Lavant 2 Barnham Reserves 3

Barnham came and helped themselves to 3 crucial points in their visit to Lavant.

They had 4 chances in the game and put 3 of them away. First up was David Payne who latched on to a misclearance by Lavant’s Mike Neville after Daryl Long’s shot rebounded off the bar. He drove the ball into an open net on 20mins.

Lavant were deservedly level 7 mins later as David Kennard converted a Matt Hine corner. But with 38 mins gone Lavant ‘keeper Martin Pullen was caught in possession by Liam Baldwin who then hit the ball into the empty goal. Within 3 mins Lavant were level when Matt Hine and Mike Neville combined to put home debutant Danny Baker through for his first goal for the homeside.

Lavant dropped a gear for the first 25mins of the second half but as the coaching staff urged further effort they produced 9 good chances in a 13min spell. But with 10 mins to go they gifted the visitors yet another goal as a mix up between Pullen and Shaun Gooding  gave Baldwin the winner. Daryl Hall, Ben Thomas, Mike Neville and Dave Kennard came close to equalising  but hard fighting Barnham went home with the points.Coach David Parker said ” Full marks to Barnham; we gifted them 3 chances and they took them. We played some pretty football but in the second half lacked the desire to win. Unless that changes we’re doomed.”

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, M.Hine, M.Neville, B.Evans, D.Kennard, T.Parker, R.Lines, D.Baker, S.Loversidge. Sub: D.Hall, J.Houghton, B.Thomas.

West Sussex League Results – 24th January

Division 2 South:

Lavant 2, Barnham Res 3; Yapton 4, Lodsworth 2.

Lavant first team game called off again, as the waether put stop to their home fixture for the third week in a row.

Missed chances cost Lavant dearly

Tangmere 2 Lavant Reserves 1

Lavant this week travelled away to local rivals Tangmere in a game that both teams just had to win in order to stave off relegation.

Both teams made a tentative start to the match, but with ten minutes gone, Simon Blackman put Chris Withall through on the right flank, who’s low cross travelled right across Tangmere’s six yard line, but somehow the incoming Chris Bowles was unable to connect with the ball and score in the open goal.

Tangmere’s direct ball approach to the game was proving hard for Lavant to defend and one such ball lofted down the middle of the park was almost converted minutes later but the effort went inches wide.

With thirty minutes gone Lavant beat the home-sides offside trap as Dave Knight rifled a shot at close range at the far post, but Mark Longman was quick to react pulling off a great save to again deny Lavant.

Minutes later Chris Withall was through on goal but again he failed to convert his shot.

Finally, with five minutes of the first half remaining, a long throw by Simon Blackman deep into the home-sides box fell to Justin Walsh who ran through and drilled the ball home past the outcoming keeper, finally giving Lavant the lead going into the interval, 0-1.

With a one-goal lead and the advantage of the wind in the second half, Lavant were in a great position to build on their fine first half performance.  But unfortunately they hardly resembled the same team, as they looked very nervous from the re-start, sitting back and invited Tangmere to attack.  So when they failed to pick up Tangmere’s man of the match Jake Williams, he made them pay as he slotted the ball home past the out-coming keeper Paul Czajka on 55 minutes, 1-1.

Tangmere with half an hour remaining sensed Lavant’s heads were down and pressed hard for the winner.  But as the second half progressed neither side seemed to be able to break the deadlock.

Then with only three minutes remaining on the clock, a lofted ball deep into Lavant’s half was intercepted by the unmarked Rick Hunt on the edge of the box, who had time to pick his spot and convert his shot, into the corner of the goal past the outstretched Czajka, to the delight of Tangmere and their supporters.

Lavant tried in vein to get something out of the game in the final moments of the match, but it was Tangmere who bagged all three valuable points, ensuring they kept their survival hopes alive, whilst also possibly sealing Lavant’s fate as they remained firmly lodged at the foot of the league table and having to face up to the humiliation of possibility finishing in bottom place and being relegated after only one season in Division IV South.

