Deal Town were fortunate that the referee was not quick on the whistle and that the linesman did not flag for offside. Webb-Olley was lucky not to get a yellow card.

After their subdued start, Deal Town were now more confident and Webb-Olley was called into action three times. The first was coming out to claim the ball after a misplaced pass by Stripp. On 19mins a move down the right flank required a good save from the final shot. A minute later a long shot was parried and then gathered at the feet of their onrushing forward. There followed a period of honest endeavour but little in the way of chances until on 36mins a Deal Town attack down the right resulted in the cross being headed over the bar. It was The Lingers turn next as another free kick from the right by Stripp on 43mins was headed at the keeper by Luke Richardson. With thoughts turning to half-time a long ball from Deal Town through our backline allowed their forward to go one on one with Webb-Olley again. It was a foul by Webb-Olley again and this time it was a penalty and a yellow card. The shot went left and so did Webb-Olley to beat it away and out for a corner. The corner was cleared behind and the second corner came to nothing and at the end of the third minute of added time, it was half-time. Going in at 0-1 was so much better than 0-2 thanks to Webb-Olley’s redeeming save.

With the floodlights on, a nip in the air and a steadily rising fog the second half got underway and could we get an equaliser. It was slow to get going and the heavy pitch was not conducive to getting the ball down and playing. Deal Town won a corner that came to nothing and on 52mins a shot from the right required a save by Webb-Olley. On 55mins Toby Hill had space for a shot but it went well wide on the left not into the bottom corner as last Tuesday evening. Just after the hour Deal Town had a corner that was cleared and shortly after our first change was made with Alec Campbell replacing Hill. On 65mins there looked to have been a clash of heads in the 6 yard box from a ball played in by Deal Town involving Toby Allen. The referee didn’t stop the game and with a disorientated Allen getting back to his feet, Deal Town had possession on the left. The resulting ball into the box found a Deal Town head and it was 0-2. The referee should have stopped the game and a more experienced player than young Allen would have been less eager to get back up. The Lingers now had a mountain to climb given the lack of clear chances created so far. It could have been 0-3 on 68mins as a ball played in from the left to the D ended in a shot but it was saved by Webb-Olley.

The next chance fell to us on 70mins as a ball in from the left to Dennis Asante saw him battle his way into space in the centre of the box with just the keeper to beat. Sadly, he could not get it past him to get us back in the game. Albie Garland was replaced by Richie Wetton as we changed our shape. With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining, Webb-Olley pulled off another good save to tip a fierce shot over the bar for a corner that then came to nothing. There was some hope on 78mins that Wetton could continue his recent run of goals with a smart turn and shot but he couldn’t keep it down. Jimmy Williams came on for Stripp for our third change. Inside the last ten minutes and a poor pass inside our box required another good save by Webb-Olley. Wetton had a shot from the right edge of the box that went over the bar. A long throw from Wetton from the left into the box caused some trouble and was headed into the side netting. On 88mins Webb-Olley was alert to a long ball and came out of the area to head clear. Williams was played in by Asante on the left but his shot was wide as normal time ended. Five additional minutes brought nothing of note and so it was a win for Deal Town.

Compared to the club’s last foray into the Third Round that resulted in a 9-2 defeat by Colliers Wood United, this was a far better effort but that Fourth Round remains elusive. We couldn’t turn half chances into clear chances and our passing game that was so slick at Corinthian Casuals couldn’t get going on the heavy pitch. The lads can be proud on their run in the FA Vase and setting a record of five games in a season’s competition - it should earn them a later start in the next competition. The focus is now on improving our league form starting with what so far looks like being a damp Tuesday evening at Eastbourne Town.