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Newhaven FC away to Haywards Heath FC the Southern Combined Premier League at Hanbury Park |
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It's a big night as the Dockers visit the Bluebells as the season draws to a dramatic conclusion. A win tonight guarantees the playoffs as the, "NEW FOR 23/24", playoffs are semi-finals and final just like the EFL instead of inter-step playoffs as previously. The Dockers lost the inter-step playoff to Lancing 2 years ago and finished 3rd last season. The Dockers have an increasing injury list but making up the 11 is a back line of Bailey, Robbie, Jacob Thomson and Jon. Blunty, Alex Plumber and Rob Malilia in the middle and Alfie, Cal and Robbo up front. The Bluebells, also known as the Heath have got a good number of fans here and they have got a drum 🥁. It's a first for us a drum in the 9th division. Heath Ultras making a noise.
The Bluebells are dominant and attacking for first 5 minutes. The Dockers start to settle after that and kept the ball better limiting the opponent attacking changes for the next hour. Lee puts the ball in the net on 23 but Father Jack on the far side flags in off-side. Feck. That is a bit of a theme with FJ getting very flag happy making it very frustrating for the Dockers. Alfie takes a free kick from five yards outside the box, it misses everyone and curls just inside the near post on 30 ⚽. He gets another go but the second goal doesn't come. It's like Steyning all over again! Too many missed changes and an uncomfortably slim lead going into the break.
The Dockers carry on with much of the same but noting of note until Blunty plays a great cross to Lee, his shot is saved, he is first to the rebound but puts it wide on 71. We are not getting all our own way and Bussy is called on but makes a good save. Aflie gets a chance to finish the game off. Chooses to round the keeper who manages to get enough on it to save the goal. The changes start with Reedy on for Jon on 82 and Luke Donaldson for Alfie on 85. The Dockers are soaking up the pressure as the Bluebells lay siege to Bussy's goal. He keeps the ball out with a couple of great saves and one fantastic save. The hosts are also wasteful and put a couple of great changes over the bar so far that they hit the block of flats behind. Demas comes on for Robbo to bring in some fresh legs on 90. Injury time might be a bit tense. The Dockers ate throwing bodies in the way to keep the ball out of the net. Reedy gets the ball down the other end and runs it into the corner flag. He loses it but won't give in so hacks his opponent to prevent him getting away with the ball and gets a yellow card for taking one for the team on 93. Billy comes on for Bailey to freshen up legs at the back. The Dockers are clinging on somehow. The final whistle seems to take an age to go but there are huge celebrations when it does.
Can't believe that the Dockers have hung in there. Fingers nails may have been bitten slightly. That was some performance in the last 15. The Dockers are in the play-offs 🥳. We made it hard for ourselves in the first half by missing so many chances and not taking a few in the second. Best team won but not sure how. The Heath kit was nice though. Seem to recall thinking the same a few years ago when we last here. The heath have the strangest seating arrangement in their main stand. It's just wooden steps with some seat based screwed down on alternate rows. It was really good to see Ian 'Little' Robinson in the crowd although he was on crutches following his ACL reconstruction.
POTM: Could really have been any of the starting 11 and perhaps should be all of them but instead it goes to Reedy 🏅 for running the clock down and then fouling his opponent to make the ref get his book out and waste a bit more time. Top draw gamesmanship and commitment to the cause 👏.
The ref could have been worse but the line keeping was really inconsistent line keeping. Some very odd calls right in front of us where there were both miles on and miles off yet the wrong call was made.
The Scranometer is asking when we can come back as the hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows was lovely 9/10.
See you at Fort Road for the next installment.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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