Mid Sussex League

Championship Division

Saturday 28th August 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.06

Sovereign Saints 3 Ashurst Wood 1, attendance 34

8’ 1-0

43’ 2-0 (pen)

52’ 2-1

90’ + 3, 3-1

@ Shinewater Lane

Langney

Eastbourne

BN23 8DQ

No Admission or Programme.

This ground was home to Shinewater Association for the eleven seasons they spent in the Sussex County League, but they were unable to obtain planning permission for floodlights and the ground suffered constant vandalism (hardly surprising seeing the less than salubrious housing estate on one side of the ground and some of the local youths at the game), which resulted in them upping sticks and merging with Eastbourne United for the start of the 2003/04 season, becoming known as Eastbourne United Association.

Today’s match was 3rd versus 1st in the league table, both teams having won their opening two matches. There was a bit of concern that we might be struggling for a Referee, but he eventually turned up sixteen minutes before kick off, although his late arrival caused the game to start six minutes late. Sovereign Saints took an early lead, but the game never really sparked into life. As halftime approached Ashurst Wood conceded a penalty, when their ‘keeper took down a player who was clear, then during the usual pushing and shoving that followed, he put his hand in a players face and was duly sent off. The penalty was dispatched past the stand in ‘keeper and the 2-0 halftime lead looked like it was game over.

The ten men scored early in the second half to make it 2-1 and it was certainly not over and the game really opened up. They dominated from here and created enough chances to turn the game round and were well worth at least a draw. Sovereign Saints were desperately hanging on, relying on quick breaks to try and relieve the pressure. They had a chance to tie things up, when they were awarded a second penalty with eight minutes left, but this was well saved, before they finally killed the game off when they made it 3-1 in stoppage time.