Miss You Like Crazy

Newhaven FC host Eastbourne Town FC in the Peter Bentley Cup 2nd Round at Fort Road

The Dockers face the Saffrons in the 2nd round of the Peter Bentley Cup. Newhaven are the holders so it would be a shock to go out at this stage but it's cup football and anything can happen. There are one or two missing from the team sheet but it still a good line up. Hope Josh Tuck is better than Doug Tuck 😉 but he is a bit taller☝. It's a warm, still evening by the Ouse which is a huge contrast to the rain and gales at Hill Park last week. This is match no 150 for me. Hope it's a good one.

Dockers start well and Cal is having a great time running them ragged on the right. The Saffons are leaving him so much space👨‍🚀. They are defending the crosses well and that's a lot of crosses to defend. The Dockers breakthrough comes on 19 when Lee can't get hold of Billy's low cross but Alfie is on hand to bury it ⚽. Loads of corners for Cal to take, Josh and Robbie get on the end of a few of them but can't get the right contact to hit the target. The Dockers are all over United but can't make it count and take a narrow lead into the break.

The Dockers don't get the same grip on the match after the restart and Jake has to make a couple of saves. At least he remembers how. The Dockers eventually manage to double their lead on 65 when Robbie gets a head or shoulder or something on the ball from an Alfie corner and it ends up in the net⚽. With a 2-0 lead they sit back and soak up the pressure not that they have a choice as the Saffrons start to play a bit of football. The 3rd goal looks like it might go to the visitors as they pile on the pressure but can't hit the target. The first change is Ezra who comes on for big Robbo. He waited just 5 minutes to score his first Dockers goal. He picked it up wide on the half way line, no- one kept up with him so he went alone. It looked like he had over run it but finished with precision from a tight angle⚽. Potential goal of the month right there. The game was killed off now. The Saffrons worked hard for a consolation goal and gave Jake is a good test. Bussy was forced to make an incredible save from close range and no-one looks surprised as this is just normal for him these days. Clean sheet intact. On to the third round.

A good game at times and frustrating at others. First half was tale of missed chances. The Dockers should have been 6 or 7 up by the break. With 2 games a week at the moment it was surprising that the changes were made so late with the first being Robbo on 78. Keeping up momentum after making changes has been an issue so maybe that was the thinking. Whatever the reasoning it worked tonight against tough opposition. Well done boys. Mad about the Saffons. Not me. And don't call me Mellow Yellow.

POTM: Goes to the midfield duo of the Ryans, Blunt and Warwick🏆🏆. Getting involved in everything.

The officials officiated to the best of their ability which is all that you can ask.

See you soon

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

A Nice Autumn Night

Still no Bailey 

Moon River

Jock-A-Hula Baby

England Women v Scotland Women in the inaugural UEFA Nations League at the Stadium Of Light in Sunderland

It's the Lionesses first game since the World Cup final and they face the Jockesses at the Black Cats 🐱‍👤 home in Wearside. The match is the first round in the shiny new Nations League that has replaced the usual friendlies and 10-nil qualifying games. It's going to be tough as the Scots are in good form and the Lionesses may be suffering the after effects of the Cup Final loss. Beth and Leah are still out, Fran is not back, Kiera has a new injury. Lessi is in the squad but being rested tonight. Other than that it's a full squad 💯. It looks like Rachel and LH are up front with LJ and Tooney behind and Katie Zelem behind them. Chloe and Lucy are out wide. At the back are Alex, Millie and Jess. Looks good to us. Sam Kerr, the other one, starts for Scotland and Caroline Wier is playing. We remember her and how good she is from Real Madrid at Chelsea.

It's a big event so it's time for the wheelie bins of fire and some very noisy (and smelly) fireworks. 🎆🧨🎇 The players line up for the national anthems and then the stand alternately and show their wrist bands for a group photo in solidarity with the Spanish Women's team. #SeAcabo "It's over". There is a minutes silence for Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack who passed away recently aged just 27. Very sad. The players and officials take the knee then we're off.

