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Thursday 27th August 2020

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.28

Pulborough 4 Newtown Villa 1, attendance 15

12’ 0-1

22’ 1-1

49’ 2-1

67’ 3-1

79’ 4-1

@ Pulborough Recreation Ground

Rectory Close

Pulborough

RH20 2AJ

No Admission or Programme.

At the end of last week Pulborough had tweeted that they were looking for opposition for tonight’s game. I tweeted them yesterday, then again today, about whether there was indeed a match, but they never bothered replying to either message. Then, just two hours before kick off, they tweeted that there was indeed a match tonight!

As I arrived at the ground there was a very heavy rain shower and the wind was blowing at a fair pace. With thick cloud overhead, combined with the match kicking off late, the Referee had stated it would be 2 x 40 minute halves, just to be on the safe side as far as the light, or lack of it, was concerned. However, the weather improved as the game went on and we had nice warm sunshine for most of the second half. There was never going to be a problem as far as the pitch was concerned. It was immaculate and as good as any I have seen on a local recreation ground.

The teams are both in the West Sussex League. Pulborough are in Championship North Division (Step 9), which is the second tier, whilst Newtown Villa are in the Premier Division. The visitors were the better side in the first half, but Pulborough had the better of the second period. The last two goals for the hosts were absolute screamers from 25-30 yards that gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Typically, having opted for a shortened match, it was still very light when the game finished at 19.53.