Mid Sussex League

Division 4 North

Tuesday 25th April 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Wakehams Green 4 Balcombe III 3, attendance 13

9’ 1-0 (pen)

20’ 2-0

34’ 2-1

48’ 3-1

55’ 3-2

73’ 3-3

83’ 4-3 (pen)

@ Grattons Park

Grattons Drive

Pound Hill

Crawley

RH10 3AG

No Admission or Programme.

The attraction of this game was that it was being played at the unusual venue of Grattons Park. It is a huge park that was very busy with youth team training taking place. The pitch was at the furthest point from the changing rooms, which may have had a bearing on why the players actually got changed pitch side. The players put the nets up themselves about half an hour before kick off and the game was played without corner flags. It shows just how poor the facilities are that Crawley Council hire out for local football. Just in case we were in doubt about how far down the pyramid we were, there was a no show by the appointed Referee, so a club official took on the job, and to be fair, he did okay.

Wakehams Green had already won the league last week, with a 100% winning record, but actually lost away at Ifield on Saturday, once the title was already in the bag. Balcombe III were sitting safely in sixth place and contributed to an entertaining game, although it was somewhat lacking in skill. An early penalty, followed by a header that just crossed the line before being hacked clear, saw Wakehams Green go 2-0 up after twenty minutes, but Balcombe pulled a goal back before halftime, finishing with an angled shot into the bottom corner.

Wakehams Green made it 3-1 within minutes of the restart, but a quick reply and a near post finish with seventeen minutes left, saw Balcombe pull it level at 3-3. Seven minutes from the end a second penalty of the night saw the hosts win it 4-3. It was harsh on Balcombe. They certainly deserved something from the game.

Above : Wakehams Green score their first penalty of the night.