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New season underway
Steve Huxley1 Aug - 06:07
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Two away in a row
One of the rituals of non league football is that tense 10 days in July when you find out who you have in the Vase/Trophy, FA Cup and, of course, the league.
For Eastbourne United, this has been a whirlwind of a close season. Virtually the moment the final whistle blew, the tractors moved in and removed the fencing, pitch and car parking at the Oval. No sad story this though; there were just 12 weeks to transform United's home since 1953 into a modern, state of the art 3G facility, complete with all the extras - new turnstiles and cafe, a completely refurbished club house and changing rooms, and brand new car parking. It’s worth a visit even if there’s no football on!!
Come the day, United drew Sporting Bengal United in the FA Cup, at home. Sadly the 3G won’t be ready quite in time, so it’s off to Newhaven next Saturday. Because of United’s exploits last time out, they do not have to qualify for the FA Vase, so join the competition in Septembers First Round Proper. Which leaves…The League. The moment the fixtures were released, there was a collective groan from United supporters, away matches at Haywards Heath and Crowborough, where United haven’t gained a win in a very long time indeed.
For Saturday’s trip to Haywards Heath, a little rearranging was required from Anthony Storey as Talisman Centre back Alfie Headland was serving the second match of a three match ban, and Rhyle Ovenden was unwell. With the departure of Callum Barlow to Bognor Regis Town, veteran striker Trevor McCreadie has been drafted in to an otherwise largely unchanged line up.
The first half started brightly for United, with Ball, Creese and Ratcliffe all going agonisingly close to opening the with Heath keeper Mitch Brommage in outstanding form. Even Brommage couldn’t deal with United debutant Arthur Grout’s free kick into the area, parrying it into the danger zone, but Ball shot just wide. Approaching the half hour, a great take down and shot from Ed Ratcliffe was well saved by Brommage, who got it straight back upfield for Heath to score on the counter, against the run of play to be fair. The frustration boiled over for Luke Leppard, who collected Uniteds first yellow of the season. At half time, Storey changed things around ,and 16 year old Grout made way for Harvey Mapstone. United went looking for the equaliser with out too much to show for it until Mapstone’s shot was parried for a corner, Kartal took it and McCreadie headed inches over the bar. With 5 minutes left, Crease was hauled down on the edge of the box, but the resulting free kick hit the crossbar. In the dying minutes Leppard hauled a man down in the box, and Heath made it 2-0, the final score.
Tuesday night by contrast only had one winner - the heat. Both Crowborough and United did well to just keep running in an absolutely stifling heat. Grout and Creese made way for Mapstone and Rhyle Ovenden, while Headland was still absent. The first half was a bad tempered affair, understandably in the circumstances, and both physios were on for minor knocks and bruises. McCreadie up front for United was used as a portable climbing wall as defender after defender scaled him, resulting in free kicks and bad tempers. Unfortunately United again could not take advantage of the seemingly endless stream of opportunities, and in a carbon copy of Saturday, went behind to a sucker punch! So it was 1-0 down at half time.
United came out with new purpose in the second half, Mapstone had already tested Martin Grant in the home goal when on 50 minutes Rhyle Ovenden got to the ball first in a goalmouth scramble and it went in off the post to make it 1-1, United’s first goal of the season. Crowborough had a man sin binned, and United pressed hard ,but despite efforts from Ratcliffe and McCreadie, the scores remained level. Rhyle Ovenden was replaced by Saturdays debutant Arthur Grout with 15 to go, and Leppard sin binned. United kept pushing, but an outstanding save from captain James Broadbent kept United in it, and so it ended 1-1.
These are three of the teams that will be looking to be involved in the playoffs this season, and on this showing, it will probably end up that way.
On Saturday, United take on Sporting Bengal United in the FA Cup at 3pm - this fixture is being hosted by Newhaven FC at Fort Road
For Eastbourne United, this has been a whirlwind of a close season. Virtually the moment the final whistle blew, the tractors moved in and removed the fencing, pitch and car parking at the Oval. No sad story this though; there were just 12 weeks to transform United's home since 1953 into a modern, state of the art 3G facility, complete with all the extras - new turnstiles and cafe, a completely refurbished club house and changing rooms, and brand new car parking. It’s worth a visit even if there’s no football on!!
Come the day, United drew Sporting Bengal United in the FA Cup, at home. Sadly the 3G won’t be ready quite in time, so it’s off to Newhaven next Saturday. Because of United’s exploits last time out, they do not have to qualify for the FA Vase, so join the competition in Septembers First Round Proper. Which leaves…The League. The moment the fixtures were released, there was a collective groan from United supporters, away matches at Haywards Heath and Crowborough, where United haven’t gained a win in a very long time indeed.
For Saturday’s trip to Haywards Heath, a little rearranging was required from Anthony Storey as Talisman Centre back Alfie Headland was serving the second match of a three match ban, and Rhyle Ovenden was unwell. With the departure of Callum Barlow to Bognor Regis Town, veteran striker Trevor McCreadie has been drafted in to an otherwise largely unchanged line up.
The first half started brightly for United, with Ball, Creese and Ratcliffe all going agonisingly close to opening the with Heath keeper Mitch Brommage in outstanding form. Even Brommage couldn’t deal with United debutant Arthur Grout’s free kick into the area, parrying it into the danger zone, but Ball shot just wide. Approaching the half hour, a great take down and shot from Ed Ratcliffe was well saved by Brommage, who got it straight back upfield for Heath to score on the counter, against the run of play to be fair. The frustration boiled over for Luke Leppard, who collected Uniteds first yellow of the season. At half time, Storey changed things around ,and 16 year old Grout made way for Harvey Mapstone. United went looking for the equaliser with out too much to show for it until Mapstone’s shot was parried for a corner, Kartal took it and McCreadie headed inches over the bar. With 5 minutes left, Crease was hauled down on the edge of the box, but the resulting free kick hit the crossbar. In the dying minutes Leppard hauled a man down in the box, and Heath made it 2-0, the final score.
Tuesday night by contrast only had one winner - the heat. Both Crowborough and United did well to just keep running in an absolutely stifling heat. Grout and Creese made way for Mapstone and Rhyle Ovenden, while Headland was still absent. The first half was a bad tempered affair, understandably in the circumstances, and both physios were on for minor knocks and bruises. McCreadie up front for United was used as a portable climbing wall as defender after defender scaled him, resulting in free kicks and bad tempers. Unfortunately United again could not take advantage of the seemingly endless stream of opportunities, and in a carbon copy of Saturday, went behind to a sucker punch! So it was 1-0 down at half time.
United came out with new purpose in the second half, Mapstone had already tested Martin Grant in the home goal when on 50 minutes Rhyle Ovenden got to the ball first in a goalmouth scramble and it went in off the post to make it 1-1, United’s first goal of the season. Crowborough had a man sin binned, and United pressed hard ,but despite efforts from Ratcliffe and McCreadie, the scores remained level. Rhyle Ovenden was replaced by Saturdays debutant Arthur Grout with 15 to go, and Leppard sin binned. United kept pushing, but an outstanding save from captain James Broadbent kept United in it, and so it ended 1-1.
These are three of the teams that will be looking to be involved in the playoffs this season, and on this showing, it will probably end up that way.
On Saturday, United take on Sporting Bengal United in the FA Cup at 3pm - this fixture is being hosted by Newhaven FC at Fort Road
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