Category: News 2007 / 2008

Christmas came early for Middleton in this Div 2 league game, when the Bognor side took a two goal lead within 4 minutes of the start. Lavant sweeper Matt Court had drifted forward out of position and ‘keeper, Chris Bowles, came far out of goal but failed to claim the ball, leaving Paul Ramsay to hit an unguarded net.

Then, Bowles slipped as he moved to save a Nathan Sadler free kick and could only deflect the ball into the net.

But, whilst the visitors were strong up front, their back four looked vulnerable. Wing backs, Haggar and Price came close as Lavant opened up the visitors’ defence and Stuart Loversidge shot over from 6 yds with the goal at his mercy. But the Chichester striker made no mistake when he broke through on 25 mins to put Lavant back in the game. Fellow striker Tom Parker forced a save from ‘keeper, Gareth Lloyd, before later being chopped down in the penalty area. He converted the spot-kick to send Lavant in level at half-time.

Lavant’s Man-of-the-Match, Mike Neville, tormented the Middleton defence in the early minutes of the second half but had little or no support in the box from colleagues.

Whilst the homeside failed to continue the style of play they had showed in their first half recovery, Middleton continued to push forward and were rewarded on 52 mins when Daniel Benfield struck the winner from the edge of the area.

The game was put beyond Lavant’s reach 13 mins later when the Chichester ‘keeper scuffed his clearance to leave Will Andrews the easiest of goals.

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, M.Court, J.Strange, O.Haggar, M.Neville, D.Kennard, M.Hine, M.Price, T.Parker, S.Loversidge. Subs: B.Thomas, C.Drinkwater, J.Walsh.

Darren Clarke, the Wittering coach, praised the advance their opponents had made in the last 2 years. For this was a game of few chances.

Wittering produced the early pressure but Gordon’s header after 11 mins was disallowed for pushing. Half way through the first half, another cross from the visitors was hooked into his own goal by defender, Daryl Hall.

Daryl Hall flying in to clear the ball

The Lavant coach altered the homeside’s tactical formation and immediately it became a more even game.

Six minutes after the restart came the turning point of the game. A clever build up presented Lavant;’s Ben Thomas with a clear chance from 12yds, but the midfielder fired wide.

Gradually the homeside built up pressure on the visitors but then came the first of two catastrophic errors. Lavant ‘keeper Chris Bowles rolled a ball out to Hall which was too weak to reach him.It gifted Danny Pittham with a simple goal on 71 mins as he intercepted the underpowered ball.

Another soft error 11 mins later allowed Dean Platt to add a third.

To their credit, Lavant never gave up and Wittering headed 3 efforts off the line in the last 4 mins. Discounting the goals given away, there were only a total of 6 chances in a very close game.

Oli Haggar attacking Wittering’s goal

Lavant coach, David Parker, summed up his side’s reaction: ” We gave Wittering by gift , the goals they couldn’t craft in open play. We committed too many individual errors but did battle right to the end. We must pick ourselves up for next week’s home game against Middleton,”

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, G.Pinder, L.Hayward, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, D.Kennard, B.Thomas, M.Price, T.Parker, M.Court. Subs: R.Pinder, M.Hine, C.Drinkwater.

The young doctor from St Richard’s Hospital made a superlative return from injury to help Lavant get back their league form.

The Chichester side were caught out when they all stopped, believing referee Dave Rolland had awarded the visitors a free kick. Lancing however kept playing and Gutrie’s cross was volleyed home on 23 mins by Aiton.

Tom Parker, Stuart Loversidge and Christen Swain all came close for Lavant after the restart but it was beginning to look like the old story of missed chances for the visitors as half-time beckoned.

Then, when Oli Haggar was chopped down, Lavant sent for the doctor. The ensuing free-kick was one the team had rehearsed and Matt Price’s cross was deftly headed home by Haggar at the near post.

