Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Saturday 7th December 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Scaynes Hill 7 Ansty Reserves 3, attendance 9

3’ 0-1

11’ 1-1

18’ 2-1

34’ 3-1

41’ 4-1

49’ 4-2

64’ 5-2

67’ 6-2

81’ 7-2

82’ 7-3

@ Oathall Community College, 3G Pitch

Appledore Gardens

Haywards Heath

RH16 2AQ

No Admission or Programme.

I’d resigned myself to having to do a game on an artificial pitch today, with my first two choices on grass falling victim to the weather by 09.30. I was now down to a revised choice of two, both in the Mid Sussex League, one in Burgess Hill and the other in Hailsham. However, a final check on FA Fulltime and Football Mitoo just before 12 o’clock, was showing that Scaynes Hill were now playing their game on the 3G at Oathall Community College, which was confirmed with an immediate reply via text message from the home club. The venue is occasionally used during bad weather, but rarely with a first team as hosts, so it fitted the bill perfectly. It’s a standard cage set up, with a designated spectator area along just over half of one side and the pitch had so many rubber crumbs on it that it looked more black, than green, in colour. I assume the changing rooms were unavailable, as both teams and the Referee arrived already changed and they remained on the pitch for what was a very short halftime.

The game was 1st versus 4th in the league table and despite the scoreline, a result that was very harsh on Ansty. The difference between the two sides was the finishing. Scaynes Hill were clinical. Despite going behind early on, they somehow managed to turn it round and take a 4-1 lead into the interval, despite being outplayed for the majority of the half. Ansty pulled it back to 4-2 within minutes of the restart and again had the better chances. Scaynes Hill restored their three goal lead just after the hour mark, which finally made the game safe, soon adding a sixth goal minutes later. A shot into the bottom corner saw them make it 7-2 with nine minutes left, before Ansty rounded off the scoring a minute later, volleying in from the edge of the box.

Great entertainment, on an afternoon where there were just a couple of squally showers and winds nowhere near as bad as forecast.