Newhaven match report

Lingfield travelled to Newhaven on Tuesday night on the back of a solid home win over AFC Uckfield Town. In some recent good form but coming up against a team that, in recent history, has always competed at the top end of the SCFL Premier Division in ‘The Dockers’.

Lingfield, missing their 2 full backs from Saturday’s win, opted for a 5-3-2 formation in order to have good numbers in defence, a solid and packed centre and an outlet up front to provide a threat on the counter…. Newhaven in a more conventional 4-4-1-1. The game started in a lively fashion with both teams looking to get the ball down on the new 4G surface but it was Lingers who created the early chances, forcing Jake Buss the Newhaven GK into a brilliant double saved first from Jay Simpson and then Dennis Asante. The goal was coming though and after a superb free kick from Stripp, Asante headed the ball home from close range, 1-0 Lingers.

Very shortly after, a moment of contention, when Wilford gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch and lunged at the Newhaven player, sending him tumbling in the air. Dockers players surrounded the referee demanding a red card, but it didn’t come, only yellow and Wilford could count himself lucky to stay on the pitch. This did not throw the visitors off and it was soon 2-0, Wilford held the ball up well fed Dickinson who put it on a plate for Simpson to smash low and hard across the keeper, a great finish.

The game continued in a similar fashion with Dockers having most of the ball but Lingers happy to defend and play on the counter. That was until Richardson was sin-binned for the referee after he said a little too much after the referee decided a clip on his heels was accidental and didn’t give the foul. Newhaven saw the opportunity against 10 men and upped the tempo. They finally got their goal after a succession of corners and Connor bundled home from close range, HT 2-1 Lingers.

In truth, the second half was a lot less eventful with Dockers seeing most of the ball but Lingers standing firm and Webb-Olley rarely tested. A few injuries, cards and substitutions disrupted the game and it was Robinson-Davids off the bench, who broke forward on the counter attack, squared to Simpson who finished cooly into the bottom corner, 3-1. Newhaven did manage to reduce the arrears with the final kick of the game, Warwick smashing in off the bar with the linesman waving to say it had crossed the line but it was too little too late.

An excellent victory on the road against one of the league favourites. The away side were fully deserving of the 3 points and although the home side (& fans) may have felt short-changed by the potential red in the first half, there could be no complaints about the scoreline and overall outcome of the match.

Next up, Pagham at The New Defence on Saturday 3PM.