Brighton, Worthing & District League

Saturday 4th November 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.07

S.S.B. Unity 0 Sompting 4 (Abandoned 31 mins, Referee abused), attendance 6

6’ 0-1

18’ 0-2

28’ 0-3

31’ 0-4

@ Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch

120 Wilson Avenue

Brighton

BN2 5PB

No Admission or Programme.

Today was another step towards my aim to see a first team match played on every ground in Sussex. This is not the normal home of S.S.B. Unity, but the game was switched to here late in the week. It is one of 2 artificial pitches here at Stanley Deason Leisure Centre (the other being for hockey) and is the further (lower) of the two from the building/car park. Both are dug into the hillside, running end on to each other, with decent views from above the near goal end out over the city to the sea. The spectator viewing area actually runs along the full length of one side, with the only thing hampering the view being that the two teams ‘benches’ set themselves up on this side too, rather than on the opposite touchline, although it was hardly a problem with such a sparse crowd.

The match was 5th versus 8th in the league table. Sompting took an early lead, following in after an initial shot had come back off the far post. The second goal came after being played through one on one with the ‘keeper. The home linesman flagged for offside, but was correctly overruled by the Referee, who allowed the goal. Number three arrived on twenty eight minutes, squeezing a shot in at the near post from a break down the right. Three minutes later it was 0-4, again the linesman (a change from the earlier one) flagged for offside, but once again it was (correctly in my opinion) overruled and the goal was awarded. The home team and ‘bench’ ran towards the Referee, surrounding him just outside the centre circle. There was plenty of shouting, followed by a bit of jostling and pushing. Seconds later the Referee abandoned the game!