MATCH REPORT: POLEGATE TOWN

Rotherfield FC made it back to back wins in the Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Premier Division thanks to a comfortable 5-0 victory on their travels away to Polegate Town. Goals from Harry Brand, Scott Taylor, Sam Saunders, Bailey Mintrim and Jack Turner gave the Greens a dominant away victory, climbing a place in the table as they did so.

Arriving at The Trafalgar Ground, home of Newhaven Town, for yesterday’s fixture fresh off the back of a good away victory at Cuckfield Rangers the week prior, the Greens were forced to shuffle their pack due to absentees and injuries. The lineup saw Harry Brand make his first start for the club after impressing last week on debut off the bench and Jack Draper make his first appearance for the first team after graduating from Rotherfield’s youth setup.

The early exchanges between both sides lacked any sort of flow as possession turned over routinely between both sides. A couple of deep crosses from wide for Polegate Town looked to cause concern for the away side’s defence and a goal was chalked off for a foul in the box - a sigh of relief for the Greens.

As the first half progressed, the Greens managed to create more openings and take more control of the game. The close control and forward running of Jack Spampanato impressing in his midfield role and with Brand looking a sustained threat cutting in from the left showing excellent movement.

After going close a couple of times it was Brand who would take the deadlock with a fantastic looping shot on the angle finding the back of the net to give the visitors the lead. Despite not clicking into top gear, Rotherfield managed the game to half time with their slender lead in place.

At the interval, the away side’s management called for greater composure on the ball and patience in waiting for the right opportunities. The introductions of skipper Sam Saunders and Scott Taylor, both on their return from injury, afforded the away side greater control and creativity in possession and their impact was in full force soon.

A long free-kick was excellently controlled by the ever-industrious Mike Peevor who beat his marker and squared for Taylor to find the bottom corner from the edge of the area to double the Greens’ lead. Two became three soon after as Spampanato was felled on the edge of the area and captain Saunders stepped up to curl a fantastic strike over the wall and into the top corner.

The Greens were in full flow now with the powerful running of Dan Gray, Connor Morrow and Bailey Mintrim looking a real threat with every attacking move. The fourth goal game in more fortuitous fashion as a Polegate defender attempted to clear a deep cross, only for his clearance to cannon back off of the ever-willing Mintrim and into the back of the net.

The final goal came from another Saunders free-kick who forced the Polegate keeper into action only for Jack Turner to power the follow-up home from close range to round off the scoring.

Back-to-back wins for the Greens but also impressively, the result represented back-to-back clean sheets for Rotherfield with yesterday’s performance built on the solidity of a changed back four of Richard Holman, Max Carbune, Turner and Mintrim who defended admirably throughout and the safe hands of James Gurney.

The afternoon was topped off with a solid display from young defender Jack Draper who enjoyed fifteen minutes at full-back to mark his debut for the first team, making a strong shot-bound block in the process.

The Greens continue their succession of away travels next week as they head to Frenches Athletic looking to make it three wins on the bounce.

Lineup: Gurney; Holman, Carbune, Turner, Mintrim; Chittenden (Saunders, 50), Peevor, Spampanato (Draper, 75); Howard (Taylor, 60), Morrow, Brand (Gray, 50)