Newhaven v Shoreham

Pulling Musselmen (from the shell) Newhaven FC v Shoreham FC in a friendly at Fort Road

Where are we and what's going on?

The Dockers ⚓ host the Musselmen 🦪 in the last pre-season friendly. It’s last season’s only relegated team because Lancing got a reprieve for some reason. We have been advised that they have improved and won all their pre-season games so far. That looks like a challenge for the Dockers today.

Last pre-season, we played Hailsham from SCFL Division 1 and won 10-0. Not expecting that sort of scoreline today but a continuation of the good performances would be very nice.

It’s Leo in goal. In front of him are Elliot and Max. Out wide and Rudy Jones and Dan Allen. The midfield are George McCarthy, Captain Blunt and Joe Radley Martin. Up front is Billy Oliver in his first start (hooray at last) with Dexter on the right and Ash on the left. Lee is injured (Achilles) so not in the squad. He did get badly tackled on the heel of his boot by the Golds so maybe it’s a result of that. We hope he is just resting for the first game back.

It’s a warm one today but the shade has just reached the stand so we won’t melt and more importantly nor will our chocolate.

This is the last of the free football. It’s been good value so far. And good fun. Hope it carries on like that. Let’s find out. Come on you Dockers.

Here we go..

The Dockers kick off and only have to wait until the 2nd minute until the first chance. It’s a good cross but Max heads just over.

Billy's determination wins a corner. It comes out to the edge of the box but Joe puts it into the Skate Park 🛹 on 6. Joe gets another shot on 8. It’s a good run from Ash to feed him in but Joe curls it just wide.

The Dockers are still dominating and camped out in the Musselman's third. Some great passing in the box ends up with Blunty who’s shot goes just over.

The Shoreham No. 5 appears to be mortally injured in a tackle. He gets some treatment and somehow seems to have survived.

The opening goal comes just a minute later. Blunty hits it from outside the box. Goal. ⚽ The keeper barely gets a chance to move. 1-0.

They are all having a go now. Ash makes a great run but his shot goes just wide.

There is a goalmouth scramble. We can’t see who taps it in the net but the offside flag goes up. It’s still 1-0 on 22.

We get a free kick in a dangerous area and it’s headed clear. Another free kick but someone has strayed offside. And it’s time for a hydration break and a quick team talk.

We think it’s a chance as there is a scramble in the visitors goalmouth. It’s cleared down the pitch. The Shoreham keeper comes out way too far and doesn’t get to the ball. One quick pass to Billy and he hits it at the empty net from over 30 yards. He thankfully hits the target on 29 ⚽. 2-0.

Just a minute later and the visitors keeper is all over the place again. He doesn’t get to the ball but Billy does. He is practically on the goal line facing the wrong way. A quick pass back to Joe and it’s 3-0 ⚽.

The Musselmen finally get a chance on 34. It’s an easy catch for Leo.

Max is the first player to get a yellow     . He pulls a runner from behind so it seems fair.

The visitors can’t seem to keep the ball and Dan breaks down the right. A deep cross is met by Billy but he can’t get it on target. They go again and this time Billy’s shot is blocked.

Blunty gets ambushed at pace with the ball. There are 3 of them and 1 makes a horrible tackle. Somehow the physios fix him and he is back up to take the free kick. He doesn’t have to go off after treatment because there was a yellow for the culprit. The freekick is met by Billy but it skims off his head and goes just wide.

There are 2 more chances but the keeper saves from Blunty and Billy.

It’s still 3-0 to the Dockers at the halfway point.

There are a few changes. It’s a surprise to see Bussy replacing Leo in goal. Ezra is on to replace Dexter. He goes on the left wing and Ash drops to left back. Rudy is off for Tyler who goes to the right wing.

The Dockers are soon on the attack and get a corner on 47. Elliot gets a head on it. It’s goal bound when a defender gets a head to it but can’t get enough contact to change its trajectory ⚽ . 4-0.

The visitors get their best chance on 51. It’s a good strike on goal but Bussy proves he’s still got it. A great save. And he is back in the action straight away making a good block.

A great run from Dan down the right, finds Billy in the middle but it goes out for a corner. And repeat. Another cross from Dan to Billy goes out for a corner. This time Billy gets his head on it and it’s in the net on 59 ⚽. 5-0.

Bussy makes another good save from range to keep it a clean sheet so far.

There are some more changes on 63. Off go Joe, Billy and Ash. On comes Matt Gunn and 2 we don’t know yet.

