Category: News 2008 / 2009

End of Season Do – 2008/2009

This year’s end of Season Presentation Night was again held at the Earl of March on the Friday the 22nd May with 74 people attending.

Yet again it proved to be a great night and we would all like to thank Giles & Ruth and their team at the Earl of March for all their efforts in ensuring the evening went really well.

Also we would like to thank Daryl, Chris and Spider for their help before and during the presentation night.  Together everyone made sure we even surpassed last years do.

It must have been a good evening, as at the end of the night Mika managed to stumble and falling between two tables, with the tables, glasses and Mika ending up on the floor.  Ben Evans and Mike Neville never managed to get their trophies home in one piece. And the Gaffer was seen leaving the pub well past his bedtime, in the not to early hours of the morning.

The Winners of this season’s awards were as follows:

Saturday Teams:

Top Goal Scorer:
1st Team – Stuart Loversidge
Reserves – Alan Sheppard
Man of the Match Award:
1st Team – Mike Neville
Reserves – Paul Czajka
Players Player:
1st Team – Dave Kennard & Ben Evans
Reserves – Paul Czajka & Dave Knight
Clubman:
1st Team – Daryl Hall
Reserves – Mel Milburn
Miss of the Season:
1st Team – Ross Lines
Reserves – Tom Sheppard
Managers Player:
1st Team – Tom Parker
Reserves – Robbie Pinder
Managers Award:
Jason Houghton
Goal of the Season:
Ben Evans

Sunday Team:

Top Goal Scorer:
Tom Parker
Players Player:
Paul Cooper
Clubman:
Adam Yaxley
Managers Player:
Tom Parker
Tom Sanctuary Shield:
Chris Withall

Lavant Fete 20th June

Dont forget to come and help with this years fete.
Its from 2pm – 5pm on Saturday the 20th June.

We run two game stalls every year, Football Skills and Beat the Keeper and we need players to help run these stalls as well as make up a team for the annual tug of war against the Cricket Club.

Its a bit of fun on the day for the family and especially for the kids who try out there football skills and as a result every year since we returned to playing back at Lavant we have recieved a generous donation form the fete committee which helps with the running costs of the club.

So please make some time and come and help out on the day if you can. Thank you

Thank you

A big thank you to Giles & Ruth Thompson who have again Sponsored the football club on behalf of the Earl of March.

Earl of March 100509

The Bag Men are in Town

This weeks edition of the Chichester Observer Magazine saw Jason and Oli being featured on page 7 in the Fashion Section, sporting their own Man Bags.

JasonHoughton&OliHaggarBagsofStyle

The article titled Bags of Style reports that man bags, many of them retro this time around, have made a comback, but what do chaps actually use them for?

Oli uses his bag to carry his Uni stuff in and shopping and Jason’s bag was a present.

There seems to be a slight mistake regarding the ages. Jason 21 and Oli 20!

Lads dont get to carried away with your fashion careers and keep the focus on your football, as we have seen many proffessional footballers go down this route before and their footballing careers suffered.

Match Reports 18th April

LavantFirstTeamPhoto180409_1

First Team:
Back Row: Dave Kennard, Ben Evans, Ross Lines, Shaun Gooding, Daryl Hall, Chris Bowles, Stuart Eastwood, Robbie Pinder, Matt Hine, Dave Parker (Manager).
Front Row: Stuart Loversidge, Dave Knight, Mike Neville, Greg Ockwell, Ben Thomas.

Lavant 0 Selsey Town 0

Selsey still remain undefeated in the league this season but were held to only their second drawn game and for the first time failed to score against their opponents.

Lavant, freed of the pressures of the promotion battle, exhibited a re-found fluency to their passing which produced a match that was a pleasure to watch.  They retained much of the possession in the first half and apart from two saves from shots by Graham Morey and Ross Fraser, ‘keeper Chris Bowles had little to do. James Shell did manage to put the ball in the net but was clearly caught in an offside position. Meanwhile Lavant’s intelligent running off the ball engineered several chances at the other end.