Price who’d previously played for Barts and The London University curled a corner into the box just 4 minutes after the restart for striker Parker to spin on and drill past ‘keeper Dan Hart to put Lavant ahead.

“The Doc” linked up with Lavant’s sparkling new signing Dave Kennard to set up Parker again but this time Hart saved.

Asked why he’d become a doctor, Price said “I’ve always had a passion to help people.” Unfortunately, this sentiment did not extend to Lancing and Price put the game beyond the Brighton side’s reach when he headed Lavant’s third on 73 mins.

An efficient defence enabled Lavant to see the game out and Price completed a memorable return when the referee awarded him “man of the match”.

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, B.Thomas, L.Hayward, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, D.Kennard, C.Swain, M.Price, T.Parker, S.Loversidge. Subs: J.Hird, P.Pinder.

The homeside, in this Div 2 league tie, played a strong physical game, kept their shape, were strong at the back, and took two of their three chances.

Having said that it is impossible to analyse how Lavant lost this game.

They conceded a soft goal from a corner, which missed everyone and curled into the net after 13 mins. Hunston’s Lewis Weller claimed the goal. His manager said the ball brushed his ear!

The visitors played some delightful football and in a 25 min golden spell in the first half. Matt Hine set up Jimmy Hird who scrapped the post on 12 mins. Another 5 man move ended in a Oli Haggar and Martin Ayers combination seeing Ayers going close on 17 mins. Hird was inches away on 20 mins and again seconds later. Seven mins later Christen Swain headed just wide. Hine dominated midfield in an excellent individual performance.

Loversidge came close from A Robbie Pinder cross one min into the restart. Then Haggar forced an international class save from Hunston ‘keeper Nick Matthews. Then Chris Searle who relaced the industrious Swain headed just over on 67 mins.

The Manhood side went further ahead from a breakaway when Weller’s cross was headed home by Ian Newnham on 74 mins.

Lavant reorganised and pushed 3 players forward but couldn’t break the compact Hunston defence.

Lavant sweeper Matt Court who is due to return to the side after a 5 week lay off summed up Lavant’s thoughts on the game. “We performed well, gave away two soft goals and did everything but take our chances.”

Hunston have pulled off two impressive wins in succession and close on the leaders.

Team: C.Bowles, D.Hall, T.Parker, L.Hayward, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, M.Hine, C.Swain, J.Hird, R.Pinder, S.Loversidge. Subs: C.Searle, J.Hepworth, M.Price.

Lavant made hard work of finally harvesting The Wheatsheaf in this Centenary Cup clash.

Marsden clipped Lavant’s crossbar on 8 mins, but otherwise it was one way traffic.

The Bognor ‘keeper, Paul Gailey, saved at the feet of Robbie Pinder; denied

Oli Haggar with another save and then saw the 18 year old fire just wide. He finally thwarted Martin Ayers on 24 mins.

Wheatsheaf’s only prospect was a breakaway as Lavant held a high line. This is exactly what happened when Ryan Mercer fastened onto a long ball to put the homeside ahead against the run of play.

The visitors equalised when Jimmy Hird with a quick throw on put Stuart Loversidge through and the striker’s cross was run home by Pinder on the half-hour.

Lavant seemed to be operating at walking pace and paid the penalty when Mercer grabbed his second unchallenged from 20 yds, 6 mins from half-time.

The Chichester side improved their approach play in the second half and 17 year old Hird sneeked home a free kick after Pinder was chopped down.

Defensively, Lavant lacked compactness and John Pryor put the Bognor side ahead for the third time when Haggar gave the ball away on the edge of the area on 72 mins.

With time running out the visitors’ Dave Parker made two substitutions and pushed a player forward. The pressure eventually led to Joe Hepworth keeping Lavant in the Cup with a last minute penalty.

In extra-time, Lavant reshaped their defence and looked more secure. Hine finished the best move of the match with the winner in the 93^rd min.  Hird added his second to put the game beyond doubt with a 113 min penalty.

