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Newhaven FC host Crowborough Athletic FC in the SCFL Premier League at Fort Road |
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The Dockers face the Crows in the play-off semi -final away in darkest East North Sussex. The Dockers place in the playoffs was confirmed a couple of weeks ago with that dogged 🐶 performance at Haywards Heath. They were 2nd in the league at the time and the title was a mathematical possibility but were realistically looking at a home playoff semi. They have since lost badly, to both Steyning and Hassocks, and dropped to 4th so now here we are at an away semi-final. Two years ago today, the Dockers were in that painful inter-step playoff against Lancing at Lancing. Felt robbed that day. Need to start to fix that now. We have a strong line up so hope to turn around that poor form and head for the final.
The Dockers start well and get the first chance from Alfie and Rob Malila but it’s over. Newhaven are holding their own against the direct attacking Crows. Warwick hits a good shot but it’s deflected out for a corner on 21. Aflie’s corner finds Robbie Keith and it’s in the net via the post ⚽. Advantage Dockers on 22. 1-0. Rob Malila heads just over again from an Alfie cross. The hard fighting Dockers are typified by Billy who is booked for a robust challenge on 28. A goalmouth scramble in the Dockers penalty area leads to the ball trickling across the line for a goal. Was it under the control of Bussy before being tapped home? Opinions seem to differ a 😡 but ref gives the goal. 1-1 after half an hour. And still 1-1 AFTER 2 minutes added on.
The second half starts with some Crows chances, They are celebrating on 48 as they score or, not, as play continues after the cheering and the officials don’t react. Phew. Still 1-1. We hang on again as Bussy makes a save on 49 but Robbie goes down off the ball. It looks bad at first but he is up and ready to go after treatment. Hope he’s OK. Plenty more work for the defence is bound to be incoming. It;s not long before the changes start as Josh Tuck replaces Billy on 58. There's not much else to report until some more changes when Jon is replaced by Alex Plumber on 78. Bailey blasts just wide from range, it goes just wide and he goes down injured. He is helped off the pitch and replaced by Luke Donaldson. The defence becomes even more make shift. The Crows are pushing to break the deadlock. Bussy makes a great save on 88. Into 5 added minutes, The Crows shoot wide, Phew. Robble blocks another. With 3 of the 5 gone, Bussy makes an incredible double save. Wow. POTM just changed hands. We’re still in it and it;s still level at the whistle. I don't know how they have hung on to the end there. An absolute onslaught but they did. Time for the dreaded penalty shootout.
The Dockers to shoot first: - Alfie ✅ 1-0, Crow ✅ 1-1, Robbo ✅ 2- 1, Crow ✅ 2-2, Warwick ✅ 3-2, Crow ❌ Easily saved by Bussy in the middle of the goal 3-2, Luke Donaldson ✅ 4-2, Crow ✅ 4-3, Sudden death now! 🙏 Cal Edwards ✅ 5 -3. 🤸 Dockers win the shootout which means they progress to the Final on Sunday. That will be away to Eastbourne Town who beat Hassocks 2-0 tonight. That will be a tough game but after tonight's "resilient" performance, anything can happen in this league. Town are the form team at the moment and the Dockers have struggled to get any consistency toward the end of the season. Fingers crossed more in hope than expectation🤞. Just 90 more minutes to go then they can have a few weeks off. Besides winning the shoot out, tonight's highlight is Little Robbo, now off crutches, shouting “shoot” at his teammates as they seem to be incapable of doing exactly that.
POTM: Robbie Keith was looking good for the award until the last 5 when Jake pulled off some amazing saves and ran off with the prize 🏅.
The final up next.
See you soon.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| The home of the Crows |
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| A few returns from injury |