Selsey upped their game in the second half, but it was Sam Vickery, in the Selsey goal, who was called into action ,making excellent saves from Dave Knight, Ben Evans and Stuart Loversidge as Lavant continued to utilise the front channels to good effect.

The best move of the match involved one such attack as Loversidge fastened onto a slick midfield build up in the right hand channel to see his cross headed into the net by the lively Evans.However the goal was ruled offside.

Selsey’s last match of the season is away to Fishbourne on the 5th May before the Manhood side make their way into Division 1. For Lavant this game closed their season, leaving them in 3rd place in Div 2.

Lavant: C.Bowles; S.Gooding, D.Hall, M.Hine, R.Lines, B.Evans, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, M.Neville, S.Loversidge, D.Knight. Subs: R.Pinder, G.Ockwell, S.Eastwood.

Match Reports 11th April

Lavant have to settle with
Third Place in the League

Lodsworth 1 Lavant 0

Lavant’s season died the death in the 40th min when Sam Lumley hit what turned out to be the winning strike in a game the visitors were expected to win.

Whilst Lavant had most of the possession in the first-half, Lodsworth had more fight and desire. Despite Lavant playing the better football and forcing 13 corners to Lodsworth’s one, the homeside fought tooth and nail to defend their goal and grabbed their only chance from a breakaway when Mike Neville was dispossessed in midfield.

Lodsworth had set out their stall well and with a goal advantage stuck to their game-plan, pulling often 10 players back behind the ball and relying on quick breaks. Try as they might the Chichester side could not break down the Lodsworth citadel in what was a frustrating afternoon for the visitors. Until the introduction of Robbie Pinder Lavant’s play broke down when they reached the attacking third.

With Fishbourne’s winning 5-2 over Barnham secured Lavant’s rivals second place in the league.

Lavant Coach, David Parker, sent his congratulations to Fishbourne on their success and added “despite the progress made this season, we still have a lot to learn, especially in mental focus for the big occasions”.

Lavant’s last game is at home next Saturday to league leaders, Selsey.

Lavant: C.Bowles; S.Gooding, T.Parker, D.Hall, G.Ockwell, B.Evans, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, M.Neville, S.Loversidge, D.Knight. Subs: R.Pinder, R.Lines.

Training with a Theme

Bobbie Lavant’s very own Entertainments’ Manager came up with a Short Shorts and Pink Top’s Training Session in our official second to last training session this season on the village green.

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From left to right the short shorts and pink top brigade were Ben, Ross, Bobbie, Spider, Jude, Greg, Dave, Ben and Neale.

To help the lads get the latest fad out of their systems Scott then started the trianing session by subjecting them to the Bleep Test.

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The bleep test is running a set distance there and back between cones, within a set time and the time gets shorter every level.

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Matt, Ben, Tom and Mel have dropped out around level 8 and so watch the remainder continue from the side lines.

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Only two remain as we go into level 13, with Ollie (in red) being the eventual winner with Mikey (in blue) finishing runner up.

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Everyone takes a well earned break before we get back to the football training.

The Date and Venue has been set for the End of Season Do.

Giles and Ruth the landlords of the Earl of March have very kindly again offered us the opportunity to hold the event at the pub.

They continue to be very happy with the club using their pub as our headquarters and base within the village and they look forward to this continuing into the future.  To show their commitment to this partnership they are again sponsoring the club.

So when you’re in the pub next time thank them personally for their continued support.

Last year we had 61 people attend the end of season do, so although we want to better that this year we are actually now nearing capacity for the venue.  So to ensure your not disappointed please pay your money in full as soon as possible.

Finally it takes a lot of work behind the scene’s to orgainse the evening. All we are asking most of you to do is pay your money and vote on time and then come and enjoy the evening. Thanks

Presentation Night is on Friday 22nd May
at the Earl of March

Meet 7.00pm, to sit down and eat at 7.30pm.
Smart Dress – Jacket & Shirt/Tie for Players.
The Meal is £17 per head.