Matt makes an impact straight away and heads it into the net from a corner on 65 ⚽. 6-0.

There is another hydration break and the ferry arrives on 69.

Shoreham haven’t given up and get their best chance yet. It takes a good diving save from Bussy to keep the ball out of the top corner of the net.

The Dockers are still pushing as well. Blunty makes a good run and shoots from inside the box. Keeper has no chance and Ryan gets his brace on 74⚽. 7-0.

It’s Captain Ryan’s last action as he is replaced and hands the armband to Tyler Capon.

Ezra make a good run down the left, cuts in along the touchline. There are options for a pass but he nutmegs the keeper instead on 76 ⚽. 8-0.

Ezra makes an impact again when he tries to do to much with the ball just outside the Docker box. He gives it away but Bussy is easily up to the save.

There is a scramble for the ball right on the Musselmen’s goal line. The ref judges that the player on the floor played the ball with his hand and gives a penalty. A handball denying a goal is usually a straight red so the ref is being generous here which is fair enough in the circumstances. Ezra does his usual and nearly busts the net for his brace on 86⚽. 9-0.

The visitor's last chance is a free kick which goes way over. Not their day today.

We are calling for a 10th goal but the whistle goes to end our hopes of double figures. 9-0 to the home team. A thrashing for the visitors. Better luck for the rest of the season.

And we think it’s all over…

A storming performance from the Dockers today. Lots of changes made it more chaotic but the outcome didn’t change much. Bussy was the busiest keeper in the 2nd half but he did what was needed.

A slightly different lineup again but it seemed to work. The Dockers style works and the defending was better. The first clean sheet of our season.

Does 9 goals reflect the performance? Maybe. It wasn’t clinical at times but was way too much for this opponent. They weren’t great. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t great fun.

So that’s the end of the pre-season. As ever, it’s been good. Now the Dockers need to carry that form into competitive football. It starts with Crawley Down, here, next Saturday. Will we be here? We hope so.

The Others Bits

POTM: With such a goal fest, it could easily go to an attacking player. But it’s a goalkeeper. Welcome back Bussy, Well done 🏅.

Officially Opinionated:  Another good performance from all 3 tonight. No sign of the 5th official. We hope these performances carry on into the competitive fixtures as well.

The Seven Sisters arrived at 2:54. Nice timing Captain.

Programme Perusal: Hopefully, programmes will be back next week. Are we confident, no.

The Scran’O’meter finally got the recipe right with 1 sugar in the hot chocolate. Just right. Yum ☕.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Sunshine on Fort Road

The Seven Sisters has arrived

Newhaven v Littlehampton

Golden Tears Newhaven FC v Littlehampton Town in a friendly at Fort Road

Where are we and what's going on?

The Dockers  ⚓are at home to the Marigolds 🌼 on an even cooler July evening. We last played them here in the season they were promoted and went to Wembley. It was a draw that night but we later lost to them in the cup. They are still in the Isthmian South Central League, finishing 11th last season.

We are familiar with most of the faces in the line up tonight. Leo is in goal. In front of him, are Elliot and a player we don’t recognise. Shay Tobin is at right back with Max Vardy on the left. In the middle are Charlie Gibson, Ryan ‘Blunty’ Blunt and Joe Radley Martin. Up front are Lee, Ezra and Tyler Capon.

The Marigolds are all new to us but their goldish kit is nice.

It would be nice to continue the form we showed on Friday. It was starting to take shape as a Dockers style team and performance. More of the same please. We have hot chocolate and are ready to go. Lets get this done Newhaven. Come on you Dockers.

Off we go..

It’s the Dockers attacking the Skate Park End as usual. We are looking good in the early minutes. We get an early goal as Charlie Gibson finds the net on 6 ⚽. 1-0.

It’s a good run from Blunty and a good pass to Lee as he bursts through the defence. A goal for Robbo. Get in. 2-0.

Ezra is looking confident on the left wing. He cuts in but his curling shot goes just high and wide on 19. Nice try Ez, keep going.

Ryan is confident too and his run from midfield sees him pass to Tyler but he’s off balance and his shot goes over on 21.

The Golds first shot on target comes on 23. It’s from long range but it’s dipping under the bar when Leo tips it over.

The Dockers get caught out needlessly taking risks at the back and give away a corner. It’s scored with little apparent challenge from the defence. 2-1.

The Golds striker has a great chance but he chooses and extra few touches and Leo makes an easy save.

It’s a narrow lead for the SCFL team at the break. A couple of good saves from Leo and some good catches from the LA keeper.

