Category: News 2006 / 2007

End of Season Do – 2006/2007

The end of Season Do was held at the Earl of March on the 5th May with 51 people attending.

It proved to be a great night and we would like to thank the new Landlords Cliff and Julie and their staff for all their efforts in ensuring the evening went really well.  The food was excellent .

This was the first time for many a season that Lavant Football Club had a presentaion night which included both the Saturdays and the Sunday sides together, as well as the added bonus of being able to hold the Do within the village at the Earl of March Pub.

Also a special thanks also to Paul Jones and Steve Massey who presented the awards as follows:

Saturday Teams:

Top Goal Scorer:

1st Team – Stuart Loversidge
Reserves – Carl Drinkwater

Man of the Match Award:

1st Team – Martin Ayers
Reserves – Dave Maclean & Simon Blackman

Players Player:

1st Team – Robbie Pinder
Reserves – Dan Johnson

Clubman:

1st Team – Mark Richardson
Reserves – Matt Gliaubertas

Miss of the Season:

1st Team – Robbie Pinder
Reserves – Adam Yaxley

Managers Player:

1st Team – Tom Parker
Reserves – Chris Bowles

Most Improved Player:

Ollie Haggar

Goal of the Season:

Matt Hine

Sunday Reserve Team:

Players Player: Ollie Haggar
Clubman: Chris Withall
Top Goal Scorer: Adam Yaxley
Managers Player: Chris Bowles
Tom Sanctuary Shield: Ollie Haggar

Lavant FC “Above and Beyond” Awards:

Torvil and Dean sponsored “Bambi on Ice” award – Andy Strange.
Fred Flintstone sponsored “Learner bowler” award  – Nick”The Hobbit”Farrer.
Emile Heskey sponsored “Most misses in one game/couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo” award -Adam Yaxley.
The Clinic sponsored “That’s gotta make your eyes water” award -David”banjo”Brown!
WAGS Boutique sponsored “Blonde moment” award  – Sarah Johnson.
TOM-TOM sponsored “route-finder” award – Oli”follow me!”Hagger
BUPA sponsored picture of Health & Fitness award – Stuart”the Hernia”Eastwood.
UNITED NATIONS sponsored Diplomacy award – Ben”you’re crap ref” Thomas.
VOGUE/BOWLSIE sponsored cosmetic surgery award – Wayne”nose-job”Gavin.
Glenfiddich sponsored “give me strength” award – David”the optimist”Parker. The David Attenborough sponsored “Pest Control” award – Geoff Cresswell
The Al Capone sponsored “worst Valentines present” award – Helen “stitch that!” Pullen.
The Trinny & Suzanna sponsored “What NOT to wear” award  – Dave” dressed-in-the-dark” Kent.
The Flymo sponsored “Bush trimmers” award – Matt”stelious”Gib’.
Kleenex sponsored W of the week award (Clear winner) – Rizla.

Lavant 1st Team Photo 2006-2007 Season

LFC FirstTeamPhoto2006-07websize

Team:
Back row, Simon Blackman, Martin Ayers, Matthew Carver, Robbie Pinder, Martin Pullen (Spider), Daryl Hall, Jon Strange, Ben Thomas.
Front row, Matthew Hine, Tom Parker, Stuart Loversidge, Dave Parker (Manager), Mike Martin, Matthew Price, Martin Weekes.

Match Report 31st March 07 Stedham 2 Lavant 0

Stedham broke the deadlock 6 minutes from half time when Bertram drilled home a chance, which fell from an individual Lavant error.

Stedham assistant manager Malcolm Knight declared the secret of the league leaders success was “fitness, working for each other, and defending high up in the opponents half”.

He could have added breaking out with passing skills in numbers.

Nevertheless, Lavant, who seemed certain for the drop to Div 3 after a disastrous start to the season were worthy opponents. The Chi Chester side started brightly in the first quarter of an hour but lacked penetration with the final ball in the attacking third. The away team has vastly improved in the last third of the season and though Stedham edged the half with the opening goal, it was a tight game.

