Written By : on 10/04/2023

Categories: Match Report

The game started eventfully with the venues being switched to The Saffrons last minute. Town (now playing at home) looked to improve on a disappointing 1-1 draw against Peacehaven to bolster their hopes of achieving their season aim to finish in thre top four. United started a squad where 6/10 of the outfield players used to wear the Yellow and Blue. Town made 3 changes from the lineup on Saturday switching Duah, Davies and Sisimayi with Samways, Peacock and Barlow. 

The game started with United threatening with an early free kick however the shot from the cross goes wide. The pitch looked sodden in game play but thankfully the game carried on as scheduled. In the 7th minute, Winterton was forced into a double save as United took a free kick the game somehow stayed 0-0. Then United went on the attack again with Bailo Camara having a shot on target. Then, 14 minutes in, Town had a shot towards goal with a United player heading it backwards from a free kick. There were a lot of fouls in the first 20 exactly how a derby should be however from free kicks United it was United who offered the biggest threat. United controlled first 20 minutes with with Jack Murphy forced to make a goal line clearance. Then it was Town on the counter attack with Samways however Peacock placed it wide. The game had a slow ish tempo to it with standing water and both sides playing dirty the game almost felt like the NFL. Fletcher Holman wasn’t going to let the conditions scarper his skill with a slip being salvaged into a skill move and a cross being sent in. 

Then in the 30th minute, United scored beating Winterton with a shot by Charlie Ball into the left hand corner. Then United had a shot from range sent wide. Town looked off the pace. Then United had another attack with another long shot going wide. Then Town had some attacks with a nice pass to Barlow unfortunately not reaching the towering centre forward’s head. Former Town winger turned wingback Taggart sent a cross in which was claimed by Winterton, but Town went in at the break 1-0 down. 

The second half started with doubts of wether the pitch could survive 45 minutes however Town were looking to improve on a dire first half. Town got a free kick at the start of the first half as Barlow went on an attack and there was a handball on the edge of the box. The free kick came unfortunately to nothing. Then United had yet another long shot forcing Winterton into an acrobatic save. 

Then Town pressured Broadbent with new substitute Ollie Davies however the ball rolled just wide, agonising for a frustrated Town bench. Town slowly but surely looked to be growing into the game 60 minutes late. Then James Waters had a volley from range which went just wide of the post. Town played some promising runs forwards however Barlow couldn’t get his boot on it. Davies looked to be providing more promise to the Town game. Then the game slowed again as the pitch began to resemble marshland. Taggart then fizzed one across the box thankfully for Town it didn’t go in.  Then Town attacked from a corner with Hover heading, the keeper fumbling but the chance wasn’t taken. 

Town looked desperate upping the tempo slightly but still no luck. United weren’t done forcing Winterton into a save. Town frantically looked to attack with plenty of set pieces, however that shot evaded them and United continue to scramble it away.  Then Holman made a run and was taken down in the box but the ref said no pen. From the corner, Hover heads it painfully wide. Then another scramble was cleared by United and the game ended 1-0. 

Town welcome Newhaven to The Saffrons on Saturday as they look to add to The Docker’s woes following a 4-0 thumping to Peacehaven. 

Written by: Mackenzie Whitehouse

Photo by: Josh Claxton and Joe Knight