Tranmerekat on Tour: Hoist The Jolly Rogers

Newhaven FC host Bexhill United FC in the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup 3rd Round at the Trafalgar Ground

The Dockers ⚓ face the Pirates 🏴‍☠️ at Fort Road to decide who gets the booty and who walks the plank. These teams met 3 weeks ago in the league and the Dockers were 3-0 winners in a very tight game. Expecting it to be just as tough tonight. It's a cup game so will go to penalties if it's level at fulltime. Don't wait up. There are some new faces in the team and some old faces returning. Marcel Powell is new, a winger. Also new to us are Billy Barker, right back, Tareq Shihab is back too. And Bailey is back from injury so with Herbie on the bench, the Rogers hattrick could be on. 🙏

It's edgy to begin with and no clear chances until, oops, again. The visitors scored after 12 minutes with their first chance with a header over Jake after a scramble in the box and they get the luck of the bounce with the second ball. The Dockers have a few spells of the attacking football we know they are capable of but don't get a clear cut chance. There are a few half chances from outside the box or at difficult angles but their keeper made some good saves to either gather or clear the ball. Jake on the other hand hasn't had anything to do. The Pirates still in the lead at half time though.

Newhaven apply some consistent pressure at the restart but the bounce of the ball is always just wrong and the visitor are able to do enough to prevent a goal. More chances come and go with Alfie, Ramsis and substitute Ruda all threatening to level the score. Herbie came on as a sub to complete the Rogers trio on the pitch.🥳 Big news is that Jake had to make a save. His first and only save of the half. So he was awake then. With just 2 minutes left on the clock, Alfie is brought down in the box and the ref points to the spot ⚪👈. Brought down is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence. Of course he sticks it in the net⚽ There are more chances but the clock runs down and we go to a penalty shootout.

It's at the skate park end. The Pirates up first walking the long plank to the penalty spot. Missed ❌. Ha-Ha. Robbo first. No problem ✅. Pirates second beats Jake ✅. Then Alfie ✅. Pirates make it 2-2✅. Don Street's is saved to keep it level at 3 taken each❌. Pirates 4th hits the post❌. Buss buries his after the longest run up ever 🏃‍♂️✅. The Pirates need to score the last of their 5 to stay in it but it lands in the skate park 🛹❌. Newhaven win with a penalty in hand. Quarter finals for the Dockers as they take the booty and the Pirates (seen fiercer Girl Guides) walk the plank of shame. Bye 👋

POTM: Hard to call as a few good performances out there but goes to Demas Ramsis for some amazing runs down the right wing. Joy to watch.

Hot chocolate ☕ is back on form to with an excellent 9 which is the best performance so far this season. 👏

Scranometer registered a steady 7 for the cheesy chips.

Officiating was consistently annoying for everyone and the officials did receive some polite feedback. Most was ok (it's 9th division football after all) but some a bit strange like the throw in to them that made Alfie shout at the ref or the dropped ball when it had gone out of play. All forgiven for the soft pen. Thanks.

See you soon

Love Tranmerekat 🐾