In the second half, Lavant hooked two Stedham efforts off the line but were unlucky to concede a second when a Stedham free kick was caught by the vicious wind and floated over the head of the otherwise sound goalkeeper Martin Pullen on 49 minutes.

The relegation candidates otherwise played a spirited game and were denied a consolation goal 5 minutes from time then Stedham keeper Knight saved from Stuart Loversidge’s header.

Lavant’s near rivals must win two of their remaining three games, or they will go down instead of Lavant.

Dave Parker, the Lavant coach, paid tribute to Stedham and his own team when he said “In the last seven games, I have been proud of our boys. Stedham deserve to be promoted to Div 1. They break in numbers. I am determined to emulate and learn from their style of play for next season. I only hope we have done enough this year to stay in Div 2”.

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, T.Parker, S.Blackman, M.Richardson, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, D.Hall, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: J.Hepworth, A.Sheppard, M Price.

Match Report 24th March 07 Levett late goal earns Petworth Draw Lavant 1 Petworth 1

Petworth striker, Levett hit a late equaliser to keep the home side’s promotion hopes alive and Lavant still tottering on relegation.

Lavant manager David Parker conceded when interviewed after the game that “Petworth deserved their point which was a fair result” but the 59 year old Rector of Lavant went on to declare that “we must learn to be professional and run the game down.  Leading 1-0 with two minutes to go ought to have bagged us a win”.

Robbie Pinder had blazed over the bar after turning superbly on a Daryl Hall cross for Lavant with only 4 minutes on the clock.  Levett’s header forced a great save from Lavant keeper Martin Pullen, and he almost broke through again.  But in a game of few chances both these were the product of Hall and Thomas giving the ball away cheaply for the Chichester side.

It was goalless at half-time and in the second half with Hepworth replacing Thomas, Lavant were not as compact and Petworth pressed the away side hard.

Levett came close on a breakaway on 56 minutes and fired a free kick wide 4 minutes later.

Lavant had their moments when Loversidge broke through on the left and only a desperate scramble prevented shots from Pinder, Hepworth and Hine hitting the target.

Nick Farrer replaced Hall at left wing back with instructions from the Lavant coach to compact play and press up.  This paid dividends and just after Alan Sheppard replaced striker Loversidge, Lavant broke through for Pinder to run the ball home into an empty net.

With 7 minutes left to play and Lavant’s Div 2 status riding on the game, Parker’s yearning for the ability of the Chichester side to see the game out were at a heartfelt premium.

But the prolific scorer, Levett turned up again to volley home from 12 yards from another Petworth attack to ensure Petworth shared the spoils.

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, T.Parker, S.Blackman; M.Richardson, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, D.Hall, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: N.Farrer, J.Hepworth, A.Sheppard.

Match Report 10th March 07 Loversidge brace keeps Lavant’s hopes alive Lavant 2 Predators Reserves 0

This was a must win game for Lavant if they were to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

Predators had much of the possession early on with Rod Nielson very instrumental in their animated approach.  Nielson who has played for Predators for several years summed up the Bognor side’s early performance “we were excellent in our build up” he said “but let ourselves down with the final ball”.

Lavant however soaked up the pressure and hit decisively on the counter attack.  Predators despite their possession only threatened three times.  A free kick on 9 minutes, a 15 minute cross that trickled into the Lavant keeper’s hands and a shot by the ubiquitous Nielson which shaved the bar a minute from half-time contrasted with the home-side’s breakaways.

A stunning move saw Lavant wing-back Daryl Hall hit a post, striker Stuart Loversidge shaved the post and Robbie Pinder came close.  It was no surprise then on the half hour that on another counter attack Loversidge outpaced 3 defenders and hammered home his first goal from a narrow angle on the left.  Pinder fired inches wide on half time.

Nine minutes into the second half Loversidge hit his second with an intelligent and stunning lob. Joe Hepworth replaced Matt Hine and added fresh impetus to the home-side’s attack.

Again Nielson’s analysis was proved true: for despite possession the Bognor side produced only two threats on goal when Chris Jackson forced a fingertip same from in form Martin Pullen on 71 minutes and Polish star Diane shaved the bar in the last minute.