Scotland kick off but the Lionesses are straight on the attack and Hempo is giving the defenders a hard time. The chances come and go for Georgia and Rachel. Scotland get a look in but blink and it's gone. Hempo is causing issues left and right. We get to 20 minutes before Scotland get a decent chance and Caroline Wier forces Mary into a good save. It's LJ's turn to cause the defence issues now but it's Rachel Daly getting her head on a diagonal ball from Katie Zelem that puts the ball in the net. It's disallowed for offside as Chloe Kelly is "too" near the keeper No VARse for some reason today so it's gone and we carry on. Scotland are picking up the ball high up the pitch and Thomas is getting in the mix forcing a good save. Millie must have got fed up with her as she flattens Thomas with no degree of subtlety. The penalty shout is turned down. Straight down the other end and Zelem's long diagonal finds the head of a flying Lucy and this time it counts. A goal at last on 38. It's another header, this time is Hempo of a Daly cross puts it the net on 45. Scotland press in injury time and poor communication amongstcthe Lionesses causes the turnover. Hanson, (Kirsty not mm bop) just about gets to it first and it rolls in off the inside of the post wrong footing Mary. A very poor goal to concede and what bad timing. Serina will be cross as we arrive at the break.

England start brightly with chances from Rachel and LJ before Rachel gets through only to be offside.  Scotland are starting to apply some pressure, pressing high.  Weir is getting on the ball more especially wide on the right exposing Chloe Kelly as a wing back. Have never seen a player asked to leave the field to put a boot back on but have now. Wierd but funny as it's a Scotland player.  Good defending by Greenwood keeps the Lionesses in the the lead.  Mary makes a good save, they get to the second ball but but shot hits the bar Phew.  Living dangerously here.  It's quite an onslaught from the Jockesses with Hanson leading the charge.  Big chance as Weir nicks the ball but Grimshaw fires straight at Mary.  There is some relief for England as Hanson hobbles off injured on 88.   LJ gets clear in injury time and plays on despite the flag for off-side.  She scores but it won't count.  It's a tight call again though.  Still 2-1.  Scotland have a last attack and then it's all over. England start the nations league with a win.

Wasn't a great spectacle. The first half was good a times but the second was a bit flat.  But a win is a win and it should be double points for beating Scotland.  The ground was nice but a bit cramped.  Maybe they are sponsored by EasyJet.  Travelling there from Newcastle wasn't fun and getting home makes Wembley Way seem like a picnic in the park.  

Ref could have done worse but dissapointed there was no V'ARse.  Scotland would have had a penalty then it might have finished 4-2 as the Lionesses disallowed goals were both very close decisions.   Whatever happened to giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt as neither was clear cut.  The girls are back to WSL next weekend then we are on our own international break.

Scranometer made a welcome return and enjoyed a trip to the North East with a slap up breakfast in Newcastle on Saturday morning.  Yum. Thanks Olive and Bean. 

See you soon somewhere for some 9th division action. 

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Got here at last!

Stadium Of Light

Ing glee und

Filling up

Ears on 🔥 

Winning

Alan

Bobby

The Wind Beneath My Wingers

Newhaven FC away to Saltdean FC in the SCFL at Hill Park

The Dockers are back at Hill Park to face The Tigers on a breezy (and some) and wet (sideways rain) Autumn (freezing more like) evening. They are under new management with ex-Dockers Coach and U23's Manager Kieron at the helm. Hope it goes well for him, except tonight when we hope he has a nightmare. We were here back in January when the Tigers were struggling and came away with the points after winning 7-0. Expecting them to be a better footballing side tonight under Kieron's influence but still hope they get a bit battered tonight. A couple of familiar faces in the Tigers with ex Dockers including an old favourite, Aaron Windsor. Marley was here last year but no sign of the speedy striker today.

Saltdean won the toss but for some reason thought it was good idea to start with the Dockers are attacking with the wind 🤷‍♂️. And it is some wind blowing in off the sea. The wind assistance helps the reds, seen here in blue, run riot in the first spell.  The  with a long range strike for Alfie being the first on target in the 2nd minute ⚽. Callum Edwards doubles the lead on 9 with a strike from way out on the right that misses everyone and goes straight into the net⚽. Of course he meant it. He's got a great strike on him. The Dockers are dominant but struggling with the wind which is blowing the rain under the stand roof as we try to stay dry. The Tigers started to get a bit of a grip on the game, restricting the Dockers to only a few more chances and nearly pulled one back in the dying seconds but it went way over the bar. It could and should have been 3-0 but could easily have been 2-1. Who will get the 3rd goal? The Dockers are 2 up and looking 'reasonably' comfortable at the break.

