Don't FROW It All Away

Newhaven FC host Forest Row FC in the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup 1st Round at Fort Road

The Dockers host the FROW in the 1st round of the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup 🏆. Hopefully we’ll get some good cup runs going this season. The Dockers are still in the PB and Vase but out of the FA Cup. The more that this team play, the better they will get. There is no Robbo today as he is on holiday. He started the season on fire so hope he’s having a great break. That 500th goal will come soon enough. It’s Captain Bailie in charge tonight. He is joined in defence by Dash, Tristan and Osei. Elliot and Charlie are in the middle. Up front are Teddy and Billy.. Out on the wings are Pacey and Ezra. There is a late change to the advertised keeper as Roman replaces Jonny. Hope Jonny is ok and that Roman gets a nice quiet shift between the posts. The FROW were promoted last season and have started this season very well. It’ll be a tough game for both sides.

It's nearly a great start for the Dockers and it takes a good save to stop Billy from scoring in the first minute. FROW get a couple of chances but Roman does very well to keep the ball out of the net. Billy gets another go on 7. He gets past the keeper but puts it wide. Both teams are playing good football and getting chances. Pacey makes a late tackle on the No.7. He goes down screaming like he’s broken his leg when the tackle was boot to boot. His team mates are trying to get Pacey sent off but the ref gives a yellow which is even a little harsh as it was just a bit late and clumsy. No.7 soon recovers from his broken leg and it up and playing again. Teddy and Pacey are both playing well on the wings and covering a lot of ground. Teddy is being man marked by the No.6 who has him round the neck at one point. Sticking to the task or a bit excessive? The Dockers are joining up well and playing a good passing game. It could be a bit quicker and there are a few dodgy decisions but it’s a very young side. The last chance of the half goes to Forest Row and somehow it’s goalless at the break.

Into the second half and Captain Bailie is booked on 48 for standing still while the opponent runs into him. The ref struggling to get much right since the break. Ezra is clearly fouled in the box but the ref can’t have been watching. The first change comes on 58 as Pacey is replaced by Tommy Jupp. A good shift from Pacey, he covered a few miles. A good move down the left followed by 3 passes in the box sees Tommy come in at the far post to tap home ⚽. Newhaven are in charge now. Need to get a second sharpish. Ezra finally gets his penalty on 74. It’s softer than the one that wasn’t given earlier 🤷. It takes ages to be taken while Ezra is waiting. Ref doesn’t seem bothered about the keeper being off his line trying to intimidate Ezra until the last second. One of the FROW is booked for moaning. He isn’t moaning after Ezra doubles the lead from the spot ⚽. There is some confusion straight after the restart. The lino flags for something and the FROW get a freekick from the centre circle. No-one seems to know what has gone on there. Some more changes up front with Teddy replaced by Harry. The FROW No.18 goes down after challenging for a header. He doesn’t get the ball so tries to stop the game by rubbing his head. He makes a miraculous recovery but the crowd keep checking in with him just to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion. It’s the responsible thing to do. The Dockers are now running the ball into the corners to run the clock down. A new one for Fort Road that. Billy is replaced by Christian on 90+3. It’s all over in a couple more minutes. Second round here we come.

What a game that was. Some good football on display from both sides. The Dockers quality told in the end. The young team didn’t always make the right decisions but effort and skill can’t be faulted. The FROW had some big players and dominated in the air against the front 3 but with the ball on the floor, Teddy, Pacey, Ezra and Billy were great. Another penalty awarded to Ezra, same as last week. It wasn’t the one it should have been. The earlier one was a better shout but the soft one that was given will do nicely. They march into the 2nd round of the Sussex Cup. Will we see Robbo back for his 500th goal. Probably not as it is our international break now so we won’t see the Dockers until October. They have the weekend off but play Faversham Strike Force ,(Wow, what a name), in the Vase a week today. Good luck boys.

POTM: Roman kept the Dockers in the game with a couple of good early saves. Some other great performances out there too but it goes to the man that guards the net 🏅🧤.

The officials did OK mostly but the ref had a short spell in the 2nd half where he got everything wrong like booking Bailie. It came right in the end though. And what was that freekick after the restart about. The lino pointed something out but it’s a mystery to us.