Team: P.Czajka, S.Blackman, D.Hall, T.Sheppard, J.Strange, D.Morris, J.Walsh, C.Swain, D.Knight, C.Bowles, C.Withall. Subs: A.Waters, A.Yaxley, M.Ayers.

West Sussex League Results – 17th January

Division 2 South:

Barnham Res 2, Lodsworth 4; Hunston CC 4, General Henry 2; Yapton 5, Worthing BCOB 2.

Division 4 South:

Boxgrove 6, Harting 4; Coal Exchange 2, Rustington Park Seniors 4; Petworth Res 2, Liss Ath III 1; Stedham Utd Res 2, Newtown Villa III 2; Tangmere 2, Lavant Res 1.

Lavant Reserves 1 Liss Reserves 3

Lavant this week hosted bottom of the league Liss Reserves in the first of three crucial league games in January.

With the visitor’s first team game called off, Liss were able to field a strong side and the team warming up on the pitch before the game hardly resembled the team Lavant played away from home five weeks earlier.

The game kicked off with Liss immediately pressurizing Lavant’s goal and for the first ten minutes Lavant had to work hard to ward off the visitors.

Lavant then started to come back into the game, pushing up at every opportunity and Jon Strange almost opened the scoring, somewhat against the run of play, but his lofted shot bounced off the cross bar.

Five minutes later Lavant keeper Paul Czajka pulled off a great save to deny the visitors the lead, as Lavant once again were forced to defend, but with the back four of Simon Blackman, Robbie Pinder, Stuart Eastwood and Jon Strange maintaining their shape, they made it hard for Liss to make any inroads at all.

So it was disappointing after twenty one minutes when Dave Morris failed to prevent Ben McGuillan’s header from a Liss corner, which bounced of the knee of Christian Swain standing on the near post and went spinning agonisingly back up into the top corner of the goal, ensuring the visitors went into half time with the a one gaol lead, 0-1.

Lavant started the second half in a determined fashion and it was Liss who were now forced to work hard to defend their lead, as the work rate and battling by the home side made it very hard for the visitors to make much headway.

Then with 60 minutes gone, the home side were dealt a harsh blow as referee Ray Baxter awarded Liss a controversial penalty after adjudging Jason Houghton to have handled the ball in the box.  Therefore giving the visitors the opportunity to increase their lead and relieve some of the homeside’s pressure. Ryan Gordon coolly dispatched the spot kick sending Czajka the wrong way as the ball smashed into the back of the net, 0-2.

Lavant reacted almost immediately, as two minutes later they pulled a goal back.  Christian Swain’s first corner was palmed onto the bar and over for a second corner by the Liss keeper.  The next corner was then wiped in again by Swain and was met by the incoming Dave Knight who headed into the top left hand corner of the goal, giving the keeper not chance, 1-2.

With 30 minutes remaining Lavant sensed they had the opportunity to get something out of the game as they pushed up in an effort to draw level.

Ten minutes later however with Lavant striker Alex Water’s off the pitch receiving treatment for cramp, Liss were able take advantage of ten man Lavant as they quickly counterattacked and Danny Barlett rounded the keeper, scoring into an empty goal, 1-3.

Chris Bowles almost reduced the deficit again ten minutes later as he latched onto Knight’s diagonal pass and rifled a shot in from outside the box, which was tipped over the bar by the outstretched keeper.

The remainder of the game was seen out by Liss as they continued to defend their goal and at the final whistle they went away with all three precious points.

Lavant deserved something out of this game, but as in many occasions this season they have just not had the rub of the green at crucial times, but they can take heart from their hard working team performance, which if they take into next weeks game against Stedham Reserves, they will surely get a result.

Team: P.Czajka, S.Blackman, S.Eastwood, R.Pinder, J.Strange, D.Morris, J.Houghton, C.Swain, D.Knight, C.Bowles, A.Waters. Subs: G.Pinder, A.Strange, A.Yaxley.