Again substitute Matt Price and Pinder came close on five occasions from adding a third.

Lavant’s relegation survival battle looks like going right to the wire.

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, T.Parker, N.Farrer, M.Richardson, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, D.Hall, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: J.Hepworth, M.Price, A.Sheppard.

Match Report 3rd March 07 Its not over ’til the fat lady sings Lavant 2 Rustington Reserves 3

Surely Neil Pierce, the Rustington manager was right when he declared at the end of the match “Lavant did themselves credit today and played really well”.

But a Rustington goal in stoppage time gave the Littlehampton side the winner with two minutes left on the clock.

Rustington were fourth from the top and Lavant fourth from the bottom at the start of this game.  The away team started sharper and livelier than their opponents who also gave them too much room to play.

After a rocket in the Lavant penalty area Barnes was first to pounce and give Rustington a dream start in the first minute.  Their sharpness paid off again when Searle beat Thomas to a cross to hit the roof of the net with only six minutes on the clock.

Here, Pierce’s comments came into play for it was to Lavant’s credit that their heads never went down and they gradually clawed their way back into the game.

Both managers had played an aggressive 3-5-2 system by pushing one of their advanced midfielders onto the opponents central holding midfielder.  The two sides engaged like two heavyweight boxers slogging it out toe to toe.

Eventually a penetrating pass picked out Martin Ayers on the right whose one-two interchange allowed him to strike a pinpoint cross onto the head of Lavant’s Ben Thomas who headed home from six yards.

This was the life-line on 37 mins that the home-side needed.

At half-time, Lavant were instructed to close down quicker and also to cut out long ball and play through the midfield.  This had an immediate effect.  Rustington conceded a free kick 25 yds out and Matt Hine bent a left foot strike into the top corner which goalkeeper, Latter, could only stand and watch.

Rustington were a class side and their interpassing was a joy to watch.  They obtained a penalty when Parker was adjudged to have pushed his opponent in the area but the spot-kick hit the post.  Four or five times the Littlehampton side pummelled the Lavant penalty area and keeper Pullen pulled off a series of impressive saves.

The home-side pressed again and looked to be heading for a well earned draw, having pulled themselves from an early 0-2 deficit to a search now for the winner.

Then in a momentary lack of concentration Robertshaw latched onto a penetrating midfield pass to grab Rustington the winner.

Lavant drop back into the relegation zone.  Rustington retain their chance of promotion and everyone learnt that “It’s not over ’til the fat lady sings!”

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, T.Parker, S.Blackman, M.Richardson, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, D.Hall, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: N.Farrer, A.Sheppard, J.Smith.

Match Report 10th February 07 A game of joy and frustration Lavant Reserves 1 Tangmere 2

Tracie Hunt Tangmere’s Manager of just two weeks could not contain her joy at picking up her first three points away to Lavant Reserves.

After going five games without a win and ironically not winning a game since they were thrashed by Lavant at home, Tangmere were well pleased with themselves at the final whistle after grinding out the three points against a Lavant team at full strength.

Hunt overjoyed commented “it was a fantastic game from both sides and I am really happy and proud of my teams hard working performance”.

From the other perspective Lavant were left frustrated and bewildered at not getting something out of this game.

Right from kick off Lavant pressurised the Tangmere goal and Dave Brown’s cross was met by Chris Withall who missed a gilt-edged opportunity to head Lavant into an early lead.

Tangmere’s poor start was suddenly transformed when they opened the scoring after 16 minutes against the run of play. Their winger broke out down the left flank and whipped in a superb cross right across the penalty spot which caught Lavant keeper Martin Pullen somewhat off guard, as he only managed to get one hand to the ball, which then fell kindly to the incoming Dan Burchett on the right who scored from a tight angle, 0-1.

This was a wake up call for Lavant and they started to exert pressure on the Tangmere goal.

DJ Wright forged two great chances but on both occasions was somehow denied by the keeper.  Lavant now entrenched themselves in the Tangmere half and had a succession of corner kicks but with John Pack commanding the defence Lavant could not find a way through.