The second half saw the Dockers playing into the wind. The Tigers were unable to exploit having the wind behind them and both sides defended well with limited chances. It was settled by Rob Malia on 86 ⚽ as he fired home from the edge of the box after a Callum Edwards corner. All over at Hill Park except for one of the Tigers who got sin-binned with about 7 minutes to go so was effectively sent off.

An entertaining game as it's always more enjoyable to watch with a goal or two in the bank. Dockers have played better and need to be more clinical. Saltdean have improved but have a long way to go. Looking forward to coming back soon here to see an improved team and the big upgrade that is coming to Hill Park. The crowd was a little (though it was marginal) quieter tonight after the feedback on the 'rowdiness' during and after the Lingfield game 🤐.

POTM: Goes to Mad Max Vardy who had a funny 5 minutes and entertained us all running round after the ball like a cat doing zoomies. Until he got reined in and settled down to defend sensibly 🤣.

The officials did receive some limited feedback but could have done worse. Line keeping for off-side was always going to be a nightmare in the gale force winds.

International action up next with a trip to the North East🥶.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

It 's Dark At Hill Park

Good Golly Mister Jolley

Tranmere Rovers FC away to Crawley Town FC in EFL League 2 at the People's Pension Stadium

The Rovers visit the Red Devils for the second time this year and it's another hot and sunny afternoon in Sussex. The last time we were here in April, the hosts were teetering on the brink of relegation until they took all 3 points from us. The tables have turned now and it is Rovers struggling to stay out of the relegation zone having lost 6 in 7. Ian Dawes has gone so Nigel Adkins is at the helm. Let's see if the positivity can have an impact on what should be a decent squad but suffering from very poor recent form. In a change to recent games, Nigel Adkins has for some reason, known only to himself, to play players in the best positions. It's a strange idea that will never work, surely. The front 3 of Jennings, Taylor and the seldom seen Charlie Jolley looks good. In defence there are 4 defenders in the shapes of Pike, Davies, Turnbull and Wood. McAlear, Walker and Hawkes make up the middle 3.  Lets hope the changes work 🙏.

The Rovers start brightly and take the lead on 21 as Charlie Jolley runs on to a through ball from Sam. Has a lot to do but rounds the stranded keeper to slot home ⚽. There are a few more half chances but no more goals. The SWA get in a few verses of "We're winning away" while they can. The ref has a had a good first 45 but it end as we head into injury time and the weird bookings start. The Whites, seen here in white, are still in the lead at the break 🤞.

It gets a bit more end to end in the second 45. Both sides are getting chances. Hawkes has a great chance that he makes for himself with a run down the wing that ends in front of goal but the shot from the edge of the box goes just over. The bookings continue, mostly for time wasting and dissent. The hosts get a free kick at the edge of the box and it ends up in the back of the net. It all gets a bit out of control behind the goal where the Crawley fans are. There are smoke bombs and all sorts of other things being thrown onto the pitch and at Luke McGee. He just gets on with tidying up the goal area. The ref hides at the side of the pitch talking to a steward but in the end he pretends it didn't happen and does nothing. The Rovers are soon back in front from Sam (backflipping) Taylor on 66⚽. The lead lasts all of 2 minutes as a ball across the goal mouth is unchallenged and tapped home. Our Nige, makes some changes with Harvey Saunders coming on for Sam. His pace doesn't really help as the Rovers are pinned back in their own half. As we reach the 45 mark, there are 8 added minutes. Don't you know we have homes to go to? Harvey finally gets to run with the ball and creates a chance, he passes to Hawkes who is in front of an open goal but can't sort out his feet quick enough and it goes wide. The Whites are struggling to get out and under constant pressure. Not good for such a leaky defence. Crawley score on 96 after a disputed freekick from the left edge of the box. He got the ball ref, did you take your contacts out at half time? After some more time wasting, the final whistle goes at a few seconds short of 100 minutes.

It's another loss for the Rovers but there are rays of hope 🌤 and a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result. The first half was much better that the second as the Whites struggled to get and keep the ball. They also missed opportunities to hit on the break, slowing it down too much. They are a side short on confidence but there were good bits and goals from 2 youngsters defiantly a plus from the day.

POTM: Charlie Jolley is the recipient today 🏅, ran his socks off and scored a great goal.