West Sussex League Results – 3rd January

Division 2 South:

General Henry 0, Selsey Town 3; Hunston CC 1, Barnham Res 4; Yapton 2, Predators Res 2.

Division 4 South:

Coal Exchange 4, Boxgrove 2; Harting 6, Petworth Res 6; Lavant Res 1, Liss Ath III 3; Newtown Villa III 2, Rustington Park Snrs 2; Tangmere 5, Stedham Utd Res 6.

Latest league Tables

Both team’s have it all still to play for, going into the New Year.

West Sussex Football League
Division IV South League
Table for the 2008/2009 Season

Match Reports 20th December

General Henry 3 Lavant 2

Darren Wedge’s 88min goal secured victory for the homeside in this Div 2 clash.

The Littlehampton hosts got off to a dream start when Cassey Johnson’s innocuous high ball into the Lavant goalmouth floated into the far top corner.

The visitors were lacking their usual zeal and were saved from further embarrassment when ‘keeper Martin Pullen bravely smothered the ball at the feet of midfielder Scott Wilson. But to General Henry’s delight Carl Stocker did fire them further ahead as Lavant stopped for offside. The linesman flagged but referee, Albert Taylor awarded the goal.

After a half-time team talk Lavant emerged a different side and pulled one back when Danny Baker’s cross was headed home by the effervescent Mike Neville on 48mins. Then as the visitors were rampant Ross Lines was red carded and got his marching orders. Ten man Lavant still were in the ascendancy and sweeper, Gooding, headed them level from a Matt Hine corner with 18 mins left to play. Lavant incredibly missed 5 golden chances to win the game before Wedge’s shot was deflected in for the winner off defender Robbie Pinder.

Lavant Captain, Ben Thomas, said” We had a massive injury list but debutants Baker and Jason Houghton aquitted themselves brilliantly. We have no excuse. If we’d played with the same zeal in the first half as the second we’d have gone home the winners instead ”

Team: M.Pullen, R.Pinder, S.Gooding, M.Hine, M.Neville, T.Evans, B.Thomas, C.Swain, R.Lines, D.Baker, C.Withall. Sub: J.Houghton.

All Square after Ninety Minutes

Lavant Reserves 2 Coal Exchange 2

After a week without football Lavant Reserves were back in action at home against Emsworth side Coal Exchange in another crunch game at the foot of Division IV South.

With excellent conditions for playing football, neither teams seemed to be up for the game early on as they both struggled to put two passes together, as the pitch resembled more a pin ball machine than a game of football, as the ball was uncontrollably booted all over the pitch.

As a result of their poor start Lavant were not looking confident in defence and when Stuart Eastwood missed timed his clearance, the Emsworth striker was quickest to react breaking clear, only to be brought down seconds later by a late tackle from Tom Sheppard, which resulted in a booking, but could have been a straight red if the referee Sam Martin had deemed him to be last man.

The resulting free kick was cleared to safety, but minutes later the inevitable happened as the home side failed to push up and play the game in the visitors half.  Poor marking in the area gifted the visitors their first goal, as Geoff Bartlett converted from close range, 0-1.

It took Lavant until the twentieth minute to get their first shot on target and finally wake up to the fact they had a game to win. Alex Waters through ball found Dave Morris who shot just over the bar and shortly afterwards Adam Yaxley went close with his shot on goal.

But it was Chris Bowles who finally evened the score for Lavant, as he raced onto a pass through the middle of the park, hitting his shot first time from just outside the box completely catching the keeper off guard, scoring a fabulous equalizer, to the joy of the manager Dave Kent who had been frustrated by his team’s poor start to the match, 1-1.

This was the catalyst the home side wanted as they then started to pressurize the visitors goal for the remainder of the half and minutes before the break Dave Knight’s strike hit low and hard from the edge of the box went through the crowded defence and past keeper Pete Nugent into the back of the net. But to the disbelief of the spectators the goal was disallowed as Chris Bowles was deemed to be in an offside position and interfering with play.

