West Sussex League

Premier Division

Wednesday 10th April 2024

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Watersfield 1 Harting 4, attendance 19

16’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

34’ 0-3

48’ 0-4

90’ 1-4

@ Alban Head Playing Field

Sandy Lane

Watersfield

RH20 1NE

No Admission or Programme.

I had confirmation from the home club via Twitter that the game was going ahead as planned and they helpfully also said that if anything was to change, then they’d update as necessary, although weren’t expecting anything to alter in the meantime. It did rain all the way there, but once on the A24 it was nothing more than light rain/drizzle, but did continue throughout the game. The ground is at the end of Sandy Lane, a right hand turn off the A29 when heading towards the coast. There is a small car park at the entrance, with the pitch running lengthways away from here, with a cricket square to the left and a pavilion/changing room building on a raised area beyond the far goal.

The match was 6th versus 3rd in the league table. The visitors were far more clinical with their finishing and the game was more evenly contested than the scoreline suggests. A break down the right was pulled back and finished with a shot into the top corner after sixteen minutes, to put Harting in front and they doubled their lead with a header from a corner just before the half hour mark. Five minutes later it was 0-3, finishing easily having been clean through on goal. The game was put out of reach, with goal number four coming three minutes into the second half. Watersfield got a last minute consolation, but Harting were deserved winners.

Having kicked off on time, with just five minutes for halftime, taken out on the pitch, we were done and dusted at 19.35. The result sees both clubs remain in the league positions they started the night in. Harting are two points adrift of second placed T.D. Shipley, having played the same number of games, whilst Lavant remain three points clear at the top, as well as having a game in hand on the two below them.