Payment MUST be made in full no later than the end of April, including your selection of food (those selecting steak please also state how it is to be cooked, medium, rare etc) to either, Bobbie, Bowlsie, Spider or Dave Kent.

Selection:

Main Course:
1. Beer Battered Haddock, Hand Cut Chips & Homemade Tartar Source.
2. Butternut Squash & Harbourne Blue Cheese Tart, Buttered New Potatoes.
3. Grilled Sirloin Steak, Hand Cut Chips, Tomato, Field Mushroom, Roquette, Garlic Butter (Extra £2).
4. Pot Roast Breast of Corn Fed Chicken, Parma Ham, Sage, Spring Greens & Red Vine Jus.

Pudding:
5. Apple Crumble, Cinnamon & Honey Creme Fraiche.
6. Sticky Toffee Pudding, Toffee Sauce, Vanilla Ice Cream.
7. Triple Chocolate Brownie.
8. Selection of Ice Creams or Sorbets.
9. Regional Cheese, Quince Jelly & Oat Cakes (Extra £1).

Coffee if required to be ordered separate to the main meal.

Also Players we need your votes  (again by the end of April) for the following:

Name:…………………………………………….

Team:…………………………………………….

Award:

Name of Nominee:

Or Text Vote:

Players Player

 

P+ Name

Clubman

 

C+ Name

Miss of the Season

 

M+ Name

 

 

 

 

Either complete and hand the slip in or text Dave Kent with your choice. Thanks.

You’re voting for players who are members of the team that you played for, for the majority of the Season. Where a player has played equally for both the 1st and Reserves teams then two sets of votes will be considered.

Note: In most cases you are voting for players who are members of the team that you played for, for the majority of the Season. Where a player has played equally for both the 1st and Reserve teams then two sets of votes will be considered.

Goal of the Season:
Finally if you have scored a goal this season (League & Cups only) for either team, you are eligible for the Goal of the Season Award.
All you have to do, is on Presentation night just stand up and provide a running commentary of how you scored the goal. Then hope everyone votes for your account of the goal.

Go to Forum and select Club Matters to view some potential
Miss of the Season and Goal of the Season Nominations.

Match Reports 4th April

Fishbourne 3  Lavant 1

Two goals  in one minute of the second half by promotion chasing, Fishbourne gave them the 3 points they deserved from this Div 2 battle for second place.

All started well for the visitors as they absorbed early Fishbourne pressure and struck from counter-attacks. One of these led to Lavant striker, Stuart Loversidge being upended in the box and midfielder, Ben Evans coolly converted the spot kick with 16 mins on the clock.

Evans fired over the bar 5 mins late.   But Fishbourne’s Anthony Wills and Andy Hounsome had control of the midfield and the homeside continued to press for an equaliser, which came when Lavant cleared a Fishbourne corner only as far as the edge of the box where, Simon Oakes drove the ball through a crowded area into the net.

The score being level at half-time was a fair reflection of the game but when Lavant returned for the second half ,having been forced to make two changes due to injury, they conceded twice in rapid succession before they appear to have settled.

When Mike Neville fouled Fishbourne’s Mike Green on the edge of the area, Duncan Terry drove the resulting free kick low in the bottom corner to put the homeside in front.

Within a minute Gary Jefkins had added another after keeper, Chris Bowles save was hooked into the net by the central defender.

Lavant never recovered although an attempt to lift their spirits by the coaching staff led to a renewed effort with Evans close range shot being saved by Rochester in the Fishbourne goal.

The truth was that Fishbourne maintained a committed level of play throughout and wanted the victory more than their sporadic rivals. Being a point ahead and a game in hand , they have the strongest chance of the coveted second spot.

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, T.Parker, M.Hine, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, B.Evans, M.Neville, S.Gooding, S.Loversidge, D.Knight. Subs: J.Walsh, G.Ockwell.

