Mid Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 2nd February 2019

Kick Off 14.00. On Time !

Eastbourne Rangers 3 Balcombe 4, attendance 16

5’ 0-1

17’ 1-1

34’ 2-1

47’ 2-2

55’ 2-3

71’ 2-4

73’ 3-4

@ Eastbourne Sports Park, 3G Pitch

Cross Levels Way

Hampden Park

Eastbourne

BN21 2UF

No Admission or Programme.

It seemed strange to be travelling down to the South Coast in temperatures of between 5 and 6 degrees, on a sunny day, looking out over mile after mile of green fields knowing that we would be watching one of only a handful of lower level non league matches taking place in the South East today. It just didn’t seem possible that games had been called off for snow, frost and waterlogged pitches, but that seems to be the excuses used for the lack of choice in choosing a match today. I had already got half an eye on this match anyway, but when I was offered a lift here, then my mind was soon made up.

Eastbourne Rangers only have one more home league match left to play after today and that is in a fortnight, so it seemed a good time to tick this off. Rangers are tenth in the league table, whilst Balcombe are third and still in with a chance of winning the title. When the visitors went ahead after five minutes it looked like it would be an easy three points for them. By halftime, Rangers were 2-1 in front, but two howlers by their ‘keeper in the opening ten minutes of the second half saw them trailing 2-3. Balcombe looked to have sewn it up when it became 2-4, but a quick reply brought it back to 3-4. It was nice to see both teams still going all out for another goal, even though the visitors could have shut up shop and settled for what they had.