On the Saturday of Week 18, there was a full set of ten games in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League. There were three games which could have proved to be tricky for top of the division teams, Steyning Town, Crawley Down Gatwick and Broadbridge Heath whilst several teams heading in the wrong direction in the division Horsham YMCA and Little Common needed to be carefull. Due to the heavy showers earlier in the week, one game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, that game was Lingfield at home to Little Common at the "Lair". It also got very cold in the second half standing on the sidelines

In the game that kicked off early, Steyning Town fought back to come away with a draw away to AFC Varndeanians. In the last minute of the first half, Marley Biggs put the "V's" ahead and then early in the second half Kyle Woolven doubled the lead. Stung into action, Charlie Meehan pulled a goal back soon afterwards and then Max Howell levelled the score with a wonder strike minutes later. With no more goals, the home side did well to hold Steyning Town to a 2-2 draw

Crawley Down Gatwick had a tough game away to Bexhill United at the "Polegrove" after the visitors had a player sent off in the first few minutes but eventually overcame the ten men. Rhys White scored the first goal for the visitors soon after the kickoff but it was much later at the start of the second half when Nicholas Sullivan doubled the lead with a great finish. Benjamin Delisle made certain of the 3-0 away victory to Crawley Down Gatwick with a great strike. It was a really strong performance from the entire squad which moved the team back to the top of the division. Michael Belli was named as "Man of the Match" for the "Anvils"

Broadbridge Heath played at home at the "Countryside Stadium" against a very much inform Peacehaven and Telscombe team and lost by a single goal. Callum Edwards opened the scoring for the visitors late in the first half when he located the ball in the penalty area then slammed the ball hard and low into the goal with his left foot. Max Hollobone doubled the lead in the second half when he collected a ball from Mikey Lloyd and then buried the ball into the bottom of the goal with the goalkeeper stranded. In the last few minutes of the game Broadbridge Heath pulled a goal back with a goal by Harry Mark but it did not stop Peacehaven and Telscombe getting a 2-1 away victory

Newhaven completely dominated Midhurst and Easebourne on their 4G pitch at "Trafalgar Road" Alfie Rogers started the scoring for the "Dockers" in the first half followed by a goal from Henry Watson with a rocket of a shot. Alfie Rogers scored his second goal in the last minute of the first half as he converted a penalty and virtually straight from the restart, Alfie Rogers converted another penalty to complete his hattrick. It came down to Max Vardy to complete the scoreline as the game came to an end with Newhaven getting a 5-0 home victory. That victory kept Newhven in touch with two teams at the top of the division.

Roffey started their away game at Crowborough Athletic in high spirits when they took an early lead with a goal by George Cousins. The lead was short lived when Danny Powell equalised for the "Crows" minutes later. Harry Foster then put Crowborough into the lead which they held up to half time. Soon after the start of the second half, Maher Jahobi levelled for Roffey but then the "Crows" scored again with a goal from Harvey Killick which secured a 3-2 home victory. "Man of the Match" for Crowborough Athletic was named as Harry Foster.

An inform Eastbourne Town welcomed Alfold to the "Saffons" for the afternoon game. Alfold got off to a quick start when Manny Katundu scored in the first few minutes for the visitors only for Louis Veneti to level the score a little later for the home side..With the scores level at halftime it was in the second half when captain Frankie Chappell put "Town" into the lead. The lead was increased by Harvey Greig mid way through the second half and that was enough to give Eastbourne Town a 3-1 home victory which moved them up five places in the division to ninth place. "Man of the Match" for Eastbourne Town was named as James Waters for an overall brilliant performance and for Alfold, Harry Cole was named as the "Man of the Match"

Hassocks got off to a flying start in their game at home to Saltdean United when Paul Harding scored straight from the start. The action continued when James Wilkes scored followed minutes later by one from Liam Benson. Later an Own Goal and then a goal by Alexander Bygraves to complete the scoring in the first half with Hassocks in a huge lead. Saltdean Utd managed to pull a goal back in the second half with a goal by Mitchell Hewens but a 5-1 home victory went to Hassocks as they moved up to fifth in the division.

Horsham YMCA held visitors AFC Uckfield Town to a goalless first half in their home game at the "Herbert Direct Stadium".Soon after the start of the second half, Ellis Wright put the "Oakmen" into the lead which they held until the final whistle to go home with a 1-0 away victory The main action of the day was "YM" having goalkeeper Aaron Jeal sent off at half time having to be replaced in goal by Mark Fox.

Title chasing Eastbourne Utd AFC were shocked to go behind when Jake Lindsay gave home team Loxwood the lead in the first half. The lead was doubled later by Jake Lindsay scoring his second goal to give Loxwood the lead at half time. In the second half, Aaron Capon scored followed by a goal from Matthew Maclean to equalise. With no more goals the game finished with a 2-2 draw. Eastbourne Utd AFC were disappointed to lose after they had George Olulode sent off towards the end of the second half.

On the Wednesday of Week 19, there are four rearranged Sussex County FA PARAFIX Senior Challenge Cup second round matches with one more game to be rearranged in the near future..There are no games in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League

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..Luckily the weather was kind and all four games were played..

LAST MINUTE GOAL

After a period of heavy rain on Monday morning, the pitch at the Withdean Stadium was declared playable for the game between AFC Varndeanians and Eastbourne Town. There were plenty of chances to score in the first half for both teams but unfortunately the final touch was missing and the half ended goalless. The second half followed the same pattern until well into injury time when substitute Tyler Capon scored for the visitors. That goal gave Eastbourne Town a 1-0 away victory in a very tough game..

AN EARLY GOAL

A little while after the kick-off, Eastbourne Utd AFC went ahead in their home game against visitors Saltdean United with a goal from Aaron Capon. Minutes after the first goal, a brilliant save by the "Tigers" goalkeeper to a penalty prevented "United" going further ahead. With no more goals in the first half, everybody was looking forward to the second half. Minutes after the restart, Aaron Capon scored his second goal with a superb header when he connected with a great ball from Sam Cook. The game ended with Eastbourne Utd AFC getting a 2-0 home victory and "Man of the Match" being named as Aaron Capon for his two goals .

FIRST MINUTE GOAL

The game between home side Little Common and visitors Steyning Town had not reached the one minute mark when Oliver Weeks put the home side ahead. Little Common held on to their lead as no more goals were scored in the first half. Then very late in the second half, Jamie Bunn put Little Common further ahead with a well placed shot to secure a 2-0 home victory against a stuttering Steyning Town..Defender Paul Feakins was named as the "Man of the Match" for Little Common.

LATE GOAL IN FIRST HALF AND SECOND HALF

Right on the halftime whistle, Loxwood took the lead when a right hand free kick was not cleared and the ball was bundled into the Crowborough Athletic goal by Kaiden Hammerston. In the second half, there were no more goals until the final minutes of injury time when Alexander Joy equalised for Crowborough Athletic after a goal mouth clearance had been returned well into the penalty area to be scrambled home..A 1-1 draw was the result for both teams after a hard fought game with Harry London being named as the "Man of the Match" for Crowborough Athletic for his all action performance..