Ten Men Lavant Win Through

Lavant Reserves 040409

Reserve Team:
Back Row: Mel Milburn, Jon Strange, Christian Swain, Martin Ayers, Chris Withall, Stuart Eastwood, Alan Sheppard, Guy Pinder, Dave Kent (Manager).
Front Row: Alex Waters, Andy Strange, Paul.Czajka, Adam Yaxley, Pete Czajka, Oli Haggar.

Lavant Reserves 2 Stedham Reserves 1

With nothing hanging on their final game of the season Lavant Reserves looked a different team now that the pressure was off, as they totally dominated the first half. Lavant at times played some delightful controlled passing football, but were unable to make any clear inroads into the final third of the Stedham half and threaten the visitor’s goal.

Andy Strange came closest to scoring as the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the six yard box, but Stedham keeper Laurence Dixon was well positioned to make the save.

The half finished with a series of corners for Lavant and a free kick on the edge of the box, but Christian Swain’s effort went well over the bar, as both sides went into the break level, 0-0.

Four minutes into the second half the game sprang into life as Stedham’s fullback opened the scoring from a corner, catching Lavant fast asleep as they failed to pick him up as he entered the area and scored unchallenged from close range giving Lavant keeper Paul Czajka no chance, 0-1.

This was a wake up call for Lavant who immediately stepped up the pressure from the restart.  With 15 minutes gone the homeside then introduced Alan Sheppard and Alex Waters into the game in an effort to push for the equaliser.

Water’s almost had an immediate effect as his header went agonisingly close going inch’s over the cross bar.  Then with 70 minutes gone Sheppard picked the ball up in midfield and ran through the Stedham defence, smashing home the ball past the stranded Dixon levelling the score, 1-1.

The game was now Lavant’s for the taking, but as they piled on the pressure in search of the winner they were dealt an agonising blow as keeper Czajka was adjudged to have handled just outside his area, giving referee Andy Ide no choice but to issue a straight red card.

Stedham sensed an opportunity to win the game with 10 minutes remaining, but Lavant were not having any of it, as Stuart Eastwood went into goal and they chose to play with only 3 at the back. 10 men Lavant continued to push for the winner and with 2 minutes remaining substitute Mel Milburn battled to win the ball in the Stedham box, as the ball spilled free allowing Sheppard to pounce and score from close range, ensuring the homeside’s last game ended with a much cherished win, 2-1.

Team: Paul.Czajka, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, S.Eastwood, J.Strange, Pete Czajka, G.Pinder, C.Swain, A.Strange, C.Withall, A.Yaxley. Subs: A.Waters, A.Sheppard, M.Milburn.

Training back at Lavant

 

This week Lavant returned to the village green for training now the clocks have gone forward.  Bobby decided to add a theme to the training session so everyone was asked to wear  international shirts and wigs?

Not sure about the wigs. Note that Bobby and Ben were the only two to turn up in wigs so we would guess that they must have been to a fancy dress party the week before.

Training will continue normally right up until the 15th April as the last game of the Season is the 18th April. The plan is on the 18th April everyone turns up to support the 1st team at home to Selsey, 3.00pm KO on the top pitch and then afterwards we all head to the Earl of March for a few beers and then later into town afterwards.

So if your playing that day bring your glad rags with you as your going striaght out from the Earl of March (we will sort something out ref kit bags). Then the following Wednesday evening the 22nd April we will meet one last time on the green have a quick warm-up and finish with a kick about.

Also in May we have our End of Season Do at the Earl of March on Friday 22nd May.
So don’t forget to vote for your Players Player, Clubman and Miss of the Season. Text your votes please to Dave Kent.

Finally we also have the FA Cup final day which is usually a few beers around the town and whatching the final in the Globe.  This years final is on the 30th May.

Remaining Key Fixtures:

4th April:
Fishbourne vs Lavant
Lavant Reserves vs Stedham Reserves (Last game of the Season).

11th April:
Lodsworth vs Lavant

13th April:
Fishbourne vs Barnham Reserves

18th April:
Lavant vs Selsey (Last game of the Season).
Fishbourne vs Hunston

5th May:
Fishbourne vs Selsey (6.30pm KO).

