AFC Varndeanians

A trip down the A23 to a chilly Withdean Stadium in search of our first win in 2024 and the points to keep up the pursuit of the teams above us. The Withdean Stadium is known to most people from its time as the home of Brighton & Hove Albion after they sold the Goldstone Ground and before the building of the Amex Stadium. What I learnt yesterday was that it used to be the site of a zoo! Yes, before it was renamed it was the Brighton Olympic Stadium and zoo – I do not recall a bid by Brighton for the Olympics but then 1947 was before my time. Whatever its history, The Lingers left the stadium with a win that was less comfortable than it should have been when two goals up we conceded a poor goal that revitalised AFC Varndeanians for the last twenty minutes.

Quick out of the traps a ball forward to Richie Wetton in the first minute gave him the space to fire in a shot from the right edge of the box that was not that far over the bar. The good start continued with good possession and some chances to put the AFC Varndeanians defence under pressure. A Wetton long throw from the right on 8mins was dealt with and it was that man again chasing down a through ball minutes later that just beat him to the bye line. On 12mins Jay Simpson was put through, skinned the AFC No. 5, and then cut back inside with the ball going out off their player it seemed but a goal kick was given. No rest for AFC as Josh McArthur Nolan moved forward down the left and earnt a free kick that came to nothing. McArthur Nolan was there again on 14mins with a run into the box and a shot that rebounded to Wetton for him to shoot wide. Our returning keeper Jack Webb-Olley was stirred from his spectating role to come and clear a long ball on 18mins. Having been warmed up, two minutes later he was claiming a ball into the six yard box ahead of an onrushing AFC player. Gathering an overhit AFC free kick concluded his busy four minutes.

At the other end Louis Gates attacked down the right, fed the ball into Simpson whose shot was blocked. A minute later Jason Stripp played in a free kick from a central position looking for McArthur Nolan on the left of the box but the bounce beat him. On 24mins Wetton had a shot from a central position in their half but could not keep it down. Gates was enjoying a good spell and some good work down the right ended with his cross being blocked. On 28mins Wetton played a lovely ball from a central position out to McArthur Nolan on the left but the AFC defence quickly closed him down. On the half hour Wetton battled and kept the ball in the centre and then fed it to Simpson but with his first touch it just got away from him enough for their keeper to gather it. A minute later it was Simpson again breaking into their box from the left but not able to finish. On 33mins McArthur Nolan played the ball through to Phil Page in the box but before he could do anything with it the flag went up for an offside that some might have disputed. Two minutes later we saw a good move as a quick throw out by Webb-Olley found Gates in space on the right and driving forward he found Page in the box. Page shielded the ball, turned but could not generate enough power to trouble the keeper.

The Lingers pressure continued as on 37mins Stripp had space for a shot that drifted wide of the right post. Into the final five minutes of the half and Gates was moving forward down the right again. He found Page in the centre who controlled the ball and laid it off to Simpson searching for an opening. As the defence held firm, he passed to Stripp who returned the ball to Gates on the right to drive into the box and cross towards McArthur Nolan in the box on the left. Under pressure the ball went out for a goal kick but good calm possession probing around the AFC box. Final minute and Wetton won the ball in the centre again. He played it out to McArthur Nolan advancing down the left where he could play in Simpson. Page ran onto Simpson’s through ball but was flagged offside with no complaints this time. The game moved into added time for a couple of injuries and AFC reminded us they were still there with a free kick from the left that was cleared. We then had the Stripp show as in the second minute of added time Simpson set him up for a shot that was deflected out for a corner. He delivered the corner from the left and an AFC head put it behind. Take two and this time the ball came through the crowd to Tom Green for a shot that was fumbled then gathered by the keeper. A good half of football that was just missing a goal for all our pressure and control.

It did not take long for the lads to get into the groove in the second half as on 51mins Wetton played a wonderful ball through from the centre for Simpson to chase. Beating the defender, he cut in, flipped it over the keeper and tucked it in for 1-0. A couple of minutes later George Branton showed his midfielder past with a good ball to find Simpson on the left. With Stephen Hodge up from the back providing support, Simpson received the ball back and had his shot blocked. In clearing the ball, it touched an AFC hand and we had a free kick in a central position five yards beyond the D. Wetton hit the wall with his shot and we had a corner from the right that was delivered by David Heaton and punched clear. AFC were better this half and on 57mins had a free kick a few yards outside the box on the right. The shot hit the wall and was gathered by Webb-Olley. On 63mins Green threaded the ball through to Simpson on the left. He took it into the box and then passed it to McArthur Nolan to his right. He protected the ball, turned, and stroked it into the bottom left corner of the net for 2-0. Two minutes later Simpson was played clear again and driving towards the goal when the flag went up. Sitting directly in line it was a shocking error by the linesman and in questioning it Simpson was shown a yellow card.

Time for a change as Rhyan Ramsay replaced Heaton. AFC had a free kick ten yards from the box on the right on 69mins. The shot was driven into the wall and rebounded back for a second shot that required a sharp save by Webb-Olley to turn it round the post. Then our concentration lapsed as AFC played the corner short and delivered a shot that looped over into the net for 2-1. This changed the game from us cruising into the final twenty minutes to one where we faced a rejuvenated AFC searching for an equaliser at least. On 77mins AFC had two chances for a goal as the ball was put into our six yard box from the right and was cleared to the left. A second cross was put in from the left and then cleared again. Page was replaced by Ashley Aderemi fresh from scoring twice for the U23s on Thursday. It was barely a minute later that he was on the end of a free kick into the six yard box but could not get a connection with the ball. You did wonder if we would rue not keeping control of the game as on 81mins a good shot from AFC needed saving by Webb-Olley. As the final minute approached, AFC had another chance to level with a shot from inside our box but put it over the bar. There had been some stoppages but I am not sure many expected an additional eleven minutes!

In the first additional minute Aderemi was played in on goal from possession on the left and drew a good save from the keeper. Jimmy Williams came on for Wetton. A surging run into the box by Hodge created another chance for Aderemi but he shot wide. Into four added minutes and a move that saw McArthur Nolan move forward and lay it off to Simpson, who passed on to Aderemi. He set the ball out to the right for Gates to come on to it and shoot just wide. Toby Hill came on for Stripp and Tyrone Magala-Bryan replaced Simpson as the final nervy minutes ticked by. The eighth minute of added time brought a corner for AFC as they had a final flourish looking for a point. It was cleared down the field as we tried to keep the ball and see out time. A last drive forward by McArthur Nolan brought a corner and possession by the flag before the final whistle delivered us a 2-1 win.

A much needed win from a game where we had been in control for 70 minutes. A pleasing performance that showed our squad strength where the returning Tom Green meant that the suspended Luke Richardson was not missed. A second outing for Ashley Aderemi nearly brought a first goal. The three points mean that we remain in tenth place and the gap to Midhurst & Easebourne in ninth stays at eight points. We are four points clear of Pagham but have played a game more. Our neighbours Crawley Down have played two games less and are five points behind after losing away at Eastbourne United. In the FA Full Time 6 game form table we are now third behind Haywards Heath and Newhaven. We need to make that form count as we travel to Loxwood but with a week of cold weather ahead there is likely to be a pitch inspection.

Man of the Match for today goes to Tom Green on his return from injury for having not only kept AFC at arm’s length for the majority of the match but having delivered some excellent balls forward to keep us on the front foot.