This was the story of the second half as again Lavant searched for the equalizer.  Early on Chris Withall hit the Tangmere post and ten minutes later was clean through on goal and should have scored but again the keeper pulled off a great save to deny him.

Against the run of play Giles Weller was adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of Lavant’s box.  Tangmere’s subsequent free-kick was lofted high into the area and met by Pack’s head, with the ball falling nicely to Burchett who claimed his second of the game scoring from close range, 0-2.

With 25 minutes remaining Lavant made substitutions and once again threatened with Oli Haggar hitting a great shot from Dave Brown’s head down, but yet again it was somehow saved by the keeper.  With 8 minutes remaining Jimmy Hird finally opened the scoring for Lavant, bringing down the ball in the box and thumbing the ball home, 1-2.

For the remainder of the game Lavant tried in vain to draw level, but Tangmere were in no mood to concede the lead and so hung on right to the final whistle.

Lavant Reserves next game is at home to Fernhurst Reserves on the 17hFebruary 07.

Team: M.Pullen, M.Carver, S.Blackman, G.Weller, M.Howes, D.Brown, A.Sheppard, M.Price, DJ.Wright, C.Withall, A.Yaxley. Subs: J.Hird, O.Haggar, A.Strange.

Match Report 3rd February 07 Gavin’s super-finish guarantees win Lancing Reserves 1 Lavant 3

Any hopes that 4th place Lancing could undo 2nd from bottom Lavant’s lead following a home-side late goal by Danny Minter were dashed in six minutes from time when the away-team substitute Wayne Gavin fired home the Chichester side’s third goal.

Gary Curtson who had been substituted off and had scored Lancing’s goal when these two sides last met summed it up.  “Lavant started well” he said “but we had them under pressure after Minter’s goal until Lavant’s third goal finished it”.

Lavant indeed did start well.  Intense pressure led to a series of corners from which the away team hit the bar, shot just wide, and forced a great save from the Lancing keeper.

This was fully rewarded when striker Stuart Loversidge was put through to outpace the defender and steer the ball low and wide past the goalie into the far bottom corner of the net on 16 minutes.

After Minter was substituted five minutes later, Lancing edged their way into the game and despite a near miss by Lavant’s wing-back Daryl Hall just on the half-hour, they continued to strive for an equaliser.

The home-side continued their pressure in the second half coming close early on.  But then Lavant entered a golden patch with fresh les having been introduced and after forcing another series of corners Matt Hine topped an in-swinging corner from Ben Thom as deftly into the net at the near post on 60 minutes.

Thomas featured well.  He had netted earlier but had been ruled off-side.  Robbie Pinder forced a top class save from the excellent Lancing keeper.

Complacency led to a lack of concentration and Lancing soon had the Chichester side under pressure.  From an ensuing corner the wise old Minter glanced a header goal-ward which Mark Richardson hooked off the line but the ball was rightly judged to have crossed the line.

Nine minutes left and Lancing got the bit between their teeth and pressed for an equaliser but their spirit was broken as described in Curtson’s quote earlier, when a counter-attack saw a splendid Richardson, Ayers, Hine combination end in Gavin’s terrific finish.  This secured valuable points for the relegation zone contenders.  Can they really climb out of the cellar?

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, S.Blackman, M.Richardson, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, D.Hall, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: N.Farrer, W.Gavin, J.Smith.

Rustington Park Seniors 1 Lavant Reserves 2

Lavant had to grind out a hard earned result Saturday in order to come away with all three points.

With just over a month without a game Lavant Reserves looked lethargic and rusty in the first half and with a number of players unavailable they had to play certain players in unaccustomed positions, which added to teams apparent lack of cohesion.  There were however the odd glimpse of football being played and when they moved the ball around the pitch and made space for each other, Lavant successfully pressurized the Rustington goal.

In fact one such move resulted in Adam Yaxley open the scoring early in the half, scoring from close range giving Lavant an early advantage unsettling Rustington, 0-1.  Lavant had further chances to increase their lead but were unable to take them and as the half went on this allowed Rustington to gradually come back into the game.