There are no changes at the break so it’s as you were. Let’s finish this off.

Five minutes in and the Dockers have a free kick at about 25 yards. Blunty takes it. It clears the wall but also the bar.

Ezra is getting space down the left. He puts in a great cross for Lee who somehow manages to head just wide from close range.

Ezra links up with Lee again and the through ball to our favourite No. 9 is perfect and Lee makes it count on 55 ⚽. 3-1.

Lee gets 5 more minutes before he makes way.  Ash Wadhams comes on to the left wing and Ezra goes up front. Joe goes off and is replaced by No. 14 who goes into the 8. Blunty moves up to the 10. The No. 14 lasts 2 minutes before he is injured and hops off the pitch after treatment. Hope that’s not as bad as it looked. Rudy Jones comes on to replace him.

Rudy soon makes an impact or nearly does as he shoots just wide from range. It seems to be take pot shot from range day. Who will be next?

The next chance is a corner that leads to a scramble that is eventually cleared.

There is a horrible foul on Blunty in the middle of the pitch. He is surrounded and hacked down by a nasty tackle. He needs treatment and the culprit gets a yellow    . He is perhaps lucky it’s a friendly as he could easily have got a red. Blunty seems to be OK which is good news. He takes the free kick but it’s way over.

The Marigolds don’t seem to be taking it well that they are behind. They have gone a bit Barcelona and are falling over at the slightest touch. The ref seems on board with them at the moment. Hope he catches on soon.

Ezra is causing the Golds problems down the left. He puts in a great cross, right across the mouth of the goal but there is no-one there. He takes it on himself next time. His central run gives him a chance to shoot but it’s wide.

The Golds get a better spell of possession as we enter the last 10 minutes. A freekick within shooting range is cleared for a corner on 82.

The visitor think they have scored on 86 but Leo makes and incredible catch from short range. How did he do that? Wow! He releases it quickly and the Dockers break down to the other end. Blunty’s shot is on target but deflected over and the resulting corner comes to nothing again.

The Golds apply some pressure. The first corner is deflected and the second is saved on 89.

It finishes 3-1 to the Dockers. Another great win. Just one more friendly to go. Roll on Saturday and Shoreham.

We think it’s all over..

That was a great game. A good Dockers style win with plenty of attacking play and bodies on the line in defence. The visitors got a bit niggly towards the end but were mostly still trying to play football. It was great to see Lee score a goal. It was well earned for the running he put in and his team mates always know where to find him. With the Golds' big defenders, we thought Ezra was a big threat with his physicality. Also really good was Leo again. How did he catch that? Some skills.

The squad is coming on nicely and it was telling that there were no mass changes at the break. Does that mean that we are getting closer to a starting 11?

We hope No. 14 is OK. It didn’t look good as he hopped off the pitch and was carried across it later.

There appeared to be only 1 Marigolds fan in the stand behind us. They did have a huge fan base back when we last played them in their Wembley season. At least that 1 was well behaved today 👀.

It’s time to head home. Hopefully to return on Saturday for the final friendly where we welcome Shoreham FC’s Musselmen. Need to make sure we get that spelling correct 🦪💪.

The Other bits

POTM: It’s a tough one today as there were a few good performances from those that are regulars here. So instead it goes to new boy,  Joe Radley-Martin for some nifty work in the 10 role. Well done Joe 🏅. Hoping it’s the first of many.

Officially opinionated: The officials had a fairly easy night. The foul on Blunty could have been a red but a yellow is probably the right decision in a friendly. He didn’t fall for much of the visitors throwing themselves to the ground when they were losing.

The Scran’O’meter put too many sugars in the hot chocolate. Maybe just 1 next time but a solid 7 anyway.

Ferry watch 🔭: The Côte d'Albâtre was 10 minutes early. Nice 👌.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

What happened to the summer

The Cote Ablair is here on time

Newhaven v Seaford

This Friday Night Newhaven FC v Seaford Town FC in a friendly at Fort Road

Where are we and what's going on?

Friday night football is the best

It’s Friday night and we start the weekend with some hopefully competitive football. It’s the Dockers hosting the Badgers in a ‘friendly’ cup final. We hope to retain it, having won the last edition 2 years ago. It’s free entry tonight but there is a raffle raising money for the BHF.

It’s cooler again tonight but the atmosphere may heat up. The last meeting at the Crouch was quite spicy 🌶. And we won that. Also cooler tonight, is our enthusiasm for the World Cup as England snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Argentina on Wednesday. Lets hope the tactics are a bit more positive tonight 👊🏼.

