Match Reports For January 2005

Match Date: Saturday 22nd January 2005

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Chichester City United 3 Redhill 1

Redhill were still missing key players due to injuries and suspensions. But Redhill made two new signings prior to the match. Reds signed former conference player Duggie Flemming, who played for Welling and re signed key defender Paul Whithread who played for the Reds last season.

Redhill saw most of the procession in the opening fifteen minutes. Michael Morgan and Luke Jones continued moving forward. Redhill saw two good chances missed in the 12^th and 17^th minute just wide of the post and crossbar.

But it was the home side that struck first when Scott Tipper managed to get the final last touch onto the ball helping it to go in after the Reds defence area was crowed and couldn’t clear the ball out.

Redhill battled forward but kept getting denied but the home side’s defence. Chichester City saw a little more of the ball and pressed inside the Reds area, but with Ollie West, Paul Whithread and keeper Dan Kelton, they denied all attempts made by the home side.

The Second half started much like the first did, Reds again took procession and quickly moved forward. Reds were confident to find the equaliser as they moved the ball forward. Morgan continued to provide useful balls into the area but again denied by the defence.

But the Reds pulled it back on the 59^th minute when a good cross from Captain Luke Jones, found the feet of Morgan who fired into the back of the net. Then Redhill put on some nice passing movements and saw the arrival of Flemming who got straight to work up front.

Kelton made a great save in the 66^th minute, when a powerful header from Paul Thomas was heading for the bottom left hand corner, but Kelton with a great diving save denied the strike.

With five minutes remaining and the game looking to be a draw, the home side where awarded a free kick just out side the Reds area on the left side of the pitch, the ball was knocked into the area and wasn’t cleared fully, the ball found its way to Scott Murfin who was 25 yards out and fired the ball into the back of the Reds net thanks to a deflection. The Reds found themselves further behind just one minute later when the Reds stood still letting Murfin go one on one with Kelton but despite a good attempt from Kelton Murfin picked up his second of the game. Leaving the Reds with out any points from their last four games.

Man of the Match: Dan Kelton

TEAM: KELTON, WEST, SINCLAIR, CHANNON (HORNER), WHITHREAD, GUSCOTT, MORGAN, CLARK, JONES, WALLACE (FLEMMING), DUCKER (BIGGAR).

UNUSED SUB: ENDSLEIGH

Match Date: Saturday 15th January 2005

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Saturday 15^th January 2005

Redhill 1 Pagham 4

Redhill knew before kick off, that this would not be an easy game due to six first team players out; Captain Justin Jones, goalkeeper Chris Roberts, defenders Tim Smith, David Stares and strikers Ben Biggar and Steve Jenns. The Reds also had Jamie Sinclair, Stuart Channon and Ollie West playing with injuries.

Despite having these players out, the Reds saw most of the possession for the early stages of the game. Redhill nearly took the lead on the 8^th minute, when a James Horner shot was saved by Pagham keeper Wes Hallett, following a nice pass from the right wing from Michael Morgan. Redhill nearly struck again on the 20^th minute when an Ian Wallace shot was pushed away by Hallett, for a corner kick.

Dan Kelton who stepped up from the reserve team, made a great save in the 24^th minute, when he denied Daniel Jones, from close range. Both teams continued to push forward, Luke Jones continued to work hard up front. Pagham nearly broke the deadlock when a Brett Forden strike just went over the cross bar. In the remaining five minutes, Pagham pressed forward but Dan Kelton made five excellent saves including a vital interception, which could have given the home side the lead on the stroke of half time.

It was Pagham who struck first, just three minutes into the second half, when Lee Stevens managed to put the ball past Kelton, to give the home team the lead. Redhill continued to press forward, with Jon Ducker, playing some good football on the left wing. Kelton again made an excellent save on the 52^nd minute to deny Richard Brown.

