Match Report: Horsham Crusaders Vets 1 - 2 Rotherfield Vets

Image: Will Hugall

📰 SSFL Vets Division 2 – Sunday 7th September 2025

Venue: Somewhere under Gatwick’s flight path

Fulltime: 1 -2

After a summer of rigorous pre-season prep (read: two friendlies and a lot of WhatsApp banter), Rotherfield Vets launched their 2025-26 campaign with an away day against Horsham Crusaders. The squad was stacked… with defenders. So stacked, in fact, that the GOAT himself had to don the gloves and play in goal. Tactical genius or sheer chaos? You decide.

The first half was a scrappy affair, with both teams struggling to tame a pitch that looked like it had been trimmed by a blind sheep. Horsham nearly took the lead early on, but their striker’s tap-in attempt was sabotaged by a rogue bobble and the crossbar – a combo more brutal than a VAR decision.

Rotherfield began to find joy down the wings, with Craig King (in his 400th appearance – someone get this man a testimonial and a statue) linking up nicely with Ben Brooker. Despite the pressure, the breakthrough eluded them. Instead, they earned a new nickname: Long-Ball Merchants. Charming!

Horsham eventually broke the deadlock after a midfield mishap gifted their striker a clean run at goal. He finished with style, and the hosts went into halftime 1 -0 up.

Halftime: 1 -0

Cue the halftime team talk: calm, constructive, and only mildly sarcastic. Whatever was said worked, because Rotherfield came out flying. A delicious free-kick from Alex Thompson found Richard Clibbens lurking at the back post, who nodded home like a man who’s done it a thousand times. 1 -1.

Moments later, Clibbens was rugby tackled in the box. Penalty! After a brief game of “You take it” – “No, you take it” – Clibbens stepped up and slotted it home. 2 -1. Comeback complete.

The next 20 minutes saw Rotherfield dominate, with fresh legs from the bench making an impact. Ashton, Watson, and Fuller all came on, with Fuller immediately causing chaos. A robust challenge sparked a minor diplomatic incident, with the opposition bench calling for sanctions and the referee doing his best impersonation of a UN peacekeeper. Rotherfield were now not just long-ball merchants – they were thugs. Progress?

The final minutes brought drama. Horsham’s striker unleashed a rocket destined for the top corner, but Andy Garrett, channelling his inner Buffon, pulled off a worldie save to tip it over the bar. That was the moment. That was the win.

⭐ Final Whistle Thoughts

First win of the season ✅

First ever SSFL win ✅

Called long-ball merchants AND thugs ✅✅

Craig King’s 400th game 🎉

Garrett’s save worthy of a mural 🧤

A solid performance, a gritty win, and a perfect launchpad for the season ahead.

🧑‍💼 Squad List

Starting: A. Garrett, C. King, D. Riley, M. McGuire, C. Ead, B. Brooker, B. Mansford, R. Clibbens, A. Thompson, A. Oddy, D. Taylor

Finishers: N. Watson, B. Ashton, C. Eaves, L. Fuller, S. McInnes