Ref did well for the first 45, went a bit bonkers in injury time then completely lost in the second half. Did nothing when it all kicked off but issued 9 yellow cards in a game that wasn't aggressive or bad tempered. The timewasting and shenanigans only registered a 3 on the Forest green Darks Arts scale but but he picked on every little thing until he didn't. Didn't seem bothered toward the end of the game, maybe his card was full and he ran out of room for names.

Today saw the return of the Scranometer with a guest appearance giving a 9.5 to the pizza 🍕and chips🍟.Not good enough from the catering at Crawley with no water available at half time on such a hot day🐪.

Next up is the Lionesses in Nations League action 🏆.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Sunny in Sussex

Warm enough already boys

We're winning away (at half time)

Time On My Side

Newhaven FC host Lingfield FC at the Trafalgar Ground in the SCFL Premier League

We are back in League action again as the Dockers face the Lingers. The Dockers won this fixture back in January in the first game without Alfie. He's back now so we don't have to worry about who is going to launch all the free kicks into the skatepark. It's a strange line up for the Dockers tonight with a very makeshift defence. No Robbie, Billy or Bailey. Bailey is in the crowd as he is out injured for a while. Not sure about the others, on the beach maybe 🏖. Hopefully back soon 🙏. Sidders gets a start along with Max and Little Robbo playing at left back 👀.

The Lingers are up for a scrap and Jake has to make a fantastic double save early on. Captain Fantastic strikes (or in this case saves) again. And again. Could be a tough night. It also became apparent early on that, whatever the result, this was going to be an unpleasant evening as it was clearly all going to be about the ref🤐. The visitors did find the back of the net a few minutes later from, yet another, disputed free kick that the Dockers failed to clear. The temperature ramped up a little when the ref bottled sending off the visitors no 9 for a horror tackle. Dockers conceded again not long after🙄. Defence gone a bit AWOL tonight and missing Blunty providing cover in front of them. The big call for a penalty for a foul on Alfie went unheard by the ref who must have been looking the other way and Sideshow Bob running the line must have closed his eyes as it was right in front of him. No attempt to play the ball , just bundled over. Temperature clicks up another notch🔥. Dockers start to get a few chances and come close. Calum does better than close and gets one back on 42 ⚽. Dockers trail at the break but are starting to look sharper and more angry.

It was very much one way traffic on the restart. The Dockers piling on the pressure with cross after cross and corner after corner but no-one getting on the end of them. The Lingers, who were defiantly worth of being called the Mingers by now, defended well and the Dockers were just too predictable. We thought we had equalised when Demas, who came on for Ezra, headed just wide of the left post. The next goal went the other way as the Lingers pace got the better of the Dockers high line to make it 3-1. Game over. Almost. As we head past 10 minutes of added time, Ryan Warwick picked up the second ball just outside the box and blasted it onto the bar, it hit the underside, straight down then back out. The ref waved away the goal appeal then went to talk to the gesticulating linesperson and the goal was given. The Dockers were unable to get the equaliser and the half, all 60 minutes of it, finished as it started with a goal deficit.

Wow. That was horrible 🤮. One of the most irritating, bad tempered timewasting games ever .The ref was awful, making decisions that suited him and no-one else. Occasionally decided to clamp down on the visitors ridiculous time wasting but would then bottle it if it meant a second yellow. Visiting fans even joined in the time wasting by throwing the ball into the back of the stand instead of back onto the pitch. A ploy that worked so well for Tranmere 🤬. The second half was a actually more like a second 2/3rds with the extra 15 minutes that had to be played to make up for the timewasting. And another late sub, and another and another. Be nice to never play them again. We made a sharp exit after the final whistle before the atmosphere got any worse. Watching the Dockers play their attacking football usually provides some relief from the misery of watching Tranmere recently but tonight was certainly one to be endured rather than enjoyed.

POTM: Goes to the Dockers own superhero, Jake (Captain Fantastic) Buss. Not all heroes wear capes.

Now to the ref, who, thought it was a good idea to pour petrol on the fire of a bad tempered game when what what was needed was someone to calm it down. It could easily have led to players getting injured. And as for the lino on the stand side, must have closed his eyes every time Alfie got the ball. It's easy to moan about the officials but this really wasn't good enough tonight.

A short break now before we summon up our courage to watch Tranmere at Crawley. Can it be any worse than this? Probably! See you there.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back at Fort Road

Some changes to the team today

A Bridge Too Far