There is a new signing tonight. It’s Tyler Capon, who has joined from tonight's visitors. Oops. Additions to the retained list are Charlie Gibson and Dan Allen. It’s starting to look like a good squad.

There is a change in goal with Jonny back on duty between the posts. In front of him are Elliot and Matt Gunn. Out wide of them are Billy Barker and Rudi Jones.There are 3 new(ish) faces in midfield. It’s George McCarthy, Charlie Gibson and Joe Radley-Martin. Up front is Tyler Capon in the middle with Ezra on his left and Dexter Lambert on his right.

There is a very familiar face in the Badgers starting line up, it’s Bailie Rogers who is in central defence. Ex-Docker Calum Connor is also in the 11. They are in a white kit with white numbers so wecan;t read them. Help the ref has better eyesight than us👀.

It’s a friendly but it’s our derby now that Peacehaven have gone and got themselves promoted. And we have signed a couple of their players. And we are holders of the Steve Charman Cup from 2 years ago. Let’s hope it’s the Dockers who are the happier at the final whistle tonight. “Come on you Dockers”.

Off we go..

The Dockers kick off attacking the Skate Park. There is some good early pressure. It forces a corner on 3. It takes a good save to keep it out and the Reds have another corner that comes to nothing.

Seaford are getting joy down the right with long balls. Don’t know the number of the player.

A visitors throw, deep in the Newhaven half, catches out the defenders and is hit home from the middle of the box on 5. 0-1.  Oops.

Docker get a chance 5 minutes later. It’s good play down the right and met by a Docker head at the far post. The keeper makes a good save.

The equaliser comes on 32 as a cross is backheeled in by Tyler ⚽. Nice. 1-1.

Elliot puts us in the lead after a corner is recycled and he is on hand to slot it home from the middle of the box ⚽. 2-1. We’re still ahead at the break.

There are a few (6) changes for the 2nd half. Lee is on for Ezra and goes up front with Tyler going on the left wing. Ash Wadhams goes to right back replacing Rudi Jones. Blunty is on for Charlie Gibson in the 8. Shay Tobin Dexter Lambert on the right wing. Max Vardy for Billy at right back. Leo Anderson replaces Jonny.

The Dockers take a while to settle again but start to get back into their stride. A long range shot goes over on 57.

Ezra is back and replaces Tyler on left wing. He soon starts to make an impact.

There is a scramble in the Seaford goalmouth. It’s saved but is it a foul on a Dockers player? We think so. The ref doesn't agree.

Ezra extends our lead as he gets his head on a cross on 76 ⚽. 3-1. It’s nearly a 4th as a blast by Blunty forces a good save. The resulting corner is hit over the bar.

There are more changes as Rudi comes back on.

It’s another foul in the box and the ref agrees with us this time. Ezra makes no mistake as buries from the penalty spot for his brace and the Dockers 4th on 89 ⚽.  4-1. That’s the last action as ref whistles for the end of the match.

There is a presentation of the Steve Charman Trophy🏆 (again). Well done Dockers.

And we think it’s all over…

That’s more like it. A proper Dockers performance in places. They did look like a bunch of strangers at the start, partly because they were to some extent. It got better and looked much more fluid.

The Badgers are getting joy down the right with long balls. It did get them a throw in that resulted in the first goal.

It takes time for a defense to settle and get confident in the keeper behind them. Jonny didn’t quite look like his confident self and was notably quieter than Leo.

We didn’t win the raffle but, it was a for a good cause. But the Dockers did win the Steve Charman Cup, again. And in some style.

Perhaps England would have been better going a goal behind forcing them to push forwards to score. It certainly worked for the Dockers today 🏆.

The Other Bits

POTM: Goes to Ezra for a stand out performance before going off and then getting 2 goals when he came back on. Awesome as ever 🏅.

Officially Opinionated: A very good performance from the officials tonight. No offsides but it wasn’t really that sort of game. The 5th Official was present but rather restrained.

The Scran’O’meter will return when the weather is cold enough for hot chocolate. See you soon then.

Ferry watch ⛴: The ferry was due in at 10:00 but docked not long after the final whistle. Hope you didn’t get caught speeding, Captain.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Newhaven v Crowborough

Take Me Home, Gibbon Road Newhaven FC host Crowborough FC in a friendly at Fort Road

Where are we and What’s going on?

Football is back 🎉. We’ve torn ourselves away from some frantic telly clapping 📺👏 for a preseason friendly by the Ouse. It’s cooled down from the heatwave but still warm enough. Tonight, the Dockers welcome The Crows. They are a league higher but don’t look scary like Lewes or Horsham. It will be a good test and a hard workout for the Reds.