Match Reports 28th March

Yapton 3 Lavant 3

Brad Thwaites 88 min goal for Yapton set back Lavant’s promotion hopes in this hard fought battle.

The visitors started well and dominated the first 25 mins with a 2-0 lead. Dave Knight stole in to head a Ross Lines cross from the right past ‘keeper Luke Burrows with only 10 mins on the clock.

The 17 year old was there again 12 mins later to jab the ball home after Sean Gooding’s effort from a Dave Kennard cross had been blocked.

Lavant took their foot off the pedal and when the homeside broke away from a cleared Lavant corner-kick the midfield failed to retreat quickly enough and Alex Clark waltzed through to steer the ball into the Lavant net 8 mins before the interval.

At the restart, Yapton ‘s determination showed and a hard physical battle ensued. It looked like Yapton had stolen a draw when Hayden Aldred found himself in front of goal with only the Lavant ‘keeper to beat and drove the ball home 76 mins.

But the game took another twist as within 2 mins Lavant substitute, Justin Walsh, put the visitors ahead again from a Matt Hine corner.  Surely that was it.

But oh no! Lavant’s joy and hopes were crushed with Thwaites’s late equaliser.

The envied second spot in the league looks like going right to the wire to provide one of the most exciting ends to the season for some years.

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, T.Parker, M.Hine, B.Evans, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, M.Neville, R.Lines, D.Knight, S.Gooding. Subs: J.Walsh, D.Baker.

Lavant Reserves 0 Tangmere 3

Lavant Reserves this week faced a make or break fixture as they hosted Tangmere who were playing their last game of the season and who were only five points above Lavant in the league table.

Tangmere started the game lively, pinning Lavant back into their own half for much of the first 30 minutes.

Slowly Lavant started to get a foothold into the game and for the final fifteen minutes of the first half they pegged Tangmere back into their half of the pitch and should have capitalized on their continued pressure.

Firstly, Joe Hepworth broke clear on goal but was denied by Tangmere keeper Mark Longman.  Then a long ball forward by Robbie Pinder was totally misjudged by Longman as the ball bounced over his outstretched arms and was heading into the empty goal, but somehow he managed to get his fingertips to the ball to deflect it wide. And finally Tom Sheppard headed Hepworth’s cross 2 yards out towards goal, but it took a wicked bounce spinning over the cross bar.

Inevitably minutes later Lavant were made to pay for not taking their changes as a long clearance by the Tangmere defence was chased down by Wayne Jelly who broke clear and slotted the ball home past the out coming Lavant keeper Paul Czajka, 0-1. This set back was even worse for the fact it happened right on the stroke of half time.

Lavant started the second half brightly determined to get something out of the game and for the first ten minutes had Tangmere frantically defending their goal.  Then the game took a decisive twist when referee Joe Johnson awarded a dubious penalty to Tangmere, which Jake Williams gratefully accepted and scored, 0-2.

Ten minutes later Johnson even things up as he awarded Lavant a penalty for a minor infringement in the box, giving Lavant the perfect opportunity to get right back into the game, but sadly Hepworth’s spot kick smashed against the bar and out of play for a goal kick.

Lavant with 15 minutes remaining changed their formation playing three up front in an effort to get back into the game and from continued pressure Richardson headed against the post, then seconds later the game was over as Tangmere quickly counterattacked as Williams ran past the stretch defence scoring from a tight angle, 0-3.

Tangmere saw out the remainder of the game as they ensured their Division IV safety and by doing this also committed Lavant to certain relegation.

Next week Lavant Reserves play their last game of the season as they now fight to try to ensure they now do not finish bottom of their league.

Team: Paul.Czajka, S.Blackman, M.Ayers, S.Eastwood, J.Strange, Pete Czajka, G.Pinder, D.Richardson, T.Sheppard, J.Hepworth, R.Pinder. Subs: A.Strange, D.Kent.