There were no more actual midweek fixtures, so on the Saturday of Week 24 there was a full set of fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League. At the top of the division, second placed Newhaven took on leaders Crawley Down Gatwick at "Trafalgar Ground" and third placed Broadbridge Heath welcomed sixth placed Eastbourne Utd AFC to the "High Wood Hill Sports Ground"..Both Steyning Town and Peacehaven and Telscombe took on strong teams from a mid-table position and a near the bottom position. At the bottom of the division Roffey travelled down to Brighton to play AFC Varndeanians at the "Withdean Stadium" and Alfold went to the "Polegrove" to play Bexhill United.

For the past few weeks the rain has affected the planned fixtures and this Saturday of Week 24 was no exception. Of the ten games due to be played, surprisingly only three were postponed as the wind increased to gale force level . The games at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham YMCA and Loxwood were postponed. This was due in no small way to the bands of club volunteers who prepared the pitches for the games. Of the remaining seven games being played, two games ended in surprising results.

ANVILS STRIKE DOCKERS

The big battle of the day between second placed Newhaven at home to division leaders Crawley Down Gatwick was being played on the 3G at "Trafalgar Road" in front of a large number of spectators. There was a long delay to the kick-off due to waiting for a replacement Assistant Referee to arrive. With both teams having chances in the first half, a very late goal saw the "Anvils" take the lead in added time of the first half with a great strike into the goal from Rhys White. With no more goals in the second half, Crawley Down Gatwick gained a hard earned 1-0 away victory and stayed at the top of the division. Crawley Down Gatwick named their goalkeeper Alexander Bellingham as the "Man of the Match". The midweek win moved Newhaven up into second place in the division.

V's SHARE WITH BOARS

Roffey travelled down to Brighton to the "Withdean Stadium'' to play AFC Vardeanians with high hopes of recording a victory as their home opponents were in the bottom half of the division. After a few minutes Roffey failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Tommy Boyle who smashed the ball into the roof of the goal. Roffey fought back and equalised at the midpoint of the first half with a goal by Joao Andrade. Soon afterwards Roffey scored again with a goal by Kelvin Lucas to be in the lead at half time. Roffey went further ahead in the second half when Ethan Prill made a pass to Ricardo Fernandes who scored. AFC Varndeandians fought back with a goal from Alfred Mitchell and then an Own Goal from a Roffey player levelled the score. It was honours even at the end of the game with a 3-3 draw and the one point moved AFC Varndeanians up one place in the division.

PIRATES CAPTURE FOLD

Relegation threatened Alfold had a hard game at the "Polegrove" against Bexhill Utd but they had been prepared well and were raring to get started. After a great positive start, Alfold took a very early lead with a goal by Conan Torpey but the home side sprung into action and equalised a few minutes later with a goal from Aaron Cook scored with a sumptuous volley. Bexhill were now in control and a second goal came from Joe Summerbee late in the first half after some poor defending by Alfold. To consolidate their lead a soft penalty was awarded to the home side right, on the half time whistle, which was converted by Evan Archibald. Towards the end of the game, a corner ball was met by Harvey Mapstone with a bullet header into the goal to open his account with the "Pirates" and to give Bexhill Utd a 4-1 home victory. Alfold 1st Team Manager gave the "Man of the Match" award to defender Shay Matthews.

CROWS SHOCK BARROWMEN

After the club volunteers had conducted a virtual pitch inspection with the appointed referee, everybody was happy for the game to proceed. Fourth placed Steyning Town then made their way to the "Community Stadium" to play home side Crowborough Athletic. In their first early venture into the visitors half, Crowborough Ath took the lead when Lucas Murrain brought the ball down and made a pass to Harry Forster who went on a mazy run through the defence to finish neatly. The "Crows" consolidated their lead when Harvey Killick made a pass to Lucas Murrain who made no mistake as he buried the ball into the goal. Early in the second half the "Crows" went further ahead when again a pass from Harvey Killick found Lucas Murrain who made no mistake for his second goal. Later Harvey Killick crosses the ball from the right and finds Tom Pearson who smashes the ball home from the penalty box and this goal gave Crowborough Athletic a 4-0 home victory. Crowborough Athletic named Harvey Killick as their "Man of the Match" but it could have been anyone from the team after such a superb performance.

TOWN BAFFLE STAGS

All was well with the pitch at the "Saffrons" so Midhurst and Easebourne made the long trip across Sussex to the seaside.play fellow mid-table team Eastbourne Town who were on a four game winning streak. Both teams were creating chances but all to no avail as the score was goalless at half time. In the second half, a wide pass found James Waters to give the home side the lead which was enough to give Eastbourne Town a 1-0 home victory despite horrific weather at the end of the game. Midhurst and Easebourne suffered after one of their players sustained a horrific injury and everybody wished him well a speedy recovery.