Pagham struck again on the 64^th minute when Michael Woolston, extended the home sides lead following on off side pass from Lee Stevens. Just two minute later Pagham received a penalty to the dismay of the Reds defence. Brett Forden was quick to convert this, just managing to place the ball between the left hand side goal post and Kelton’s hand following is diving attempt to deny the penalty.

Redhill feel further behind in the 70^th minute when Calum Britton picked up Pagham’s forth. Despite being four nil down, the Reds battled forward and were award a consolation goal in the 80^th minute, when Michael Morgan took an early free kick to find Ian Wallace who found Luke Jones open just outside the area, and Jones knocked the ball past the keeper. But it was Pagham who picked up three points, with the Reds remaining eighth in the league.

Man of the Match: Dan Kelton

TEAM: KELTON, WEST, SINCLAIR, CHANNON, HORNER, GUSCOTT, MORGAN, CLARK, L. JONES (CAPT), WALLACE, DUCKER

SUBS USED: EATON, EDMONDS.

The reserves picked up a 1-1 draw at home Saturday against St Francis Rangers. With Adam Doick, scoring for The Reds. The reserves remain second in the Reserve Section East League. The reserves are now set to play Burgess Hill in the semi finals of the reserve section cup, venue and date to be confirmed.

Match Date: Tuesday 11th January 2005

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Tuesday 11^th January 2005

Three Bridges 3 Redhill 1

Despite a very good team performance, Redhill were very unlucky not to come away with at least a point.

Redhill took most of the procession in the opening fifteen minutes. Luke Jones continued to put the Bridges’ defenders under pressure, as was Michael Morgan who was dominating the midfield area. Redhill should have had a penalty awarded when Andy Turner handled the ball inside his own area.

Jon Ducker continued to provide nice neat crosses into the Bridges’ area, but all attempts were quickly denied. Redhill saw two more chances missed in the 27^th and 32^nd minutes. But it was the home team that struck first, when Pat Massaro, knocked the ball past Reds keeper Chris Roberts.

Despite being behind, Redhill continued to put the Bridges’ defence under pressure, looking for an equaliser before half time. But it was the home side that had the lead at half time.

Redhill came out stronger, and quickly got to work looking for a quick equaliser. Redhill again saw most of the procession going there way. David Stares and Tim Smith continued to play well inside the Redhill defence as did Geoff Clark and James Horner.

A Michael Morgan shot in the 52^nd minute, saw his efforts quickly denied by keeper Alan Mansfield, managing to block the low shot. Chris Roberts made a fine save just two minutes later when he had to save a point blank shot from Danny Smith.

But Redhill got the goal that they were after in the 58^th minute, when a defencing error from Bridges, the ball fell to the feet of James Horner who fired a wonderful 20 yard shot past Mansfield, to raise the Reds sprits.

Redhill nearly made it two, just four minutes later when a well taken free kick from Ian Wallace, just outside the Bridges area, was fired into the area, just missing the heads of Stares and Clark, resulting to a goal kick.

Redhill found themselves behind for a second time when Massaro, put the ball past Roberts for a second time. Bridges struck again on the 73^rd minute when Massaro, knocked the ball over Roberts, to pick up his and bridges third goal.

For the remaining ten minutes, Redhill were the better side, pressing forward and continuing to seek more goals. But despite all attempts, Redhill walk away, with out earning at least a well earned point.

Man of the Match: Michael Morgan.

TEAM: ROBERTS, SMITH WALLACE), SINCLAIR, CHANON, STARES, GUSCOTT, MORGAN, CLARK, L. JONES (CAPT), HORNER, DUCKER.

UNUSED SUBS: HAMMOND, EATON.

Match Date: Saturday 8th January 2005

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Saturday 8^th January 2004

Redhill 0 Hailsham 4 (Abandoned 78^th Minute)

Redhill’s game against Hailsham Town, was abandoned in the 78^th minute, when floodlight trouble struck and left the pitch in darkness.