Team: C.Bowles, B.Thomas, L.Hayward, D.Hall, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, M.Hine, T.Parker, J.Hird, R.Pinder, S.Loversidge. Subs: C.Swain, J.Hepworth.

For 55 minutes this Division 2 game was in the balance.  Then came the turning point when Andi Boxall raced through as the visitors defence had stepped up.  Lavant claimed offside; Boxall passed to Tom Hickley who tapped it into the empty net.  It was a bizarre moment, but it gave the home-side a decisive lead.

Martin Holcombe, the Eastergate manager’s verdict on the game was “it was a fairly even game; we happened to get our goals early in the second half”.

Lavant pressed forward and striker Ross Lines cut a ball back to midfielder Matt Hine whose shot was blocked by the Eastergate keeper and Parker volleyed the resulting ball just wide from 20 yards.

Inevitably this exposed the visitors to counter-attacks.  All of these were contained until central defender Price put Boxll through to score on 68 minutes.

In such a tight game, it looked all over but Lavant came alive with movement and passing, coming close several times.

Eventually Parker took a corner which rebounded out to him.  He then picked out the far top corner to put Lavant back in the game with 5 minutes to go.

Lavant coach, David Parker’s comments on his side’s performance was “for 75 minutes nobody wanted the ball.  The last quarter of an hour we were a different team but it was too little too late.”

This result saw Lavant drop into mid-table and Eastergate climb out of the relegation zone.

Team: C.Bowles, B.Thomas, L.Hayward, C.Searle, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, M.Hine, T.Parker, M.Richardson, R.Pinder, S.Loversidge. Subs: C.Swain, J.Hepworth, R.Lines.

Middleton Utd confirmed their position as second in this Div 2 battle by beating third in the table Lavant and closing the gap on league leaders Clymping.

The homeside’s back four ably led by Daniel Stote pressed high and drove Lavant deep early in the game. But they looked vulnerable to the visitor’s counter attacks with Robbie Pinder breaking through twice in the first 5 mins only to be caught offside. When Pinder did break through clear, he fired over the bar.

The Westergate side’s front men played on the shoulder of their opponent defenders and always looked threatening. When Richard Chandler was pulled down in the box, Aiden Aldrich converted the spot kick to put Middleton ahead.

Lavant raised their game in the secondhalf but still looked poor, compared with the rest of their season. Nevertheless, Pinder pulled his shot wide with only ‘keeper, Gareth Lloyd to beat.

Lavant Coach, David Parker, pushed a midfielder forward in a gamble to equalise and Middleton were driven back. Lavant’s all out attempt to push forward exposed them to counters and Chandler headed home a rebound from a corner with 60 seconds to go.

“We did not play well today”, confessed Parker, “and were too timid at the start.

Even so we had the chances to retrieve the game; I was so disappointed in our attitude but am looking forward to the return game when we’ll make sure things are different”

Team: C.Bowles, B.Thomas, L.Hayward, D.Hall, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, J.Hepworth, D.Maclean, M.Richardson, R.Pinder, R.Lines. Subs: N.Farrer, M.Martin

Shane Rapley’s 48 minute strike sent Lavant Reserves through to the last eight in this DIV 5 cup game.

The homeside had started well creating a string of eight clear chances in 20 minutes but failing to finish any of them.  The only exception was Ross Lines 11 minute effort when he side footed home an Adam Yaxley cross from 4 yards.

Against the run of play, Tom Grantham put the visitors level on 27 minutes when Lavant’s back three became unravelled by their midfielder’s failure to track back.

This spurred a response from the Chichester side who produced the best goal of the game involving a five man one touch football move ending with Lines firing home his second just on half time.

Lavant started the second half brightly and Rapley raced through to pull a ball back onto his left foot and fire the ball in off the far left post.