Lavant started the second half with a much better attitude as they attacked the visitors goal right from the off, but on the sixtieth minute and against the run of play Jamie Laycock put the visitors ahead once more with an unstoppable striker from outside the box, 1-2.

The Coal Exchange were now happy to sit back and defend their lead as Lavant frantically tried to get something out of the game. With half an hour remaining Lavant brought on all three subs, Guy Pinder, Jason Houghton and Jon Strange in an effort to freshen up the attack.

With fifteen minutes remaining a mix up in the visitors box saw Nugent pick up a back pass, which resulted in Martin awarding an indirect free kick in the area.  With the keeper and the whole of the Emsworth team lined up on the line, the ball was rolled forward for Greg Ockwell to strike but his efforts went agonisingly inch’s wide of the post.

It was however man of the match Ockwell’s continued perseverance which eventually paid off, as he earn’t a free kick for Lavant on the edge of the box with just two minutes of the game remaining.  Tom Sheppard then stepped up and drove his shot hard and low through the wall, picking up a small defection on the way and beating the stranded keeper, to ensure Lavant deservedly drew level, 2-2.

The remaining minutes were all Lavant as they tried hard for the winner, but in the end they had to settle for a draw.  Manager Dave Kent commended his team for the fight back, but they were all aware that the result was really two points dropped, not one point gained, as the battle at the foot of the table is set to continue well into the new year.

Team: P.Czajka, S.Blackman, S.Eastwood, T.Sheppard, D.Hall, D.Morris, G.Ockwell, A.Yaxley, D.Knight, C.Bowles, A.Waters. Subs: J.Strange, G.Pinder, J.Perrin.

West Sussex League Results – 20th December

Division 2 South:

Barnham Res 1, Fishbourne 7; General Henry 3, Lavant 2;
Predators Res 1, Hunston CC 1; Selsey Town 2, Yapton 0.

Division 4 South:

Boxgrove 1, Newtown Villa III 2; Lavant Res 2, Coal Exchange 2;
Petworth Res 1, Tangmere 2.

Centenary Cup
Yapton 3   Lavant 1

Yapton deserved their passage into the next round of the Cup in this hard fought tie.

The homeside put Lavant under early pressure but the Chichester side settled into the game to provide a well worked build-up for Ross Lines to give the visitors the lead with a 20 yd strike on 16 minutes.

When Tom Sheppard, 11 minutes later, committed an infringement in the box, Nathan Sadler dispatched the spot kick to level the game.

Then came the first of two controversial incidents which provide turning points in any match. The visitors carved out an excellent goal hit home by Tom Parker on the half hour after a slick six pass build up. The linesman had flagged for an offside and the goal was disallowed.

In the second half, Daryl Benfield put the homeside deservedly ahead on 56 minutes when the visitor’s offside trap failed. Lavant came back again as Shawn Gooding shaved the bar 5 minutes later.

Loversidge had a chance to equalise for Lavant but passed the responsibility to Lines whose effort was brilliantly blocked. Three minutes later, Loversidge did hit the net in the second controversial event which was a replica of the first.  Again the goal being ruled offside in a protest of disbelief.

But battling and counterattacking Yapton sealed the result as Alex Clark scored a brilliant individual goal 7 minutes from time as Lavant strove for an equaliser.

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, D.Hall, M.Neville, D.Kennard, B.Thomas, B.Evans, R.Lines, S.Loversidge, T.Parker. Subs: M.Hine, J.Walsh

Injury Time Strike Sinks Lavant

Petworth Reserves 2 Lavant Reserves 0

This was the first time this season these two teams had met and so for the opening ten minutes of the match both sides were cautious in their approach to the game.

However Lavant with the first half advantage of the slope began to eventually make headway and for the next twenty minutes they pushed up field and constantly attacked the home side’s goal.

Jason Houghton read Chris Withall’s cross deep into the Petworth’s area perfectly, as he ran through the defence outstretching a leg and redirected the ball towards goal, but his effort went inch’s over the bar.

