West Sussex League
Division 2 North
Saturday 13th January 2024
Kick Off 14.00 On Time!
Ashurst United 0 Slinfold 4, attendance 15
6’ 0-1
22’ 0-2
25’ 0-3
59’ 0-4
@ Ashurst Recreation Ground
School Lane
Ashurst
BN44 3AY
No Admission or Programme.
I had turned up hoping to see a game here last season, but ended up elsewhere, as there was no sign of life just under an hour before kick off (turned out it was a call off by Plaistow, who couldn’t be bothered to raise a team). I had a back up game on 3G, down in Portslade today, just in case, but on arrival, it was good to see the corner flags in place and the nets going up! The Referee was having a look at the pitch, but with no rain and no sign of frost (never got above 2 degrees all afternoon) it was on okay this time.
The ground here is shared with cricket. There is a small car park, with parking also available in the lane that runs alongside. The football changing rooms are nearest, with the cricket pavilion beyond. The football pitch, which runs widthways, is on the far side of the cricket square and bordered by trees/hedges on three sides, with both ‘benches’ setting up on the near touchline.
Ashurst had won Division 3 Central at a canter last season, only losing once in eighteen games and have continued that form at the higher level, coming into this top of Division 2 North, winning eight of their first ten games. Slinfold were fourth, six points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand, so all to play for.
An early goal saw Slinfold open the scoring with a cracking 25 yarder into the top corner, Ashurst created plenty of chances, dominating possession, but Slinfold looked dangerous on the break and a quick fire double, midway through the first half, saw them make it 0-3, with some clinical finishing. Any chance of a comeback disappeared just before the hour mark, when Slinfold added a fourth goal, finishing with a shot from the edge of the box that went in off the post.
This completes this division now and just Felpham Colts (Premier Division) and Queens Head Raiders (Division 3 South) for the full league.
