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 🐾