Withall’s flick then put Alan Sheppard through one on one with the keeper but Reese Griffiths was quick to react and pulled of a great save to deny Sheppard.

Minutes later Christian Swain’s effort also went again agonisingly inch’s wide of the target.

Petworth somehow managed to weather the initial onslaught and then for remaining fifteen minutes of the half got a foot hold in the game and began to pressurize Lavant’s goal.

Lavant losing possession in midfield allowed the home side to react quickly on the counterattack, forcing Paul Czajka to race out his goal in an effort to try and clear the ball, in doing so he clumsily brought down the on-coming Petworth striker, conceding a foul a yard outside the area.  Referee Simon Booker then thought hard and long before deciding to only issue a yellow card for the offence, all to the disgust of the local supporters.

Petworth were unable to capitalize on the free kick, as the shot went wide of the mark and so the score remained goalless going into half time.

The second half kicked off in a lively fashion with both sides looking to break the deadlock.  With only five minutes gone Houghton was then up-ended in the Petworth box and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Chris Withall stepped up and hit his shot low and hard in the corner, but Griffth’s again pulled off a great save to deny Withall and ensure Lavant did not take the lead.

As the second half progressed both sides had great opportunities to open the scoring.
Czajka pulled off a series of great saves to somehow deny Petworth, whilst at the other end of the pitch substitutes Chris Bowles and Dan Baker for Lavant had shots saved by Griffiths.

With five minutes remaining of normal time, Oli Haggar’s corner was headed by Sheppard into the far corner of the goal, this time past the stranded keeper, but the Petworth full back was able to clear the ball off the line, again denying Lavant.

Then with only seconds remaining on the watch, it was Petworth who finally broke the deadlock and then also resolve of the visitors, as substitute Evan Griffiths in the ninety first minute, launched an unstoppable shot some twenty five yards out into the top corner of goal, 1-0.

With the game all but over and visitors still in shock, Griffiths repeated his first effort scoring an identical goal two minutes later, right on the final whistle, ensuring all Lavant’s hard work came to nothing.

Team: P.Czajka, O.Haggar, S.Eastwood, R.Pinder, J.Strange, D.Knight, C.Swain, J.Houghton, D.Morris, A.Sheppard, C.Withall. Subs: C.Bowles, D.Baker, S.Blackman.

West Sussex League Results – 6th December

Centenary Cup: Third round:
Henfield 1, East Dean 3; Watersfield 4, Lancing Utd 3; West Chiltington 1, General Henry 0; Yapton 3, Lavant 1.

Division Four Cup: Second round:
Rustington Park Snrs 5, Ockley Res 2.

Division 2 South:
Predators Res 3, Barnham Res 0.

Division 4 South:
Petworth Res 2, Lavant Res 0; Stedham Utd Res 4, Boxgrove 4.

Lavant 3 Yapton 3

Ten man Yapton battled hard to earn a point in this Division 2 game.

The first 10 minutes were very even but Yapton capitalised on Lavant’s growing tendency to defend too deep. When Lavant ‘keeper, Martin Pullen, bowled over Alex Clark, Nathan Sadler put the visitors deservedly ahead from the penalty spot on 25 minutes.

Again the coaching staff urged Lavant to push up and this immediately led to a penalty at the other end. Lee Boxall received his second yellow card and his marching orders for upending midfielder Ben Evans in the box. Ross Lines dispatched the spot kick on 35 minutes.

Ten man Yapton went further behind when Daryl Hall put striker Stuart Loversidge through one minute before half-time.

Lavant should have buried the game in the second half especially after holding player, Ben Thomas, increased the homeside’s lead from a 48th min corner. Evans and Loversidge forced top-drawer saves from Mat Davies whilst Kennard, Loversidge twice, Parker and Evans missed gilt-edged chances for the Chichester side.

Lavant lost their shape as everyone tried to get on the scoring list.  They paid the price as “never-say-die” Yapton capitalised on this with goals from Clark on 55 minutes and Hayden Aldred 10 minutes from time to earn the visitors a point.

