East Sussex League
Premier Division
Saturday 8th February 2025
Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.05
Jesters Town 2 The Junior Club Tackleway 3, attendance 23
6’ 1-0
49’ 1-1
62’ 2-1
64’ 2-2
72’ 2-3
@ Hailsham Community College, 3G Pitch
Battle Road
Hailsham
BN27 1DT
No Admission or Programme.
Yet another Saturday where the weather had a bearing on my destination. I had a choice of three matches. The one in Gloucestershire did take place (reply came too late to make it), but the other two (in Essex and West Sussex) were both off, although not showing as such when I left home. Anyway, I decided on playing safe with a 3G option and a ground that would be a ‘double tick’ for me. Apart from completing the East Sussex League Premier Division and with it the entire league, it is also a venue used by Crowhurst, in the top division of the Mid Sussex League, which would also see that division polished off. It’s just a basic cage and although there is no designated spectator area, it was no problem watching from inside the fence. The pitch is ridiculously narrow and barely 5 yards from the edge of the 18 yard box to the touchline. There were kids matches taking place beforehand, which was probably the reason for the mobile catering van being present and it closed up shortly after the kick off of our game. The main building, which also housed the changing rooms, was open for the use of the toilets.
The match was a mid table clash, as 7th (out of 10) hosted 6th. Jesters took an early lead, finishing into the top corner from the angle of the 18 yard box, but had their ‘keeper to thank for them still holding that lead at halftime, making a number of decent saves, as well as a bit of luck when another shot hit the crossbar. Tackleway equalised four minutes into the second half and despite looking the better side, fell behind again just after the hour mark, through a first time finish after a one two on the edge of the box. Two minutes later it was 2-2, courtesy of a tap in from six yards and having regained their momentum, Tackleway grabbed the winner with eighteen minutes left, flicking in a near post header, from a long throw, that found the far bottom corner, with the win seeing them climb to fourth in the table.