Back at Fort Road

There has been a bit of signing news with Captain Lee and Co-Captain Blunt retained for 26-27. A new signing comes from Haywards Heath. It’s experienced midfielder Joe Radley Martin who won a league and Cup double with the Bluebells last season. Welcome Joe.

There are a few new faces in today's starting 11. We’ll get names when we can. They are the 4,5 and 6. The 5 turns out to be Max Vardy, back from the Badgers.  In the goal at the Surf’n’Skate end is a new face to us. It’s Leo Anderson. Jonny is on the bench. Billy Barker and Elliot are the full backs. Shay Tobin (8) and Ryan Blunt (10) are in the middle. Up front are Ash Wadhams (7), Lee (9) and Ezra (11).

On the bench are Rudi Jones, Dexter Lambert and youngster Harley King. The are 3 new faces on the bench as well.

In the Crowborough line up is ex-Docker defender Harry 'Reedy' Reed.

We have a new kit and a new kit sponsor. The shirt looks really nice. 👕  Thank you to Britannia Beckwith 🚛 for their support.

It’s a nice temperature for a game and nice to be sitting in the stands again. Let's see how it goes. Any cries on Come on you Dockers are drowned out by a very loud rattle and horn. Thanks Mel!

Off we go..

With our ears ringing, we kick off towards the Skate Park. The Dockers hold their own against the higher opposition. The first big chance goes to Ezra on 14. He breaks from the half way line and smashes it at the top right corner but the keeper makes a great flying save. Unlucky Ez.

Nice to see a hydration break. Did someone forget the Powerade banner?

The visitors can’t get past Leo despite going 1 v 1 a couple of times. They do however get past from close range after someone gets caught ball watching on the goal line and it’s headed in at the far post on 28. Boo. 0-1.

There is a chaotic scramble in the Dockers box and the ref awards a penalty to the Crows. We couldn’t see what it was for but there wasn’t much complaint. It’s converted from the spot on 36. 0-2. Harsh on the boys that!

It’s still a 2 goal deficit at the break.

There are 2 changes for the second half. The 4 has made way for No, 12. Max Vardy has made way for Harvey King. Maybe the other way round.

It’s a scrappy start to the half with the visitors looking most likely to score. We keep them out with some more good 1 v 1 stops from Leo.

At 70 minutes, it’s time for some more changes. Lee goes off for the new No. 17. Rudi Jones and No. 18 come on buy can’t see who has gone off. It gets a lot more chaotic.

Ezra hasn’t lost his mojo and shoots just wide on 75.

The Crows think it’s a 3rd goal on 85 but it’s thankfully offside on 87. Ha Ha.

Goal!. A storming run by Ezra down the right is crossed in for the No. 17 to head home on 90+3. ⚽. 1-2.  It there time for another?  No, it all over and it’s a loss for the Dockers but we won the 2nd half.

We think it’s all over…

It’s not all about the results. Except for those on the pitch. It was a good hard run out for the Dockers who put in a good performance. It wasn't pretty at times but there was plenty of effort and commitment. And we won the 2nd half even though it got more chaotic and scrappy as the changes started.

But football is back. There is still some telly clapping to do as Win-ger-land and still in the World Cup and face Argentina in a Falklands Derby Semi Final on Wednesday.

There were a few new faces and the No .4 looked good. Experience in the 6 position with hopefully better discipline than Tom H B.  The new No. 17 scored the goal which is  great way to start. Hope to see them both announced soon.

We don’t have to wait long to see the Dockers again as we're back here on Friday to welcome Seaford 🦡.

The Other Bits

POTM: A tough one today as there were 2 standout performances. Leo 🦁 Anderson pulled off 3 or 4 great saves when players went 1v1 with him. Great skills and bravery. Ezra brought real attacking energy and got an assist for the goal. But today it goes to Leo 🏅 as we would have taken a battering but for his outstanding performance.

Officially Opinionated: The ref did well as did the assistants. Lots of offsides to prove they were awake. Well done and thank you. FIFA take note. No technology required. And thanks to Harry Hill for taking time out of his busy schedule to run the line on the stand side. Thanks Harry.

The Scran’O’meter was disappointed with the hot chocolate scoring only a warm and wet 6/10.  

Ferry watch ⛴: Seven Sisters arrived at 8:58. Bang on time. Well done Captain.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

8:58..  Ferry is on time