ROBINS SCARE AWAY OAKMEN

AFC Uckfield Town traveled the short way across Sussex to play home side Hassocks at "Beacon Ground" Both teams were near the bottom of the division both having lost their last two matches and were keen to get points on the board Hassocks took the lead midway in the first half when Jacob James Minty collected a pull back pass from William Broomfield to score. Hassocks increased their lead early in the second half when a great cross from Sammy Rogers found Liam Benson who tapped the ball home from close range. Well into time added on, a pin point pass from Philip Gault found Joe Bull who scored with a header at the back post. A good afternoon for Hassocks who took all three points in a 3-0 victory. Unfortunately AFC Uckfield Town had George Cook sent-off in the last minute of the game. "Robins" were satisfied with the win on a windy afternoon in front of a healthy crowd of spectators.

LINGERS BEAT THE TYE

An enterprising Lingfield transferred their home match with Peacehaven and Telscombe to the 3G pitch at the "Birchwood Ground '' , the home of Steyning Town who were playing away to ensure that the fixture went ahead. Peacehaven and Telscombe started well and took the lead early in the first half when a low pass from Callum Edwards found Jack Pettett who tapped the ball home from close range. A few minutes later Lingfield equalised when in a period of scrappy play found a ball bouncing around the goalmouth which was bundled into the visitors' goal by Tyrone Magala-Bryan. Right in the final minute of the second half, a short corner was headed into the goal by debutant Tom Green to give Lingfield a surprise 2-1 home victory.

There are no midweek games in Week 25 in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League but so far there is one Sx.C.F.A. Parafix Senior Challenge Cup. 3rd round match, Peacehaven and Telscombe at home to Crowborough Athletic.

Despite a lovely sunny dry morning, the previous day's rain had caused the postponement of half of the matches due to be played this morning. Games at AFC Uckfield Town, Alfold, Crawley Down Gatwick, Little Common and Roffey were all postponed.

Mid-division Midhurst and Easebourne probably felt confident of victory over Loxwood at the "Rotherfield" who sat in a possible relegation position in the division..However during the first half the home side scored to lead at half time. Loxwood equalised very early in the second half after Callum Dowdell completed a long run with a goal. A little later a cross from Charlie Gibson came to Luca Page to give Loxwood the lead. The lead was increased some time later when a great pass from Kieron Joseph found Jake Linsay who scored really well after a long run. Coming from behind Loxwood gained a super 3-1 victory over Midhurst and Easebourne which moved the "Magpies" one place up the division away from the relegation zone.

After losing last week by the odd goal to Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe welcome AFC Varndeanians to the "Sports Park" to try to restore their winning streak..The first half ended goalless even though Peacehaven and Telscombe had controlled most of the game. Straight from the restart a ball from Cam Wiltshire found the feet of Jason Edwards and after a few touches he smashed the ball into the goal to give Peacehaven and Telscombe a 1-0 victory over AFC Varndeanians which keeps them still in fifth place in the division still chasing the leaders.

Third place team Newhaven travelled along the coast to "Hill Park" to play Saltdean United who were looking to move further away from the relegation zone with well earned three points..Mid way through the first half Alfie Rogers put Newhaven into the lead after some sloppy defending by the home side. Several minutes later Ian Robinson doubled the lead followed almost straight away with a goal by Henry Watson. The lead was increased early in the second half with a goal by Charlie Bennett and then minutes later Alfie Rogers scored his second goal of the game with an easy tap-in.The "Dockers" added another goal to the score sheet this time as the game neared the end, scored by substitute Alex Patching who slotted a free kick into the bottom corner of the goal. In time added on, Charlie Bennett scored his second goal to give Newhaven a convincing 7-0 victory over Saltdean United to move into second place in the division close behind the leader.

With all the recent wet weather, Horsham YMCA had the best chance to complete their fixture when they travelled to play Steyning Town on the all weather 3G pitch at the "Birchwood Ground"..Horsham YMCA took a very early lead when Jamie Rice scored with a very powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box..Steyning Town finally got going which led to the first goal for the club by Jack Potten when he connected with a deep cross from Jack Barnes to the far post which he then headed home from a tight angle.. The "Barrowmen" took the lead just before half time when Charlie Meehan set up Jack Barnes whose low shot squirmed beneath Aaron Jeal in the "YMCA" goal. Very early in the second half , Steyning Town increased their lead after a cracking solo run and ferocious shot from Dominic Johnson Fisher found the goal. Steyning Town completed a 3-1 victory over Horsham YMCA to maintain fourth place in the division.

Bexhill United had a tough challenge when they travelled to the "Oval" to play Eastbourne United AFC as both clubs were chasing to finish near the top of the division. The first half ended goalless but with plenty of chances with lots to play for in the second half. Early in the second half Eastbourne Utd AFC took the lead when a lovely cross from Ridwan Euba was collected by Bailo Camara for a rare headed goal. A valiant effort by a depleted "Pirates" team could not deny Eastbourne Utd AFC a 1-0 victory who stay in sixth place in the division