Lavant manager, David Parker expressed his reaction to the game: ” Yapton did brilliantly but it should not have been enough. We were undisciplined, unprofessional and I’m furious. We threw two valuable unrecoverable points away today and jeopardised our promotion chances.”

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, D.Hall, M.Neville, B.Evens, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, R.Lines, T.Parker, S.Loversidge. Subs: M.Ayers, M.Court, J.Walsh.

Liss Athletic Reserves 1 Lavant Reserves 6

Today’s game was a six pointer as Lavant Reserves travelled away to Liss Athletic who were just one position above them at the foot of West Sussex Division IV South.

The first quarter of an hour saw a lively start from both sides, each attacking at every opportunity.  Lavant went close to opening the scoring when Dave Morris’s cross from the far right went through everyone in the box and out to Dave Knight, who snatched at his shot, forcing it to go just inch’s wide of the far post.

A ball over the top by Liss was miss timed by Simon Blackman as the striker was in on goal, but keeper Paul Czajka was quick to react as his ran in to clear only for the ball to deflect into the path of Stuart Eastwood, who then conceded a free-kick just inside the box as the ball was picked up by Czajka and the referee Adrian Harris blew for a back pass.

The home-side’s free kick was driven hard and low into the busy area and the ball deflected off a player and agonisingly skimmed past the outstretched arms of the keeper into the far right corner of the goal, 1-0.

Ten minutes later Lavant were level after a period of prolonged pressure, with Alan Sheppard smashing the ball home just inside the box, 1-1.

Lavant were now beginning to settle and play some good football and three minutes later Sheppard struck again, scoring from a tight angle on the right, giving the visitors a much deserved lead, 1-2.

Liss now struggling to get a foothold in the game went another goal down five minutes before half time when Chris Withall combined with Sheppard, who deafly lobbed the keeper to claim his
hat trick, 1-3.

The second half saw Lavant continue forcing the pace of the game, with Christian Swain and Jason Houghton in centre midfield orchestrating the football.  With fifteen minutes gone Swains pass opened up the defence, for 17 year old Dave Knight to coolly slot away his first senior goal for Lavant, to the joy of all the team, 1-4.

Liss unable to make any headway eight minutes later were further in arrears, as Knight danced through four tackles on the left flank before cutting the ball back to Sheppard, who’s shot thundered off the post and out into the path of Morris, who drilled the ball into the back of the net, 1-5.

Liss still did not give up and would have pulled one back if it were not for Oli Haggar’s heading clear on the line. Then with five minutes remaining substitute Chris Bowles returning action after two months off through injury, drilled the ball home from theedge of the box, scoring Lavant’s sixth goal of the match and capping off a great team performance.

Team: P.Czajka, O.Haggar, S.Eastwood, S.Blackman, L.Hayward, D.Knight, C.Swain, J.Houghton, D.Morris, A.Sheppard, C.Withall. Subs: C.Bowles, J.Perrin, A.Strange.

West Sussex League Results – 29th November

Division 2 South:
Hunston CC 0, Selsey Town 2; Lavant 3, Yapton 3; Lodsworth 1, Predators Res 4; Worthing BCOB 1, Fishbourne 4.

Division 4 South:
Liss Ath III 1, Lavant Res 6.

Lavant 1 Hunston 0

A screaming sizzling 25yd shot into the top corner by Lavant midfielder, Ben Evans, bagged the homeside 3 points and kept them in the promotion race in Division Two.

With their regular coach, David Parker away, it all started badly for the Chichester side. Hunston dominated the first-half but simply could not score. A gilt-edged opportunity fell to Hunston’s Andy Hendrie but he uncharacteristically ballooned the ball over the bar.

Then, holding player, Ben Thomas, won the ball in midfield and released Stuart Loversidge on the left. The Lavant striker’s cross was deflected outside the “D” by the visitors’ defence, where Evans took one touch and sweetly struck the ball home against the run of play and on the stroke of half-time.

