On the Saturday of Week 21 , there were six games in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League..Little Common had a tight game when they travelled to play AFC Uckfield Town. Two mid table teams played in a very tight game at the "Polegrove" when Bexhill United played Crowborough Athletic. A similar tight game was played at the "Saffrons" where Eastbourne Town were playing Hassocks..There was also a rearranged Sussex County F.A. "PARAFIX" Senior Challenge Cup. 2nd round game Midhurst and Easebourne against Eastbourne Utd AFC which had been switched to be played at the "Oval", Eastbourne. Due to a Clubhouse boiler problem, the fixture Horsham YMCA against Newhaven was now reversed.

The cold, frosty weather has again caused postponement of matches at the weekend before Christmas. The three games expected to go either way were postponed, which left the reversed Senior Cup game between Midhurst and Easebourne and Eastbourne Utd AFC to be played at the "Oval," the reversed premier division game Newhaven against Horsham YMCA to be played at the "Trafalgar Ground", and a further premier division fixture being played at the "Sports Park", Peacehaven and Telscombe against Alfold. So just three games are being played this afternoon in now sunny but cold conditions.

VERY LATE FIRST HALF GOAL

Newhaven took the lead in the final minute of the first half, when Lee Robinson scored from close range. In his goal celebrations, he kicked the ball over the boundary fence and got a yellow card for his effort!! Early in the second half, Horsham YMCA drew level when Tom Tolfrey converted a penalty after Sekou Tourre was fouled in the penalty box. Newhaven soon afterwards restored their lead with a goal by Marcin Ruda..Immediately a pile driver of a shot by Sekoe Toure levelled the score.for "YMCA". At the final whistle the score was a 2-2 draw which pushed Horsham YMCA with a well earned point on the road one place up the premier division table.

REFEREE MAKES A LATE DECISION

After declaring the pitch and ground safe for players and spectators, Midhurst and Easebourne made the long trip to Eastbourne Town only for the referee to declare the pitch unplayable much to everyone's bemusement., when they arrived.

VERY EARLY GOAL

Peacehaven and Telsombe took the lead very early in the first half in their home game against Alfold.Max Hollobone was fed the ball in a central position, he adjusted his feet and then smashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal. The second goal was not long coming, as captain Ross Barclay drove to the by-line and then crossed the ball into Callum Connor who only had to side foot the ball into the goal from close range. Just before half time,after a mistake by the visitors goalkeeper where the ball fell to Callum Edwards who toe-poked the ball to Callum Connor for him to score his second of the game, to give the home side a commanding lead at halftime.. In the second half a corner was cleared only to Kacper Ziolkowski who smashed the ball home with a left footed shot from long range..Peacehaven and Telscombe secured a 4-0 victory and moved two places up the premier division after a run of five premier division wins.

On the Tuesday of Week 22, there is only one game in the Premier Division of the Southern Counties Football League..In the last game before the Christmas break, Saltdean United welcome AFC Varndeanians to the "Hill Park". There is also a fixture in the Sussex County F.A. "PARAFIX" Senior Challenge Cup. 3rd round where Bexhill United play Eastbourne Town at the "Saffrons"

On the Tuesday of Week 21, there are no games in the Premier Division of the Southern Counties Football League but there are three games in the Sussex County F.A. "PARAFIX" Senior Challenge Cup. Midhurst and Easebourne will try again to play their 2nd round game which was previously abandoned due to fog. Peacehaven and Telscombe will be at home to Crowborough Athletic and Newhaven will travel north to play Horsham in 3rd round games.. As expected, snow and ice caused the postponement of all games tonight except for the game at Horsham on the artificial pitch.

Horsham took the lead in the first half against Newhaven with a penalty after Eddie Dsane was swiftly brought to the ground by Billy Barker. Horsham striker Tom Kavanagh stepped up and converted the penalty with a ferocious kick which sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. The lead was increased further when Charlie Hester Cook went on a run down the middle, skipping past defenders and slotting the ball into the far corner of the goal... Minutes later the "Hornets" were awarded another penalty after Charlie Hester Cook was brought down by Connor Sidwell after a stunning dribble down the middle. Again Tom Kavanagh converted the penalty with a blast of a shot down the middle to extend the lead further at halftime..Soon after the restart, a Charlie Hester Cook pirouette on the edge of the penalty area then a sharp shot past the "Dockers" goalkeeper Roman Chiosa into the corner of the goal further increased the lead..After he had driven forward Eddie Dsane crashed the ball off the visitors goalkeeper on to the near post to score..Newhaven never gave up and their persistence paid off when Alfie Rogers rounded the home side goalkeeper and slotted the ball into an empty goal..Although Newhaven sit near the top of the Premier Division they were totally overrun by Horsham who are in a mid table position in the Isthmian Premier Division. With a 5-1 win Horsham moved into the fourth round of the Senior Challenge Cup.