Having done well to keep scores close so far this season, this was a bad result to follow on from conceding seven against Roffey. In the first return fixture of the season we had to pay a second visit to the Withdean Stadium to play our home game against AFC Varndeanians thanks to the SCFL. There was some surprise that the game went ahead given the rain and strong wind but a few hardy souls braved the cold to attend. After an early own goal, a Jason Stripp super goal had us level by the quarter hour only the concede a soft goal from a corner as the first half was drawing to an end. Failure to clear a corner allowed them to score a third and a fourth came from a bad break of the ball following a challenge. It could have been worst but for a fine penalty save by debutant goalkeeper Sammie Saward.

With Newhaven having lured away our goalkeeper and his replacement serving a suspension thanks to the referee in our last game, Sammie Saward joins us on loan from Lewes FC and had a rough start as in the opening minute as Varndeanians raided down the right. Stephen Hodge was across to cover and on the byline inadvertently slid the ball past Sward's near post in a back pass. Bouncing back a few minutes later, Hodge and Jason Stripp combined down the left to set up Kobi Asante for a shot from wide of the box. Asante's shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper as he gathered the ball. A trademark Richie Wetton long throw into the Varndeanians box on 11mins was cleared and they were through our midfield and on the break. Jack McDonnell was sprinting back to cover and forced their forward wide on the left so his shot across goal drifted wide of the right post. Wetton's next throw from the left into the box was cleared and the ball fell to Stripp outside the box for him to volley home in style on 15mins. Varndeanians attack in the next minute was stopped by good covering that shepherded them to the byline.

Saward pulled off a good save on 19mins as he pushed a shot around the post for a corner that came to nothing. Pushing forward on 24mins Wetton flicked a ball on that ruffled the side netting as a Varndeanians head put it behind for a corner. A second corner followed and having cleared the ball it was flighted back in and Wetton just failed to make contact in the six yard box. Just past the half hour and Stripp brought the ball out from the edge of the box and drove down the middle of the pitch to feed the ball to Bradley Kauzemi. Kauzemi held on to the ball but could not break free of the covering defenders. Varndeanians then broke down the right only to come up against Hodge covering once again. On 37mins Conor Wilford was on hand to halt Varndeanians by putting the ball behind for a corner but from the resulting kick Kauzemi was outjumped and it was 2-1. With five minutes to go David Heaton curled in a corner from the right on the wind but the referee called a free kick in the box. In the first added minute, a Stripp free kick from the right into the box came to Tyrone Magala Bryan on the left. He laid it back for Hodge to cross and the keeper saved from a header and after a further two minutes it was half time.

Into the second half, a neat turn on receiving the ball got Varndeanians clear of Magala Bryan but the resulting shot was wide of the left post. There was an opening when Stripp put the ball into their box for Asante to challenge with the keeper but it was well claimed. On 55mins Wetton won a free kick on the corner of the box but the kick was cleared long where Hodge had it covered and was taken out as he cleared it. As the hour approached Saward came to claim a free kick and then quickly sent the ball forward to Kauzemi. He held it up well to win a throw but nothing came from it. On 61mins Varndeanians beat the offside although it must have been close. Magala Bryan blocked the cross at the expense of a corner. The corner was cleared but returned back into the box and Saward was up to challenge for the ball but it was headed home for 3-1. Time for a change as Reuben Zamorano replaced Heaton. With 68mins played Keanan Allassani played the ball to Kauzemi on the left to create a half chance for Wetton.

More changes with Allassani, Wetton and Kauzemi replaced by Ousmane Balde Dansoko, Khavarn Williams and Jimmy Williams.

Into the last fifteen minutes and Williams J had the ball on the right touchline. He passed it through to McDonnell to burst forward and set up Asante for a shot that drifted wide of the left post. Varndeanians played the ball long and Saward came out to challenge for the ball but it broke kindly for Varndeanians and it was 4-1 on 77mins. Five minutes later Hamza Abubakari replaced Stripp. With five minutes to play Wilford found Balde Dansoko with a long ball and he earned a free kick left of the D. Wilford fired the kick just over the bar. Varndeanians were breaking down the left with two minutes to go, driving into the box their player hit the deck but it fooled the referee as he awarded a penalty. Justice was served by a splendid save by Saward onto the bar and then sharp action cleared it behind. On full time, Balde Dansoko did well to be able to work space for a cross from the right but it was cleared. One added minute later and it was the final whistle. Having lost 2-1 on our visit in September it was a 4-1 defeat this time although the goals conceded were poor.

Only five fixtures in the SCFL survived the weather where the only other fixture in the division saw Peacehaven beat Loxwood by the odd goal in nine so nothing changed in the table. Our next two games probably could not be tougher as we travel midweek to Dorking Wanderers in the Surrey Senior Cup where we have bad memories from our last visit. A trip to the form team and table toppers Hassocks follows on Saturday. We host Little Common at Whyteleafe before Christmas and then have a lot of travelling to do until we begin our series of Friday evening home games at Whyteleafe starts in mid January.