Tranmerekat on Tour: Battle and Hum

Newhaven FC host Hastings United in a pre-season friendly at Fort Road

The first game of the season and we are back at Fort Road where the Dockers host the 'U's (no sheep jokes please). Hastings are in the Isthmian Prem where they finished 8th above Lewes and Bognor and were also Sussex Cup finalists where they were soundly beaten by the Hornets. They were bad losers that night at the AMEX and we hope for more of the same tantrums tonight. It's going to be a tough game against the 'U's but it's their first pre-season game and the Dockers have a head start having played Sutton Common on Saturday. There are some familiar faces for the Dockers with Bussy is in goal as ever, Billy is at right back, Cal is right wing, the Ryans are in midfield and Lee is up front. Bailie, Reedy and Luca are on the bench. There are a few new faces playing. We'll put names to more faces as the season comes along. Alfie has left us, 😭 and moved to Steyning while Josh Tuck has moved to Lancing.

It's looking a fairly even match at the start. The Dockers take an early lead as new centre half, no. 6, charges up the pitch with the ball. His run only stops when he gets tripped in the box. No. 6 turns out to be Tom Vickers from Eastbourne Town and he takes the pen himself to make it 1-0 to the Dockers on 13 ⚽. New favourite player. Welcome Tom. More of the same please. The Dockers are under pressure for the last 20 minutes of the half and the unsurprising equaliser comes on 35. The Docker hold on to keep it to 1-1 at the break.

Not far into the 2nd half and Ryan Warwick is fouled (and some) from behind with a high foot kicking him in the face. It's a nasty one and he has to be subbed off to get patched up. Think we will miss his physicality as we lack that a bit of strength now with Alfie gone. There are loads of subs and it's hard to keep track but at some point, Bailie comes on as do Reedy and Luca. It's still a very combative and the ball is constantly in transition. A long ball to Lee bounces high and the keeper comes out to the edge of the box to collect it. Lee just gets to the awkwardly bouncing ball first and gently lobs then rounds the stranded keeper to walk the ball into the net on 55⚽. We are back in the lead and extend that lead on 60 ⚽ when a low cross from Reedy is turned into his own net by a 'U's defender. Ooops 🤣. 3-1 to the Dockers with 30 to play. The 'U's dominate towards the end of the half again and get a goal back when Bussy saves only for the ball to drop to a 'U's striker who pokes it home. 3-2. The pressure continues. Lee is replaced by another No. 9 that we don't recognise. He has a great chance, beats the off-site trap and the keeper but his shot goes just wide. The 'U's don't get an equaliser and it's 3-2 to the Dockers.

It's great to be back at the footie again and what a way to start with win against a side 2 leagues above. The 'U's were so serious that they spent half time on the pitch training and exercising. No orange segments for them🍊. There were a good number of new faces and tons of subs for the Dockers as the game went on but the performance didn't seem to drop off badly like it often did last season. Maybe it's the fresh faces or possibly that the 'U's dropped off equally. It did look like Billy was subbed off for Reedy on the left and later Reedy was in midfield and Billy was back on at right back. It's was a surprise that Warwick wasn't a big miss as it might have been. Hope this is a good sign of more depth in the squad and a more consistent season lies ahead🤞🏻. Ian Robinson was back but working with the coaching team until he is well enough to play again. Can't wait for our favourite speedy winger to return. In other news, Dougie is back at Bognor so we'll have to plan a trip to Camp Nye soon.

POTM: Goes to new boy Tom Vickers 🏅 for the great charge form back to front to earn the pen the n take it himself.

The Scran'o'meter gave the cheesy chips 8/10 and the hot chocolate 7/10. Could be stronger but Ian in the kitchen did well as a stand in.

We are very disappointed to announce that the ferry was late 😠. It strolled into the dock at 9.15. 1/10. We will be certain to take that up with our new Lib Dem MP. That would new have happened under the Tories 🤮.

See you at Carrow Road for the Lionesses 🦁.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