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Newhaven FC at home to Bexhill United FC in the SCFL Premier League at Fort Road |
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The Dockers ⚓ host the Pirates ⛵ on a sunny Easter Saturday 🐣 afternoon by the Ouse. The Dockers are flying high in 2nd place while the Pirates are down in 17th. The tables doesn't tell it all and this will be a tough afternoon. There are some changes to the line-up which seems a little thin in the ground. Jake is in goal with Robbie and Josh Tuck in the middle, Bailie is on the left and Jacob Thomson on the right. Ryan Blunt and Rob Malila are in the middle with Cal on the left and Warwick right wings. Alfie is wearing the 10 as usual with Luke Donaldson in the 9. Lets see how they get on.
The Dockers are attacking the skate park end as ever. The ferry ⛴arrives on time just before kick-off. Hope that's a good sign. We should be ahead after a couple of minutes but Bailie heads over. Luke Donaldson grabs his hamstring and goes down off the ball. It doesn't look good and he is subbed off with Lee coming on after just 13 minutes. He gets his first chance on 22 but it crosses the goalmouth to creep just outside the right post. It's the Pirates that score first on 35 after Dockers fail to clear their area. The Pirates manager has been shouting at the ref all half. Not sure what he hope to accomplish. What he does get is a 5 minute bollocking stern talking to from the ref after which he shuts up. While he is distracted though, there are about 6 of the Pirates within 6 yards of the lino at the skate park end all having a go. Appalling behavior from visitors here. We go into the break with a single goal the difference.
The Dockers need to step up in the second half. They start well and the chances come again and again but they can't convert them. The Pirates score against the run of play as a shot evades Bussy's grasp on 54. First changes on 59 as Jon replaces Jacob Thomson and Tyrese Mthunzi replaces Blunty. The Dockers finally get on the score sheet when Robbie volleys home a loose ball after Alfie's corner. Another chance missed a minute later then Tyrese misses and another when Cal tips it over the bar. Demas replaces Josh and goes wide right. Robbie Keith's turn to miss again. Rob Malila is replaced Toby Reeder. There are a couple more good chances as the 90 minute mark is reached. The whistle goes on 90+5 straight after a Dockers corner but before the ball can be recycled. 2-1 to the visitors 😒.
How did we lose that? So many missed chances by the Dockers. The Pirates defended well but against a tough team the quality needs to improve. An early goal might have changed things but we were unlucky to lose Luke so early. Only the 3rd league defat of the season. Need to push on for the promotion and losses like this don't help. Not a nice game and not a nice atmosphere either. One to forget and move on. Back here in 2 days so hoping for a better day out and a better result.
POTM: Today's award goes to Robbie Kieth 🏅for the goal and overall performance at the back.
There was a post-match presentation for the Dockers team that won the league in 1974 🏆 . Great to see the old boys watching the match and to have a chance to applaud 👏their achievements 50 years ago.
Ref put up with a lot of abuse and should have shut it down sooner. What the lino had to put up with wasn't fair, if he had walked it would have been game over and you couldn't have blamed him. Did ok between them and it was a tough game to manage. They have earned a whiskey or 2 when they get home.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Sun in shining |
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| Team time |
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| On the way |
