On the Saturday of Week19 there were six games in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League and three games in the 3rd round proper of the ISUZU F.A. Challenge Vase. Eastbourne Town were at home to Egham Town, Little Common travelled to Ascot and Peacehaven and Telscombe travelled to Holyport. All three opponents play in the Combined Counties League. Premier Division North.

Premier division leaders Crawley Down Gatwick got off to a flying start in their home game against AFC Varndeanians when they went ahead after only three minutes with a goal by Michael Wood. Later in the first half, a superb cross by Michael Belli was brilliantly headed into the goal by Marc Pelling to double the lead. AFC Varndeanians fought back and a few minutes later the lead was reduced when a deft little pass from Kyle Woolven found Finley Agnihotri who smashed the ball home. In the last few minutes of the first half Alfie Mitchell levelled the score with a curling free kick into the goal. The "Anvils" took the lead again straight from the restart with a goal by super sub Sammy Clements followed by a headed goal from Shaun Findlay to give a 4-2 victory to Crawley Down Gatwick who moved back to the top of the division. Crawley Down Gatwick named Billy Wraight as their Man of the Match

Steyning Town welcomed Broadbridge Heath to the "Birchwood Ground" for their game on the artificial pitch .In the first minuteJack Barnes put the "Barrowmen" ahead and it was not until the final minutes of the first half that the "Bears" equalised..Jack Barnes went on to convert a penalty in the second half followed by a goal from Dominic Fisher in the last few minutes of the game. Jack Barnes completed his hattrick well into injury time and secured a 4-1 home victory for Steyning Town..This win keeps Steyning Town just about in touch with the leaders and the defeat drops Broadbridge Heath down to second place leaving a gap of four points to the leaders..It was a poor performance from the "Bears" today but an excellent and well deserved victory for the "Barrowmen"..

Horsham YMCA started at a fast pace with stand-in goalkeeper Andy Howard and went into the lead early in the first half when Archie Goddard put away a rangy strike from Joshua Neathey. The lead was doubled soon after when Sekou Toure scored.. Just before halftime Harry Cole broke out from defence, split the "YM" defence to score and reduce the lead.. At the start of the second halfDean Lovegrove curled a free kick around the wall into the top right hand corner of the goal to complete the scoring and gave a 3-1 away victory to Horsham YMCA. Goalkeeper Sebastian Jacovides was named as the Man of the Match for Alfold

Crowborough Athletic travelled down to the "Oval" to play Eastbourne Utd AFC and secured a well earned draw. Max Thompson scored in the first half for the home side leaving substitute Harry Brown to equalise for the visitors late in the second half. With this draw, there was no movement in the division for either team.

Roffey had a good chance to get their first win of the season when they went ahead after only three minutes in their home game against Loxwood. A fierce strike by Jakobi Maher to the top right hand corner of the goal started the scoring. As half time approached Luca Page equalised for Loxwood.. Into the second half when George Cousins scored to give Roffey the lead again and then George Cousins. Scored again when he converted a penalty.. Roffey relaxed too much as Loxwood scored late goals by Jake Lindsay and Tariq Vincent to end the game at the "Theatre of Trees" in a 3-3 draw. Honours even !!

Midhurst and Easebourne secured a 5-0 home victory over Hassocks. No more information available.

Peacehaven and Telscombe were the only team from the League to progress to the 4th round of the ISUZU F.A. CHALLENGE VASE. They held Holyport to a goalless final score and then went on to win the penalty shoot-out 3-2 thanks to some excellent goalkeeping by Nathan Stroomberg... Eastbourne Town gave away a penalty in the dying minutes of their home game to lose 1-0 to visitors Egham Town. Little Common were defeated 4-0 by Ascot United.

MID WEEK GAMES...On the Tuesday of Week 20, there are two games involving teams from the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League..Alfold travel to play AFC Uckfield Town and Loxwood are at home to Peacehaven and Telscombe. One rearranged game in the second round of the Sx.C.F.A. Parafix Senior Challenge Cup. Hassocks at home to Eastbourne Town, has also been added.

On the Wednesday of Week 19, there were four re-arranged Sussex County FA PARAFIX Senior Challenge Cup second round matches with one more game to be rearranged in the near future. All the games kicked off despite fog swirling around.

A GREAT START

AFC Uckfield Town got off to a great start in their home match against Bexhill United. A penalty in the second minute was converted by George Cook.. Later a ball played in by Leon Wright from the left was beautifully headed into the goal by the smallest player on the pitch Zead Masood to double the lead for the "Oakmen".. At this point the visitors started to play with Tom Vickers pulling a goal back and then Aaron Cook scored to equalise at the half time whistle..Immediately from the start of the second half, Aaron Cook scored his second to give "United" the lead which was increased by regular goalscorer Evan Archibald which gave Eastbourne United AFC a 4-2 away victory and a place in the third round of the Senior Challenge Cup.

ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT

Horsham YMCA always knew that it was going to be a more than difficult game away against Burgess Hill Town from the Isthmian League due to the changes needed through injuries and suspensions..The scoring started very early for the home side when good footwork from Zack Lawrence got the ball to Dan Perry to head home the first goal.. Minutes later Max Miller doubled the score and then another few minutes later Dan Perry scored his second.. It was all one player in the first half when Dan Perry completed his hattrick as half-time approached.. A quieter second half saw Lewis Finney dance around a defender and score off the goalpost.. An unfortunate Own Goal by Ashley Dugdale when he was struck in the face was the final goal for "Hill" then the "YM" got on to the scoresheet when Dean Lovegrove converted a penalty...Burgess Hill Town safely completed the 6-1 home victory and progressed to the third round of the Senior Challenge Cup.

FOG IN CONTROL

This game was in doubt from the start as the fog was getting thicker by the minute. Midhurst and Easebourne at home to Eastbourne Utd AFC was eventually abandoned just before half time with the score at 0-0 as the Referee could not see anything due to fog which threatened the other games later on. Try again another day !!!.

SHOCK WIN FOR "DOCKERS"

Visitors Newhaven fought back against home side Whitehawk from the Isthmian League after going behind in the first half.. As the first half was coming to an end, Charlie Harris thundered a long free kick into the goal giving the visitors goalkeeper no chance to make a save. Right at the start of the second half Newhaven drew level with a smart finish on the turn by substitute James Rhodes. A short time later a neat ball through from Ryan Blunt was controlled by Lee Robinson as he put the "Dockers" ahead after a one on one with "Hawks" goalkeeper Dan Purdue. How the tables have turned as Newhaven pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Whitehawk to move into the third round of the Senior Challenge Cup