Redhill took to the game first and quickly moved forward. Redhill captain Luke Jones came close on the 4^th minute when he found his shot going just wide of the post. But Redhill received a penalty just two minutes later when Hailsham defender Paul Crusbie handled in the area. Jones stepped up but the keeper managed to save the shot with his legs, denying the Reds an early lead.

But it was the visitors that struck first when Nick Barden knocked the ball over Reds keeper Chris Roberts in the 9^th minute. Redhill came close again on the 10^th minute when another fine Jones shot hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Hailsham extended their lead in 14^th minute when an unmarked Leon Legge converted with a header from a right wing pass from Paul Richardson. Redhill kept fighting forward with Jones looking to put the Reds back into the game. But Hailsham made it three in the 37^th minute when Nick Barden picked up his second of the game.

The Reds came out confident that they could get back into the game. Geoff Clark and Danny Guscott pressed forward with Michael Morgan pacing down the wing. Redhill saw two more opportunities missed in the 60^th and 64^th minutes, but found themselves further behind when Simon Stevens made it four in the 67^th minute.

Then just a minute later one set of floodlights went off, despite trying to get this repaired, the whole side of floodlights then went out. The referee managed to play on only to as far as the 78^th minute when all the floodlights went out. The referee agreed to wait for 5 minutes for the lights to reboot, when this happened the referee got both sides back onto the pitch but before the referee could he start the game, the far side floodlights went off and the referee abandoned the game in the 78^th minute.

It has now been made aware that the result will now stand and there will be no reply.

TEAM: ROBERTS, WEST, SINCLAIR, SMITH, CHANNON, GUSCOTT, MORGAN, CLARK, L. JONES (CAPT), JENNS, DUCKER.

SUBS USED: HORNER, WALLACE. UNUSED: HAMMOND.

The reserve team have made it to the semi finals of the Reserve Section Cup, with a fine 2-1 victory away to Selsey, goals coming from Matt Dean and Joel Layton.

Match Date: Monday 3rd January 2005

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Monday 3^rd January 2004

Redhill 1 Ringmer 0

Redhill Kick Off The New Year, With A Fine Victory

Redhill kicked off the new year, with a fine victory over Ringmer, on bank holiday Monday. Redhill were with out defender David Stares and Captain Justin Jones, both through suspensions, but the Reds welcomed Geoff Clark back to the side, following the completion of his 35 day match ban.

For the first fifteen minutes, both sides shared the possession, but never could get passed the other’s defence. Ringmer missed a chance on the 16^th minute, when Gareth Green’s shot went wide of the post. Luke Jones went close for the Reds just two minutes later. Both Michael Morgan and Jon Ducker continued to pace the wings, with Geoff Clark, strong in the centre of midfield.

Ringmer saw yet another good chance missed when Dominic Shepherd’s header went over the cross bar, but was covered by Reds keeper Chris Roberts. Both sides picked up a little more pace and kept the ball moving forward but never side could take the lead before half time.

Redhill started the second half stronger than the first, seeing a little more of the ball. Danny Guscott providing goods through balls, and defenders Tim Smith and Stuart Channon denied any attempts that Ringmer tried to make.

Captain Luke Jones continued to march forward, with Steve Jenns in support. Redhill saw two good chances missed in the 65^th and 74^th minutes. But Redhill struck home in the 77^th minute, when some good team passing found Jon Ducker, who then converted the pass just outside the area, beating the Ringmer keeper, Ross Standen.

With five minutes to go until full time, Ringmer nearly pulled things back, when a Shepherd header was heading for the top right hand corner, but with an excellent save from Roberts pulled the shot down and cleared the ball away from danger. Roberts had to make another fine save just two minutes later, but it was Redhill who picked up all three points and now move to eighth place in the league.

Man Of The Match; Chris Roberts.

TEAM: ROBERTS, WEST (HORNER), SINCLAIR, SMITH, CHANNON, GUSCOTT (EATON), MORGAN, CLARK, L. JONES (CAPT), JENNS (WALLACE), DUCKER.