Deputy manager, Stuart Eastwood, gave the homeside a dressing down in the changing room and Lavant emerged to dominate the second half. The home ‘keeper, Martin Pullen had little to do whilst Hunston,s  counterpart, Steve Chiddle, pulled off great saves from Tom Parker and Loversidge whilst Lomas cleared off the line from a sneaky lob from David Kennard with Chiddle beaten.

Eastwood commented afterwards, “David Parker would have killed me on his return had we not won, but more importantly this win was crucial for our promotion prospects. It was a hard grind but in the end we deseved the win”.

Lavant: M.Pullen, S.Gooding, M.Court, D.Hall, M.Ayers, D.Kennard, B.Thomas, B.Evans, R.Lines, S.Loversidge, T.Parker, Subs: M.Hine, M.Neville, T.Sheppard

Newtown Villa 1 Lavant Reserves 0

Lavant hoping to build on last week’s performance faced a stiff challenge as they travelled away to league leaders Newtown Villa, who have yet to drop a single point in the league.

True to the formbook the visitors were forced to defend early on as home side forced the pace.  With Robbie Pinder playing in an unfamiliar defensive role due to injuries blocking a goal bound shot with the ball spilling over for a corner.  The following corner was again well defended, with a timely challenge from Andy Strange, which was cleared to safety by Dave Knight.

Newtown’s pressure however paid off on thirteen minutes as keeper Johnny Wiffin’s quick throw out was driven up the pitch for Mike Woolston to run onto and lob keeper Pete Czajka to open the scoring, 1-0.

This could have forced the floodgates to open but Lavant were not in the mood to roll over to the league leaders and concede the game and ten minutes later they should have levelled the score when Christian Swain broke through on goal, but his shot failed to beat the keeper.

The second half was evenly contested.  Lavant were resolute in defence with Czajka pulling off some great saves early on.  Whilst also pressing up at every opportunity in an effort to try and draw level.

Both Lavant strikers worked hard up front continually threatening the home side’s goal.  Chris Withall had an effort well saved by Wiffin and Dave Knight saw his shot go frustratingly just inches over the bar.

Lavant’s defence were continuously tested with man of the match Czajka pulling off a number of critical saves.

In the final quarter of the game Withall’s twenty five yard effort looked to be going into the top corner, but somehow Wiffin pulled off a fantastic one handed save to deny Lavant the equalizer, as he tipped the ball just over he crossbar.

At full time the result went the way of the formbook but the league leaders only narrowly beat the team seated at the foot of the league and Lavant should take heart from the result as they battled and competed for the full ninety minutes and perhaps deserved at least to come away with a draw.

Team: P.Czajka, J.Perrin, J.Strange, R.Pinder, S.Blackman, C.Swain, J.Houghton, A.Strange, D.Morris, D.Knight, C.Withall. Subs: M.Martin, G.Pinder, C.Bowles.

West Sussex League Results – 22nd November

Division 2 South:
Barnham Res 7, Yapton 4; General Henry 1, Lodsworth 2; Lavant 1, Hunston CC 0; Predators Res 3, Worthing BCOB 2; Selsey Town 3, Fishbourne 2.

Division 4 South:
Coal Exchange 0, Petworth Res 3; Harting 1, Boxgrove 0; Newtown Villa III 1, Lavant Res 0; Tangmere 1, Rustington Park Snrs 3.

Mike Neville is faster than a speeding Porsche and that is official

Finally Three Points in the Bag

Harting 2 Lavant Reserves 8

Lavant still searching for their first points of the season this week travelled to local rivals Harting and on the day the team’s very competitive performance ensured they emphatically bagged all three points.

Lavant’s intent was clear from the kick-off and for the first five minutes they pushed up and attacked Harting’s goal. However against the run of play it was the homeside who actually opened the scoring. Winning a corner from their first real attack, Lavant’s debutant keeper Mark Burnett misjudged the resultant cross leaving the goal wide open as the home side’s striker headed into an empty goal, 1-0.

