Mid Week games in Week 17 for teams in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League were all games in the Sussex County F.A.PARAFIX Senior Challenge Cup. 2nd round. There were seven games involving ten teams, of which four teams had difficult games against Sussex based teams from the Isthmian Football League..The cold, wet and windy weather played a major part in deciding the outcome of tonight's fixtures as only two of the seven fixtures survived a pitch inspection.

On the Saturday of Week 17, there was a full set of ten fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League. Second placed Crawly Down Gatwick had a home challenge against fifth place Steyning Town, whilst Alfold had a relegation battle at home with Saltdean United.. After a period of a few wet days at the beginning of the week, all the grounds were found to be fit for all the ten football games to be played on Saturday

ANVILS v BARROWMAN

There were two games which kicked off early, one at Crawley Down against Steyning Town and one at Hassocks at home to Lingfield.. On a near perfect pitch, prolific goal scorer super Sammy Clements scored early in the first half to give the "Anvils" the lead at halftime over visitors Steyning Town in a fantastic game of football and in excellent weather conditions..In the second half Ben Connolly doubled the lead but the "Barrowmen" fought back with a goal from substitute Robert Clarke. But that goal was not enough to prevent Crawley Down Gatwick getting a 2-1 home win which consolidated their second position in the division. For his overall performance Mark Pelling was named as the Crawley Down Gatwick "Man of the Match".

ROBINS v LINGERS

At the start of an early period of sustained pressure, Lingfield broke away from a failed Hassocks free kick with the ball falling to Dennis Asante to score. Home opponents Hassocks fought back and levelled midway through the first half with a strong strike from Liam Benson. Just before halftime Jack Troak made certain of a goal after his first shot was cleared off the line to give the home side the lead at halftime. Late in the second half Ferguson Ward scored for the visitors for the game to end in a 2-2 draw.. Both teams got stuck in today and ground out a point each which was considered a fair result..

V's v MAGPIES

AFC Varndeanians welcomed Loxwood to the "Withdean Stadium '' and took the lead soon after the kick-off. A long goalkeeper clearance broke through the visitors defence allowing Mark Goldson to score. Soon afterwards Jake Ward collected a rebound from an Alistair Rainford shot to score the second of the goalpost. Minutes later Loxwood pulled a goal back when the ball slipped through the fingers of Jordan Hawkins in the "V's" goal. With all to play for in the second half, Mark Goldson scored his second goal to increase the lead only minutes after the restart. Mark Goldson then completed his hattrick when he put away an excellent pass from Marley Biggs.. An absolutely blinding shot saw debutant Ossie O'Neill increase the lead but Loxwood then pulled a goal back. The final goal came from F Agnihotri in added time to give AFC Varndeanians a 6-2 home victory and they moved into the top half of the division. A blinding performance gained their fourth win in a row and congratulations from the new Manager Justin Jones..

FOLD v TIGERS..With a new Management Team led by Jordan Clark and and Luke Taylor and seven new players, Alfold played fellow relegation candidates Saltdean United at the "Elliott Scott Group Stadium". Midway into the first half a corner from Harry Sutton was headed by a Saltdean Utd defender into his own goal with a ball which looped over his own goalkeeper. Into the second half and Lewis Beebee levelled the score with a downward header into the bottom left hand corner of the goal when he put away a cross from Archie Sutton only for Max Leitch to put the "Fold" back into the lead minutes later when a free kick was missed by all and went straight into the goal. Well into time added on, a break down the right hand side by Max Leitch then crossing to Callum Kilkenny. to side foot the ball into the goal completed the scoring .A great performance by the whole team resulted in a vital 3-1 home win for Alfold but they still need more wins to move out of the relegation zone.. For his special performance, Jonden de Meyer was named as the Alfold "Man of the Match".

CROWS v BEARS

Broadbridge Heath travelled to the "Community Stadium" to play Crowborough Athletic and gained a very professional victory. The scoring was started by Charlie Parmiter midway through the first half. Alex Barbary increased the lead in the second half which was followed later in the half with a goal by Kyle Sim. This 3-0 away victory for Broadbridge Heath consolidated their position as leaders of the division..

UNITED v TYE

Peacehaven and Telcombe stood firm in defence and stretched the home defence of Eastbourne Utd AFC at every opportunity going forward. Minutes before the end of the first half, a Max Hollobone cross into the penalty area was swept home by Harry Docherty off the goal post. Then well into added time, a half cleared ball was collected by Henry Blackmore who got himself some space and drilled the ball across the goalkeeper into the far corner of the goal. Midway through the second half, a pass from Jack Pettett found Mikey Lloyd who twisted and turned and then fired the ball low and hard into the goal past the goalkeeper diving in despair. The Peacehaven and Telscombe "Man of the Match" award was won by Mikey Lloyd for his tireless work and scoring a goal..

