SUSSEX BY THE SEA 'Double Header'

Following on from last weekends 500+ mile round trip to Norfolk, I undertook another similar lengthy trip this Saturday for a double opportunity in Sussex...

12.45pm Isthmian League Division One South
The Sports Park
Peacehaven & Telscombe 2-0 Guernsey
Attendance: 252

To accommodate Guernsey travelling to the mainland, kick off times for certain games have changed this season thus allowing opportunities for doubles for eager hoppers. Today was such an occasion and not only that, the game was 1st v 3rd in the race for promotion to the Isthmian Premier League.

Peacehaven & Telscombe FC were formed in 1923 as a result of a merger between Peacehaven Rangers and Telscombe Tye and having won the Sussex County League 7 times previously, they are currently enjoying another successful period in their history.

After winning the Sussex County League Championship for the 8th time last season, they are on course to make it back-to-back promotions, especially after taking all three points at The Sports Park this afternoon.

They sealed the win thanks to goals at either end of the second half when Tom Burton (47) raced through to score and Callum Saunders (89) converted a penalty kick.

The game was wide open with both teams intent on attacking. Guernsey had the better of the clear chances overall but could not find a way past The Magpies 'keeper Anthony Di Bernado who was in inspired form. With the score at 1-0 The Lions had a chance to equalise but Di Bernado saved Rory Allen's spot kick.

The victory leaves Peacehaven & Telscombe 10 points clear at the top of the table (with a game in hand) and virtually nailed on for the title and promotion.

A tale of two penalties: Rory Allen sees his effort saved (left) whilst

Callum Saunders scores his (right) to make it 2-0 to Peacehaven

3pm Conference South
The Enclosed Ground
Whitehawk 1-0 Tonbridge Angels
Attendance: 194

6 miles and 15 minutes along the South Coast road is East Brighton and the suburb of Whitehawk, from where the football club takes it's name. Whitehawk is overlooked by the White Hawk, a chalk carving in the hill at Sheepcote Valley, which you can see from the football ground (below right).

Having been in existence since 1945, the Hawks are enjoying their best spell in their history with 3 promotions in 4 seasons taking them from the Sussex County League to the Conference South.

However they are finding things tough at Step 2 and are struggling to avoid relegation. Today was a bottom of the table clash with fellow strugglers Tonbridge Angels.

On the sloping pitch, the game was not the greatest to watch, as you could probably of imagined, but Whitehawk managed to secure the victory thanks a great goal from Waide Fairhurst after 57 minutes. The win lifts The Hawks out of the relegation zone for now, but having played more games than the other teams around them, they are still in big trouble.

With the clubs rapid climb up the pyramid, the ground is still a work in progress, with a hotchpotch of stands. The Main Stand was there from the Sussex County days but the seats behind each goal are new to the ground, but were actually from the Withdean Stadium, sold after Brighton & Hove Albion had moved out. I enjoyed my visit to The Enclosed Ground and I doff my cap to half dozen home fans who kept the noise going throughout the game, backing their team all the way.

WALSALL WOOD (Oak Park)

FA VASE QUARTER FINAL, WALSALL WOOD 0-0 GUERNSEY FC (AET)
ATTENDANCE: 676

Well, after what seems an eternity trying, I finally found myself watching a game at the home of Walsall Wood. My previous attempts stretching back to last December had been foiled by the Great British weather as rain and snow forced the cancellation of my intended matches.

The crowd queueing at the gate, all eager to see the
"biggest game in Walsall Wood's history"

Oak Park has suffered badly over the recent weeks, but the pitch was fine today. Sanded in places and obviously still quite heavy, but playable. The ground, at the back of a Leisure centre, was well worth the wait to visit as the Main Stand dates from the 1930's and is believed to the only surviving stand of it's kind in England.

The stand today was full of the green of Guernsey as they swelled the crowd to a bumper 676, though it seemed there was a lot more in attendance. I was guessing it was nearer to 1,000. Regardless, the attendance was slightly better than the 54 at the previous home game!  The locals had certainly embraced the the occasion, which the club were billing as the biggest game in their 98 year history.



The historic Main Stand, packed to the rafters with fans


Walsall Wood were the lowest ranked team left in the last 8 as they ply their trade in the Midland Combination, which is Step 6 in the pyramid, whilst Guernsey are in the Combined Counties Premier, which is Step 5.



Luke Perry's sculpture in the background,
commemorating Walsall Wood's mining heritage.
Oak Park is close to where the colliery was
located, until it closed in 1964.



Both teams are handily poised in their respective promotion races, with plenty of games in hand though this could work against them as the fixtures pile up. Guernsey still have 23 league games to play before the seasons end whilst Walsall Wood have a mere 10 games in hand on leaders Bromsgrove.

The last thing both teams needed was a replay, but that is how it panned out.

The Green Lions made a sluggish start and it was The Wood who had the better of the exchanges in the opening 20 minutes. The Islanders eventually worked their way back into the game and it was a pretty even affair from from that point, with both teams matching each other blow for blow.

The really clear cut chances were few and far between and both goalkeepers, Dale Faultless for Walsall Wood and Chris Tardiff for Guernsey were in fine form in keeping the scoreline blank.

The best chance of the first half fell to Walsall Wood when just before the break when Ahmet Bilgimer broke clear, dinked his effort over the advancing Tardiff but the ball was cleared off the line as the home crowd looked for a "Russian" Linesman. This Linesman however got the decision absolutely spot on.

Guernsey had the better of the chances in the second half but Faultless produced a, err, faultless performance in 'keeping his team in the competition.

As the second period wore on extra time seemed inevitable as tiredness began to creep in. It was in the second period of extra time that Guernsey had their best chance when Dave Rihoy broke clear and smashed a shot which had Faultless finally beaten, but the ball crashed against the crossbar. The rebound landed at the feet of Dominic Heaume but he blazed his effort over with the open goal at his mercy.

No goals but an absolutely absorbing encounter, so it is off to the Channel Islands next weekend for the replay. Sadly I will not be able to attend but I really wish I could. The eventual winners will play Spennymoor in the two-legged Semi-Final.

 

A Wood supporter seeks
a better view
at a packed Oak Park





       

The sun sets on this cup tie, both teams will have to try again next weekend