Ferry Watch: The Ferry appeared about 8:50 so docked in good time. 👍

See you in a couple of weeks

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Behind the goal

No Robbo

I Love You Post of All

Brighton & Hove Actually Women host Aston Villa Women in the WSL at the Peoples Pension Stadium

The WSL is back and to celebrate we are at the Broadfield to watch as the Albion play host to the Villians. Villa are far from our favourite opponents as we lost twice to them, late on last season. We have yet to see the Albion beat them.  Hope today is the day.  There are lots of new faces in the Brighton team, and a surprising old one. First of the new signings in Chiemeka Nnandozie who has joined from Paris FC where we remember her playing against Chelsea at the Bridge. She has had a great summer, winning the African Cup with Nigeria. A new defender is Japanese international Moeka Minami who has signed from AS Roma. Also in defence is Maelys Mpome who has joined from Chelsea. A new face in the midfield is Fuka Tsunoda who played with Kiko at Uraka Reds. Up front is Aisha Masaka who comes from BK Haken. The most exciting news is that Michelle is back. Fresh from winning the Euros, hitting the headlines and winning the Young Player of the Tournament, she is in the No.9 shirt this season.  Also on loan from the Gooners is Ian Wright’s top prospect, Rosa Kafaji. Lastly, Carla Camacho, the young Spanish international who has signed from Real Madrid. Nikita left during the transfer windows to join London City as did Poppy (allegedly as there is no sign of her or an announcement yet). We have a new captain. It’s home grown hero and midfield demon, Maisey Symonds. In the back line today are Charlize Rule and Minami. Full backs are Rachel and Marisa. Joining Maise in the middle is Jelena. In front of them are Kiko, Fran and Maddie. Up front as the 9 is the mighty Michelle. The Villa news is that Katie Robbo has moved on to Everton and Ellie Roebuck has joined after being released in Barcelona's 17 player summer clearout. Rachel Daly is playing just behind Ebony Salmon. The fans have been moved around a bit with the creation of the ‘atmosphere’ section in the middle of the East Stand. We have remained in the Grumpy Old Farts Section in the West Stand. Joining us in the row behind us is the lovely Scooter. Can’t wait to compare outfits with him. It’s kickoff time. Excited? Let’s go Brighton, let’s go!

It’s the visitors with the first chance as Daly’s shot is blocked. Kiko forces a save just after. 15 minutes in and the Villa keeper is injured, disrupting the play. We can’t think where the ex-Arsenal keeper may have learnt to do that? Daly is causing a few problems for Brighton, as is Cankovic for the visitors. D’Angelo is injured again on 19 and there is plenty of time for team talks. The Villians get a flurry of corners before Daly is through on goal but is caught off-side. Shame. The first yellow goes to Chastity Grant for a foul on Michelle. Not sure that’s how fouls on Michelle work when playing Villa but it’s refreshing to see the fouler booked instead of the foulee. The Albion get the best chance yet but Maddie’s shot is well saved. Into the significant amount of injury time and Kirsty Hanson forces a save from Chiamaka. The second yellow goes to Oceane Deslandes for a foul on Kiko. 45+6 and the Seagulls finally have a corner which Maddie heads just wide. It’s still 0-0 at 45+9.

Thankfully D’Angelo has been replaced by Elle Roebuck at the break so she may have actually been injured. The first action is again a Villa shot with Rachel Maltby’s effort saved. It’s scrappy for a while with lots of fouls. There are 2 more bookings for Villians Wilms and Baijings. There are corners at both ends followed by more scrappy play and lots more fouls with Miri Taylor getting booked this time. Kiko can put us in front but just misses. The changes start on 73 as Fran is replaced by Nadine and Kiko by Bex Rayner. Michelle sees her shot blocked. There are more fouls and Marisa gets the first Albion booking on 84. Villa come so close with Wilms hitting the bar from a free kick. Carla Camacho makes her WSL debut as she replaces Michelle. Into injury time and the crowd go wild. Have we scored? No, Rachel Daly has finally been booked. Whoop de doop. To even things up, Maddie is booked. Maisie fires over to sum up the whole game in one shot. It ends, at last, at 90+6 without a goal. Drama, yes, but no goals.