This setback however did not dampen the visitor’s resolve and from the restart Lavant again pushed up and attacked Harting’s goal.  Robbie Pinder’s shot went agonisingly just wide, then minutes later after continued pressure Alan Sheppard was brought down in the box and he stepped up and despatched the spot kick drawing the teams level on 15 minutes, 1-1.

Eight minutes later Lavant deservedly took the lead as Harting failed to stop Oli Haggar’s darting run into the box, as he then picked out Liam Hayward wide right who’s lofted shot looped over the defence and stranded keeper hitting the far post and bouncing in across the line, to the annoyance of Dave Knight who was waiting to pounce, 1-2.

Lavant were playing some lovely controlled football and Harting were struggling to deal with it and their frustration boiled over as they again brought down Sheppard in the area, winning another penalty, which he again scored, 1-3.

Sheppard three minutes later got his hat-trick as he latched onto Haggar’s free-kick deep into the box, controlling the ball, turning and smashing the ball home through a busy goal mouth, 1-4.

Lavant’s first half was still not over as they continued to attack. Dave Morris’s pass to Hayward opened up the homeside defence again, as he ran through on goal only to be yet again brought down in the area giving referee Mick Briant no option but to award Lavant their third penalty of the game.  This time Hayward stepped up to take the spot kick which he despatched into the top corner further increasing the visitors lead going into the interval, 1-5.

The second half saw Harting up their game in an attempt to reduce the deficit, but all their efforts game to nothing as Jason Houghton further increased the visitors lead with a breathtaking strike 35 yards out into the top corner of the goal giving the keeper no chance, 1-6.

Yet again the referee awarded a penalty, this time to Harting, who scored their second of the match, 2-6.

Lavant responded almost instantly scoring from a free kick just outside the box as Haggar teed up Sheppard to drill home his fourth of the match.

With ten minutes remaining Sheppard put Hayward through once more on the right flank as he then thumped home the ball just outside the box, past the stranded keeper to give him his hat-trick and cap off a great team performance, which hopefully can be built on as they face the key remaining challenge for the season of avoiding relegation from Division IV South.

Team: M.Burnett, O.Haggar, J.Strange, S.Eastwood, L.Hayward, D.Knight, J.Houghton, C.Swain, D.Morris, R.Pinder, A.Sheppard. Subs: A.Yaxley, S.Blackman, M.Martin.

Now that’s more like it, Lads

As Lavant’s resounding win moves them into second place as Fishbourne slip up at Lodsworth

Lavant 7 Worthing BCOB 1

Ben Thomas heads towards the top corner of goal.

What a goal! As Mike Neville (left), Stuart Loversidge (right) and Tom Parker (far right) celebrate goal number six.

After a back to back league and cup defeat, it was important for Lavant to return to their winning ways.  They did this in style.  But they had the worst possible start when, against the run of play, Amir Minair collided with Lavant keeper, Martin Pullen, and saw the ball end up in the net on 12 minutes.

Heads I win….Dave Kennard shows his strength against Worthing

The homeside replied within a minute after Ben Evans was set free on the left and his cross was steered home by Stuart Loversidge.  Regained possession from a half cleared corner led to Ben Thomas’ shot screwing in off the post on 22 minutes to give Lavant a half time lead.

Worthing had early possession from the restart but as Lavant Coach, David Parker, encouraged his team to press up and not defend too deep, the game changed.  Lavant played some delightful football and goals by Mike Neville, Dave Kennard, Ben Thomas, Stuart Loversidge and Tom Parker gave the Chichester side another 3 points as they went on the rampage.

Assistant manager, David Kent commented ‘It was important we bounced back to a winning mentality to keep us close on the heels of the top two in this league.

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, M.Hine, M.Neville, B.Evans, B.Thomas, D.Kennard, R.Lines, S.Loversidge, T.Parker. Subs: M.Ayers, M.Court, D.Hall.