The YM V PIRATES

With the first half coming to an end, there was just time for Jack Shonk to put visitors Bexhill United into the lead against Horsham YMCA at the "Herbert Direct Stadium".In the second half, Jack Shonk scored his second goal and then YMCA were awarded a penalty in the last few minutes of the second half, when Jonathan Kusaka was pulled down and the penalty was converted by Joshua Neathey. Straight from the restart, a James Stone special completed a 3-1 away victory for Bexhill United to be moved one place up the division..

LITTLE COMMON v ROFFEY

Hope for a win was always in the minds of the Roffey players but today it was not to be as they were well beaten by home side Little Common even though Joshua Maher scored in the very first minutes. In an explosive first half, the lead was short-lived when Freddie Warren equalised midway through the first half. His goal was followed soon after by one from Lewis Hole and then Sam Cruttwell who scored his second minutes before half time. Straight from the restart, Sam Cruttwell completed his hat trick then Lewis Hole scored again. The scoring was completed for Little Common by Lewis Parsons and Jamie Cronewith Joshua Maher scoring his second for Roffey and completing an 8-2 home victory for Little Common and they moved up two places in the division For scoring his hat trick Sam Cruttwell was named "Man of the match" for Little Common.

DOCKERS v TOWN

Newhaven threw everything at visitors Eastbourne Town but had to wait for the end of the game for their goal. James Waters put Eastbourne Town into the lead in the first half and they held the lead until the very last minute when Henry Watson scored. Newhaven achieved a 1-1 draw with Eastbourne Town despite creating many chances and missing them all but one. With this draw, Newhaven stayed in third place in the division but now a gap is beginning to form between the top three teams and the fourth placed team..

STAGS v OAKMEN

Midhurst and Easebourne played out a home 2-2 draw with AFC Uckfield Town. No further information.

In Week 18 there are only four games in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League. A home game for tenth placed AFC Varndeanians against fourteen placed Eastbourne Town could go either way and eleventh placed Little Common should have a chance at home to fifth placed Steyning Town. Eastbourne Utd AFC and Crowborough Athletic should both have victories over much lower placed teams in the division….

GREAT VICTORY FOR THE UNDERDOGS

Peacehaven and Telscombe welcomed Chichester City to the "LH Sports Park" up on the South Downs and immediately went behind after a goal from Kaleem Haithamafter he intercepted a pass across the defence, then ran towards the goal and scored from outside the penalty box into the bottom right hand corner of the goal..Max Hollobone then levelled the score when he collected a scuffed goalkeeper clearance and with a very long rocket strike buried the ball into the goal to make the score level at halftime. Straight from the restart Callum Edwards put the home side ahead after he collected a squared pass from Max Hollobone and finished well by slotting the ball underneath the goalkeeper. Midway into the second half, Rob Hutchins cut in from the left and fired the ball into the goal at the near post. With no more goals the game finished all 2-2 at full time and went into a penalty shootout which Peacehaven and Telscombe won 4-3 and advanced to the 3rd round of the Senior Challenge Cup..Once again for his excellent goalkeeping performance, Nathan Stroomberg was voted by the players as the Man of the Match for Peacehaven and Telscombe.

HORSHAM DOMINANT DESERVED VICTORY

Early in the first half Horsham took the lead after a pass from Tom Kavanagh was collected by Shamir Fenelon who finished well. A little later captain Jack Brivio scored with a left-footed shot that looped over the goalkeeper. Jack Mazzone completed the scoring in the first half when he tapped in a rebound.. Horsham had a good lead at half time and held it until the final whistle despite a valiant effort by Steyning Town and with a 3-0 away victory moved into the 3rd round of the Senior Challenge Cup. For his overall classy all round display, Charlie Meehan was named as the Man of the Match for Steyning Town

ISUZU F.A. Challenge Vase 3rd round games to be played on 3rd December 2022
Eastbourne Town v Egham Town (Combined Counties Premier North)
Holyport (Combined Counties Premier North) v Peacehaven and Telscombe
Ascot United (Combined Counties Premier North) v Little Common

Southern Combination Football League. Peter Bentley Challenge Cup. Quarter-final round games to be played on 14th March 2023.
Loxwood v Dorking Wanderers Res. (Div.1)
Broadbridge Heath v Newhaven
Peacehaven and Telscombe v Eastbourne United AFC
Crowborough Athletic v Steyning Town