Badger Ales

Sussex County Football League

Littlehampton Town 1 Redhill 3

Saturday 9^th April 2005

 

Littlehampton Town who lay fourth from top, saw their chance to finish second in the league damaged, thanks to a wonderful team performance from the Reds who now look safe from the relegation battle, thanks to a hat trick of goals.

 

Redhill started quickly and looked the most impressive as they continued to march forward. Reds quickly tested the Littlehampton Town keeper Alex Bryant early forcing him to make a dive to the near post following a strong header from Luke Jones following a well taken corner from Jon Ducker in the 5^th minute.

 

Redhill continued to impress further as they continued to out play the near top side. Redhill then received four corners in the next ten minutes but were unable to find the back of the net. Luke Jones went near again when he went one on one with keeper Bryant, who dived low forcing the shot to rebound to Luke but as both players scrambled to the ball the referee award the home side a free kick for a foul on the keeper.

 

Redhill got the goal that they deserved coming on the 29^th minute, when another good corner taken by Ducker found captain Justin Jones, who passed to a unmarked Geoff Clark who fired the ball passed Bryant. Redhill continued to outplay Littlehampton Town and the Reds nearly made it two in the 34^th minute when a well taken free kick from Ollie West following a foul on Reds striker Dave Flemming found Captain Justin Jones but saw his shot clip of the bar.

 

Redhill made it two six minutes from half time when a good cross from Dave Flemming found Luke Jones who then saw his 30 yard shot smashing into the top right hand corner a very well taken goal from him.

 

Redhill continued the second half just as they left the first and quickly moved forward. Redhill quickly added to their goals in the 51^st minute when a neat pace from Justin Jones found Geoff Clark who saw his 26 yard shot saved by Bryant but couldn’t hold onto it but Michael Morgan quickly ran in and increased the Reds lead. The home side started to see a little more of the ball and tested Reds keeper Chris Roberts for the first time in the 56^th minute when Daren Pearce looked set on scoring but a quick reaction from Roberts forced the save and the ball was quickly cleared.

 

Justin Jones continued to impress in midfield and saw his shot in the 69^th minute denied by Bryant as he dived to his left managing to keep the ball out. But the home side picked up a consolation goal in the 72^nd minute when Steve Tabor slotted home. Redhill yet continued to play the better football with Ollie West continuing to play some good football. The Reds managed to hold on to their lead as they picked all three points thanks to what was one of the best team performances of the season which now hopefully sees Redhill out of the relegation battle.

 

Man of the Match: Ollie West

 

TEAM: ROBERTS, WEST, SINCLAIR, CHANNON, WHITHREAD, CLARK, MORGAN, J. JONES (C), L. JONES (DOUG FLEMMING), DAVE FLEMMING (GUSCOTT), DUCKER (BIGGAR)

 

Redhill Reserves picked up a point on Saturday following a 3-3 draw away to Seaford, with two goals coming from Luke Edmonds and Adam Doick with the other.

 

Badger Ales

Sussex County League

Division One

Redhill 0 Whitehawk 1

 

Redhill suffered defeat on Saturday to Whitehawk, who are fourth placed in the league as Jamie Sinclair celebrated his 100^th appearance for Redhill. Saturday’s fixture saw Redhill play their 600^th Sussex County League game.

 

Before kick off Jamie Sinclair was awarded a trophy to mark his 100^th game for the Reds. The trophy was donated by the Redhill FC club shop and was presented to Jamie by Tristan Mitchell. 

 

For the opening twenty minutes of the first half saw both sides sharing the procession but neither side could break past each others defences. Tim Smith and Stuart Channon continued to work hard in the centre of defence. Justin Jones took charge of the midfield, passing the ball forward towards the strikers. Mike Morgan also continued to pass up the wing crossing neat balls into the Whitehawk box but all attempts were denied.

 

Whitehawk missed a good scoring opportunity missed in the 30^th minute when Stuart Garrod’s over head kick went wide of the post. Reds to had opportunities missed in the 35^th and 43^rd minutes. But the score remained 0-0 at half time.

 

At the start of the second half, the Reds pressed forward more with Justin Jones winning most of the procession in the midfield. But ten minutes later on the 57^th minute Chris Roberts made an excellent save when he denied a close range shot by Ryan McBride forcing the ball out for a corner.

 

But just a minute later the Reds went behind when a corner from the left side, taken by Peter Birch, found the head of Tommy Pattenden who headed the ball passed Roberts.

 

Redhill moved up a gear trying to get the score back level pegging. Geoff Clark worked hard for the Reds in midfield, moving the ball towards Morgan as he continued to cross the ball into the area but the Reds kept getting denied. 

 

With time running out Redhill kept fighting forward but couldn’t find the equaliser that they deserved.  

 

Man of the Match: Justin Jones

 

TEAM: ROBERTS, DOICK (DAVE FLEMMING), SINCLAIR, CHANNON, SMITH, CLARK, MORGAN, J. JONES, L. JONES (DOUG FLEMMING), BIGGAR, DUCKER (GUSCOTT).