Davies, Walsh and Holman fire Town to three points against Sheppey

Town’s young guns fire three past Sheppey United at The Saffrons to secure three points.

Saturday 28th March would see Non-League Day land on a home fixture at The Saffrons and Jude Macdonald’s squad certainly delivered the goods with a 3-1 win. So too did the weather, for the most part! 

The game kicked off in glorious sunshine, breathing life into the Eastbourne Town squad, who were still bitter about the defeat away at Jersey Bulls last weekend. Town dominated possession and had the majority of better chances for most of the first half. Early on, Alfie Rogers tried to bend one in the far corner, and Ollie Davies registered the first shot on target but lacked any power to trouble Sheppey’s man between the sticks. Moments later, Davies managed to find the net in style. Eitel Moumi Goueth was dispossessed by Davies, who galloped towards the Sheppey goal with one intention, and that was to score, and he did. He shifted the ball to the defender’s left and struck a vicious right-footed strike across goal and into the bottom left corner. One-nil Town! And that is how it stayed despite efforts from Rogers and Walsh before the half-time whistle.

The second half started quietly on the pitch, but off it, the weather changed drastically! A shower of hailstones hit The Saffrons fifteen minutes into the half, even forcing a brief stoppage by the referee. Moments later, after the restart, Sheppey struck an equaliser. After a corner kick, captain Danny Leonard pounces on a loose ball in the penalty area and strikes home through three Eastbourne Town defenders. One-one!

Sheppey were level but it never felt like they were really back in the game, and The Town wanted their lead back. Ollie Davies was the main threat, with two opportunities at goal and one squirming past the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. At the 71st minute, up steps Sonny Walsh. Leon Greig whips in a delicious in-swinging corner, and Sonny Walsh meets it with a glancing header at the near post and in off the crossbar. Que the celebrations and relief in the Sid Myall and Taffy Jones stand!

Town were not done yet. Substitutions were rolling, the sun was back out, and Jimmy Holman was still bouncing from his England Schoolboys call-up in midweek. So much so, it was Town’s number five who sealed the three points. James Waters delivered an in-swinging free-kick from the right-hand side to the back post, and Holman met it with his head. Despite William Heater’s best efforts to keep it out, the ball finds its way into the bottom corner, and Town celebrate victory on Non-League Day!

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