The home side repeated weakness through the game was taking their foot off the pedal once they took the lead.  They were guilty of this again and John Ogden capitalised on this attitude pulling one back for the visitors on the hour.  Andrew Kitchin missed a penalty for Amberley 5 minutes later.  But Rapley’s goal was enough to take Lavant into the next round.

Team: C.Bowles, T.Sheppard, J.Strange, S.Blackman, S.Yaxley, S.Rapley, C.Drinkwater, M.Richardson, R.Lines, A.Yaxley.  Subs: N.Farrer, D.Morris.

Ross Lines celebrated his debut for Lavant first team with a brace of goals to keep the Chichester side in contention for promotion.

Coach David Parker found himself four key players short but the problems of last season in producing a reserve team paid off as he was able to draw on strength in depth.

There was no quarter given as both teams went hammer and tongs, leading to a series of bookings.

The home side started well but Worthing crept back into the game as the Lavant midfield failed to link with the forwards, leaving them isolated.

David Parker rectified this at half-time, urging the advanced midfielders forward and a striker to come short.  This led to early Lavant pressure at the restart and the Chichester side were unlucky not to go ahead.

This advantage was put in jeopardy when Lavant’s Shane Rapley was sent off for a second bookable offence 9 minutes into the half. But ten man Lavant lifted their game even further.

It was then that former Hayling Island and Petersfield striker Lines harried centre back Elton and his keeper, winning the ball and running it into an empty net on 59 minutes.

Worthing threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the homeside but the 10 men held on to see substitute Joe Hepworth thread Lines through for his second on 72 minutes.

Court came off injured and Ben Thomas, the four goal hero of last week deputised as sweeper.

Worthing had a goal disallowed and a shot hooked off the line but Lavant, who have lost to the visitors in all of their last seven meetings held on to beat their Bogey team and secure all three valuable league points.

Team: M.Pullen, L.Hayward, M.Court, D.Hall, O.Haggar, S.Rapley, C.Swain, B.Thomas, D.Maclean, R.Lines, R.Pinder.  Subs: J.Hepworth, M.Hine, M.Richardson.

Ben Thomas in mid air battle with B52 defender

Ben Thomas celebrated his return from suspension by scoring 4 goals as Lavant advanced to round 2 of the Junior Cup. Injured midfielder, Joe Hepworth whom Thomas had replaced commented ” It was a solid performance from the lads and Ben dominated the midfield“.

Oli Haggar Skipping a B52 tackle

It all began when Thomas fastened onto a deep Oli Haggar cross and gave B52’s keeper, Sam Smith no chance on 16 minutess. Thomas headed home a Christian Swain corner 9 mins later to give the Chichester side a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Swain who had sparkled in midfield had to move to left wing-back to replace the injured Matt Price, but Robbie Pinder deputised for him well in midfield.

Christian Swain battling for the ball

Consequently, Lavant went further ahead when Stuart Loversidge thumped home a pin-point Pinder pass on 50 minutes.

Matt Hassel pulled one back for the Horsham side 11 mins later.

When the visitors’ centre back, Mike Smith handled in the box, regular Lavant penalty-taker, Tom Parker stood down to allow Thomas to get his hat-trick from the spot on 69 minutes.

Thomas 4^th goal was a culmination of a delightful seven man move ending with Parker teeing Thomas up for his strike.

Tom Parker’s crunching tackle

Lavant were then in charge and playing some flowing football.

Loversidge took advantage of this to complete his own hat-trick with two late goals on 87 and 88 mins.

Match official, John Hall commented: ” There was no shame in defeat for B52s for they competed fully but were faced with 4 beautifully worked quality goals” Lavant are at home to Worthing next week in the league.

Team: M.Pullen, M.Court, L.Hayward, S.Blackman, O.Haggar, M.Ayers, C.Swain, B.Thomas, M.Price, T.Parker, S.Loversidge.  Subs: R.Pinder, M.Hine.