MATCH REPORT: Seaford Town Res 3 Rotherfield Res 2

Ultimately the result was a disappointment but lurking in the detail of this match were some really notable performances, as well as a few X rated horror movies!

Another much changed side, given multiple call ups to the front side & absentees on social sojourns, made the trip to the seaside. With parking a nightmare the players were scattered from the Brightling Gap to Brighton, & this probably accounted for the less than bright start. Behind after 2 minutes when Cooper was afforded a free header from a corner was not what the management ordered, although the blatant push to create the space was frustratingly missed.

Rotherfield struggled to put together any passing moves, a consequence of the hard incredulously bobbly surface & their own shortcomings whilst Cooper & Jones for the home side were giving the Rotherfield defence a torrid internal examination.

A second goal arrived for Seaford on 30 minutes when a cross from the left was horribly mis-judged allowing the striker the freedom of the Seven Sisters to lob the advancing Lewis Bowen.

Changes were made but initially made little difference to the simmering mood of the visiting management. Simmering became a boiling frenzy when after 15 minutes of the second half Cooper was allowed to waltz around the Rotherfield defence to calmly score a third.

Then the Rotherfield side awoke from their slumber. Passes were crisp & found a team mate, defenders won challenges & suddenly they were first to the ball. Front foot football is so much easier & with subs Harry Wilson & Oskar Furman showing real quality attacks were threatening. Fellow sub Ollie making his debut in adult football, raced clear into the box before crashing the ball into the net for a superb first goal of undoubtedly many.

Buoyed by the confidence a goal always brings, the Greens mounted wave after wave of attacks. The nearby tide must have turned as the waves were now all in one direction. Ollie was unlucky again, Furman shot wide & Rhys Thomas saw his shot saved.

Where was this optimism & confidence earlier in the game?

Then on 88minutes Thomas, Furman & Ollie combined really well to force a corner. The delivery from Thomas was sensational with real pace, the determined run from Furman even better & the bullet of a header flashed into the net for big Oskars first goal.

Unfortunately there was insufficient time for the comeback to go beyond adolescence but at least in the final 30 minutes of the match a number of the less frequent starters pressed their credentials forward for future games.

Squad: Bowen, Thigpen, King, Draper, Sutton, Bristow, Birdsall (c), Holman, Zabadne, Wiles, Furman.

Subs all used: Wilson, White, Lelliott, Thomas.