That was a better game than is reflected in the result. It wasn’t exciting by any means and Serena will have seen better games but we didn’t lose to Villa. AAAnd Rachel Daly finally got the booking that has been overdue since last season. What little quality there was, ran out of luck for both team as they got closer to the goal. It made a refreshing change for the Villa players to be getting booked instead of the Brighton players being cautioned for the privilege of being fouled. They got 6 yellows in total, quite a collection for a game that was in no way aggressive. Brighton got 2 late as the ref tried to even things up a bit. Our new keeper looks good. She will take a little time to settle into the way we play out but she is an outstanding keeper. The defence looked a bit makeshift initially but worked very well. Minami looks so calm and collected, it’s like she has been at the Broadfield for a few seasons. What a signing. The team that Dario put out worked together very well and just needs to click, up front. He has recruited some firepower so it will surely come in time. There were speculative shots from both sides with Villa coming closest despite Brighton having more of the ball. It was good to see Charlize back after over 18 months out of the starting line up. She was solid at centre back and we already know what a good full back she is. A very good clean sheet to start the season and plenty to build on. Michelle looked good in the 9 and a few regular starts will hopefully see the goals and assists start to come. A shame she was denied a goal, she is owed something against the Villians after their treatment of her at Villa Park in April. Enough moaning, the WSL is back and we are unbeaten.  Up next is Newhaven at home on Tuesday before our own international break.

POTM: Goes to Moeka Minami 🏅 for a calm and competent performance on her WSL debut. Her assurance belied it being her first competitive Albion game. Amazing.

The officials could have ruined such a scrappy game but managed to keep the lid on it mostly by being very shouty. He did caution loads of Villa players. Saving the best for last. We approve.

The Scran'O'meter is back to it’s best with a delicious Margarita Pizza 🍕 10/10 and yummy Latte ☕ 9/10.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back at the Broadfield with Sally

Got a new shirt

Back to Blunt

Newhaven FC v Seaford Town FC in the Peter Bentley Cup at Ford Road

The Dockers host the Badgers in the 1st round of the Peter Bentley Cup. The visitors tonight are new promoted to the SCFL Premier League. We hope they become regulars in the league, it’s nice to have rivals especially now that Saltdean have been relegated. There is a good crowd at Fort Road with 271 turning up for the derby game. There is no sign of Herbie in the Badgers squad, hopefully he’s just away and not moved on. The team news is that Lee is on the bench. A hat-trick tonight would see him clock up 500 goals in his Dockers career. That would be some super sub performance. Fingers and paws crossed. Up front is Ezra with Teddy on the left and Pacey on the right. Behind them are Charlie, Captain Blunty, and Elliott. The back line looks a bit makeshift with forward Corey in the middle with Tom. Harry is on the left as usual with Scott Smith on the right. No sign of Osei or Tarun tonight. Ex-Docker, Maz Vardy is in central defence for Seaford. They look like a big physical side with plenty of height. The Dockers will need to play well to impose their own game on the floor to get the win today. No penalties please. It’s a school night.

It’s an uneventful first 20. Then Ezra breaks from the middle. He is pulled back outside the box and the defender doesn’t let go until inside the box. Penalty to Newhaven. Seaford are complaining but should maybe have a word with their own player who should have let go outside the box. Harry steps up and makes no mistake ⚽. 1-0. It's just a minute later with a great chance down the right. Harry cuts into the 6 yard box and chooses a square pass from a yard out. It’s really congested in front of goal and the chance has gone. Passing probably not the best choice from there. It’s a narrow lead at the break.

The Dockers continue to create good chances but the Badgers keeper is having a great game. The first change at 60 is Lee coming on to replace Pacey who has worked his socks off all cross and behind the front line. Can he get closer to the 500 target tonight? The visitors get a couple of chances but good goalkeeping and defending maintain the lead. Teddy is booked on 72 for being fouled and not moaning enough. He is replaced a couple of minutes later by Dexter. The Badgers best chance of the night is a free kick but it’s over the bar. Tristan replaces Charlie who has been playing more like a 10 than a centre half for a while. The Dockers continue to press for a 2nd. It comes with the last kick of the game as Lee makes it 2-0 and 498 club goals on 90+5 ⚽. Into the next round.

That was a good performance from the boys. Kept working at it against a tough side and a keeper having a great game. Lee is one goal closer to his 500. 2 to go. Harry should have had a second goal but chose to pass. Need to test the keeper at that range when the 6 yard box is so congested. An earlier second goal would have made it less nervy, sitting on a single goal lead risks a Tranmere style ending with the points shared after leading for so long. But, a win is a win and hopefully the start of another cup run. No penalties is a bonus. Home time.

POTM: Goes to Captain Blunty. Very combative and always looking to move forward.

The officiating was unremarkable except for the weird booking of Teddy who seems to be one of those players who gets fouled a lot and then booked for it to add insult to injury.

Ferry Watch: It glided into view at 8:50. Perfect timing.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Got the last programme

Grass is looking good

Mon the Dockers