West Sussex League

Bareham Trophy 2nd Round

Saturday 19th October 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.05

Bracklesham Bay 2 Chapel 1, attendance 44

14’ 0-1

54’ 1-1

81’ 2-1

@ Downview Park

Downview Close

East Wittering

PO20 8NS

No Admission or Programme.

With the now normal heavy rain overnight on a Friday evening, I faced the problem of confirming that the game was going ahead, something that is always the case with games in the West Sussex League. Today bucked the trend though, receiving a reply from Bracklesham Bay within minutes. Driving south down the A24 it was getting drier by the mile and I arrived on the Sussex coast in glorious sunshine. The pitch here at Downview Park is just that…a pitch, but it was roped along one side, where there were also four park benches. The changing rooms are in the corner behind the near goal and a tea bar was set up on a portable table offering hot/cold drinks and crisps, sweets, etc. Not something you’d normally expect at this level.

The game pitted Division 3 South versus Division 3 Central. Chapel started off the better of the two, taking an early lead after cutting in from the left, before finishing into the far corner from the angle of the six yard box. Bracklesham Bay levelled nine minutes into the second half, when a ball over the top was controlled and smashed past the ‘keeper, giving him no chance. Chapel had an effort cleared off the line, before Bracklesham Bay had a man sin binned with twenty minutes left. Just before he returned, Chapel had a 25 yarder come back off the crossbar and within seconds of coming back on the pitch, the sin binned player was sent clear and finished into the far corner to win it for the hosts.

After today, I’m left with just Chichester based Queens Head Raiders to complete the West Sussex League.