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Newhaven FC away to Liile Common Gatwick FC in the SCFL Premier Division at Little Common Recreation Ground |
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The Dockers ⚓ face the Green Lane Boys on a warmish but breezy evening at the Rec. The Newhaven are rested after a weekend off and looking to add to their 4 points from the first two games with a first away win. The Dockers 3.0 is definitely a work in progress with a very young line up this season but there is loads of potential in the squad. There is just one change form last Tuesday and that’s Dexter who is not in the squad tonight being replaced by Pacey Bean. Hope he’s as speedy as he sounds. The Greenies (that’s not funny) have yet to register any points so far. Long may that continue, well another 90 minutes plus stoppages would do. That’s the kind of duck that Tranmere are so good at breaking. The pitch is looking really good. There is a slight slope across the width but the grass looks excellent especially considering the weather recently. Lets hope it plays well. Come on you Dockers.
The Common start the brighter but their first threat is a corner that goes straight out for a goal kick. What follows is not pretty with about 15 minutes of scrappy head tennis. The first bit of real quality comes from the Dockers and it's Lee as usual. This time, it’s a lovely chip to find the head of Corey Smart at the far post. He heads it in on 23 ⚽. 0-1. A very Bailie’esque leap for the header. The GLB (better) get their first real chance from a free kick. They are denied by a great save from Roman. The Dockers get one more chance but it’s Ezra’s turn to be denied by a good save. Newhaven are the better team with the ball but they can’t manage to keep it for long enough. A single goal lead at the break.
The first chance of the half went to the Dockers who seethe goal chalked off for a foul on the keeper. Fair? Probably. Robbo has swapped positions with Ezra, who is now more central. We see the first change on 56 as Pacey Bean is replaced by Teddy Wood who comes on for his Dockers debut. We’ve seen him before somewhere and will remember just after we post this report. The Common are improving and see a chance deflected over as the Dockers are defending well at the edge of the box. Robbo gets a good chance on 65 but the keeper gets the luck of the bounce to make the save. It’s 15 to go when one of the Green Laners (improving) goes off. It looked like a second yellow but turns out it's a sin bin. See you in 10 minutes. The Dockers are having to soak up a lot of pressure but are sitting deep and defending well. In the best move so far, Teddy plays a through ball to Ezra There’s no off-side as he sets off from his own half. He runs on unchallenged and beats the keeper from 12 yards ⚽. Great goal. 0-2. Another Breachy change sees Corey Smart replaced by Tariq Vincent. Lee has done his bit and is replaced by Tommy Jupp on the wing. The sinbin is over and it’s 11 v 11 again. Into injury time and another best move of the game sees Teddy break free of the press. He runs round the whole of the Common team, then cuts in to finish from the edge of the box. It’s a quality strike too. 0-3. It’s all over except it isn’t. There are 2 more Dockers changes as Billy Oliver replaces Ezra and Scott Smith is on for Harry Hammond. How fast to Billy Oliver. Blimey. Billy the whizz more like. 90+5 and the Common score with the last kick of the game. It’s well deserved as they have been dominant for the last 15 or so minutes. All that practice from the Ultras pretending they scored and then they missed the real thing. Three points on the road well earned tonight.
The beautiful game that wasn’t. It was horrible as everyone suddenly forgot how to play football and just headed it backwards and forwards. When the ball did come down, it usually got smashed back straight into the air. Lots of shouts of “time” but no-one listening. There were some very brief flashes of skill, mostly from Newhaven and they resulted in goals. Common did have one moment and it took a good save to stop the free kick but that was it. Three good goals from the Dockers with nothing much in between. Disappointing to conceded at the death but it was well deserved by the battling home team and almost hugely funny. The “Ultras” had packed up and were leaving when their team scored. All that practise wasted. Better luck next time lads or maybe wait until the whistle has gone.
POTM: Almost went to Ezra who had a great game but he was pipped in injury time by Teddy with a brilliant individual goal. He had that great assist too. Welcome young man. Can’t wait to see some more of those performances. If only we could remember where we have seen him before 🤔.
The officials were generally grown up and consistent for 90 minutes which is an improvement on last week. We did worry about the speed of the lino on the far side but there was no issues, mostly because all the play was in the middle.
The Scran’O’meter recorded a very nice 7.5 for the hot chocolate. Credit too to Cadburys for the assist.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Away at the Common |
