Southern Combination League

Division 2

Saturday 18th November 2017

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.06

Montpelier Villa 4 Clymping 3,  attendance 2

19’ 1-0

32’ 2-0

42’ 3-0

47’ 3-1

54’ 3-2 (pen)

76’ 3-3

79’ 4-3 (pen)

@ Falmer Sports Complex at Sussex University

off Ridge Road

Falmer

BN1 9PJ

No Admission or Programme.

Back in 1997 I saw Brighton & Hove Albion play a Youth Alliance game at Sussex University. I only found out this season that Montpelier Villa play their matches on a pitch that is in a separate part of the complex to the one I visited, so I would need another trip to the South Coast.

Today seemed a good day to visit, as it was 3rd bottom v 2nd bottom in the league table, and a game that both teams would fancy their chances of picking up a rare win. It turned out to be the right choice as this was a really entertaining match. I can’t remember if I have ever been to a game on a Saturday where there was only one other spectator present, which is a poor turn out for this level of football.

All three of the Montpelier goals in the first half were headers, two of them from corners, plus they hit the post and crossbar and looked to have sewn it up by halftime. Clymping then came out all guns blazing after the break and deservedly levelled it, only to be beaten by a penalty just a few minutes after the equaliser. They then had a man sent off in stoppage time, but still had a great chance of nicking a point with the last effort of the match, which came seven minutes into added time. The game eventually finished at 15.59.