Shortly before half time Matt Carver committed a needless foul on the edge of the box and the resultant free kick was lofted over the stranded stand-in Lavant keeper Dave Kent, who tried in vane to get a hand to the ball as he clashed into his own player Dan Johnson on the far post resulting in the ball hitting Johnson’s shoulder and deflecting in past the post, conceding a sloppy goal which allowed Rustington to get right back into the game, 1-1.

Following a half time wake up call Lavant started the second half a different team.  They had more spirit and determination and were playing together as a team that wanted to take away all three points from the game.  They were now more organised and were retaining their formation well, which started to frustrate Rustington as they were unable to impart pressure on Lavant’s goal.

With 25 minutes remaining Lavant brought on substitute Alan Sheppard who was playing his first game back from injury for almost 7 months and within minutes he made his present felt as he broke down the right flank squaring the ball across to DJ Wright who ran in on goal and the unselfishly squared the ball back across the Yaxley, who momentarily toyed with the Rustington keeper before despatching the ball into the back of the net giving Lavant a deserved lead, 1-2.

Lavant shortly afterwards should have further increased their lead but somehow Chirs Withall clean through on goal blasted his effort high and to the right of goal.

Rustington’s frustrations were now starting to show and following a booking for a lunge on the Lavant keeper, Rustington’s striker was book. Shortly after this he then got involved with another altercation, which saw Lavant’s Johnson booked and the Rustington’s striker sent off.

For the remaining 10 minutes Lavant took advantage of the extra player making it very hard for Rustington to create any further chances, ensuring the game remained 2-1 right up to full time.

Lavant Reserves next game is home to Tangmere on the 10th February 07.

Team: D.Kent, M.Howles, D.Johnson, M.Carver, O.Haggar, C.Bowles, M.Price, DJ.Wright, J.Hird, C.Withall, A.Yaxley. Subs: A.Sheppard.

Match Report 27th January 07 Richardson grabs vital relegation points Predators 1 Lavant 2

To survive Div 2, Lavant had to win this battle at Bognor Regis.

It was a bitter physical struggle but after an unsettled start, the visitors settled into some polished football.  This combined with a battling attitude resulted in the first goal.  Pinder, Richardson and Hine all fought hard for the ball and 18 yards out on the left of the area the latter turned and hit first time a falling ball right into the far corner of the net on 11 minutes.

Predators only had two shots on target in the first half when the ubiquitous Martin Gill fired straight at Lavant keeper Pullen from 20 yards.  Otherwise the Lavant back three, Blackman, Parker and Strange were dominant.

Smith was always dangerous for Lavant on the right and combined with Ayers and Loversidge to produce a chance for Pinder that narrowly missed the post.  Pinder again should have increased the lead when his co-striker Loversidge set him up on 19 minutes.  He set up a similar chance for advance midfielder Thomas 12 minutes later but again it went begging.  Loversidge himself fired a finger-tip save from the Predators’ keeper.  The Lavant striker was one on one with the Predators’ keeper when defender Wilson caught his heels in the penalty area but referee John Bailey waived play on.

In the second half Predators came out like demons possessed and forced a corner on 49 minutes.  Star player Martin Gill despite excellent pressure from defender Ayers, rose to head the home side onto level terms.

Lavant dug deep and replied with efforts from Thomas and Loversidge.  Again the Lavant striker picked up a threaded ball from Strange to outpace the defence on the right and cross the ball into the goal mouth for Richardson to score 3 points on 57 minutes.

Pinder could have buried the game 21 minutes later but the ball stuck under his feet from Loversidge’s cross.  Lavant battled on and substitute Farrer made a brilliant and brave diving header to cut out a dangerous Predator cross.

Lavant deserved their win by adding finesse to the great physical battle produced by these two teams.  Only time will tell if the win will save the visitors from relegation.

Team: M.Pullen, J.Strange, T.Parker, S.Blackman, J.Smith, B.Thomas, M.Ayers, M.Hine, M.Richardson, S.Loversidge, R.Pinder.  Subs: N.Farrer, A.Strange, A. Yaxley.