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Newhaven FC host AFC Uckfield in the SCFL Premier League at Fort Road |
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Tranmere away at Swindon was postponed due to a frozen pitch and definitely not because they have no manager at the moment. So, we are at Newhaven who host Uckfield, the Oakmen🌳, or the Uckers🤣, on a chilly but not freezing afternoon by the Ouse. Today's opponents are 2nd from the bottom of the league having only won 2 games but they will be up for a battle and the Dockers will need to be at their best. There is no Bussy in the squad tonight and Paul "Woodsy" Woods is in his place. There is a debutante in the form of Luke Donaldson who is playing in the 11 where Little would have been. Bussy is later spotted queuing for chips! Looks like a back 3 of Billy, Robbie, and Max. Reedy is right wingback and Callum Edwards is on the left. It seems like a bit of a waste of his attacking skills and some skills they are. He is a joy to watch with the ball at his feet. Hope we get to see some of that today. Hoping for a scoreline that reflects the league position of the 2 opponents but actually expecting it to be quite a tight game.
It's a slow start for the Dockers ⚓ and nothing memorable happens until Billy gets caught on the ball. Instead of smashing it out, he tries to be a bit too clever and as a result, the Uckers striker is through on goal. He makes no mistake in putting it past Woodsy into the net. The hosts are a goal down after 24 minutes. Oops. Maybe this will fire them up a bit They soon equalise with a small helping of luck. Reedy makes a run to the line and goes down when he gets a hand on the back. Soft, maybe🤷♂️. What isn't soft is Alfie's strike from the spot. Level on 30⚽️. It gets to 45 with no more goals. There were a lot of offsides as the Oakman played a high line and the Dockers are trying to play on the break but not getting it right. A frustrating and lackluster half of football.
It's all to play for as we restart. Bailey is on for Reedy and goes left back as they change to a back 4. Callum is on the right and new boy Luke is on the left in front of Bailey. Looks more like a Dockers line up now. The men in red start to press and there is a scramble in the goal mouth. The are multiple shots from various players but it won't go in. A minute later and Lee breaks clear. He passes across the 6 yard box to Alfie who is waiting there ready to tap it in on 51⚽. Some real quality on display as Callum Edwards runs on to a fantastic ball from Bailey. He forgets to cross and puts it in the net instead from outside the box on 55⚽. Demas comes on for Callum, imagine being 3-1 down and a player with that pace comes on. New boy Luke Donaldson gets a goal on his debut as he runs on to a through ball then calmly rounds the keeper for a class finish on 76⚽. We like him already. The Uckers look to have got one back but it's block by a docker leg then Woods makes a great one handed save from short range. How did they keep that out🤷♂️. We've not seen James Rhodes for ages but he come on for Alfie, Fin swaps with Luke and Toby Reeder is on for Big Robbo. The Dockers often struggle when they make a lot of changes, hope they can push on today. A docker (maybe Toby?) heads it in at the near post from a Ryan Warwick cross on 86⚽. He's only been on 2 minutes. Good boy. 5-1 Into injury time and Demas races clear and a great cross gives Fin his turn to score on 94 to make it 6-1⚽. Uck'ing great result😲.
All over. Disappointed not to get to watch Tranmere today but got to watch some decent football instead. Didn't get beaten up by Swindle's Ku Fu ninja🥋 stewards is an extra bonus. Dockers were struggling first half but the introduction of Bailey and change of formation worked wonders. They were more solid and also had more threat than they could muster in the first 45. The penalty was a bit soft but the ref had set the precedent that you can put your hand on someone's back. Alfie never going to miss that. Great team performance that just got better as the Uckers imploded. Top of the table still.
Ref seemed to think that football had suddenly become a non-contact sport and was giving free kicks for very soft contacts. He did however, make one of the most sensible uses of allowing an advantage and then pulling it back when no advantage has been gained, that we have seen for a long time. Lee had ended up with the ball near the corner but was surrounded by three defenders, the ref deemed that not to be sufficient advantage and pulled it back despite Lee's complaints. No pleasing in some people. Could do with a bit more of that common sense in the WSL. Both teams seemed to be caught off-side a lot but both were playing a high line and we didn't see any howlers of decisions.
Ferry sailed a little early and was on it's way about 4.55 ⛴ .
The Scranometer didn't attend today but if we can track down Bussy, we'll ask him how the chips were.
See you at Lewes for the visit of the Hornets 🐝
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Sunshine at Fort Road |
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| Woodsy in goal |
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| Tide is out |
