Category: News 2008 / 2009

Wittering Reserves withdraw from the Division II South

It appears that Wittering reserves have withdrawn from the league and so as a result of this the fixtures have been yet again rearranged to reflect the changes.

This week Lavant are still at home 2.00pm KO against Worthing BCOB and the following week we are now away to Barnham Reserves.

The fixtures have been updated and are now posted on the
Fixtures and Results page.

Finally this now means the 6-1 victory at home against Wittering Reserves on the 11th October no longer stands. So Tom and Ben’s two goals a piece and each of Mike’s and Stuart’s goal’s now do not count with regard to Top Goal Scorer.  Also neither does the Man of the Match Award for the game which was given to

Ben Thomas battling in the air to win the ball.

Lavant 2 Fishbourne 5
Sussex Junior Cup

Fishbourne progressed to Round 2 of The Sussex Junior Cup, following their victory at Lavant.

Martin Ayers (nearest) and Ross Lines defends the Lavant goal.After a good start, Lavant seemed overawed and stopped passing the ball. It allowed the visitors to build up an apparently unassailable lead as Hugh Howden’s flick on was brilliantly struck into the top corner on 23 mins by Darren Cox. Within 7 mins, left-winger Duncan Terry smashed home a cross from the left. Terry hit his second 2 mins from half-time, when Lavant’s back three inexplicably stopped dead.

It looked all over. But after a half-time team talk, Lavant emerged a different side, keeping the ball on the ground and playing impressive football.

Midfield battle, as Mike Neville is first to the ball.

Substitute, Mike Neville headed home for Lavant on 53 mins. Ben Evans curled a second in the top corner a quarter of an hour later. The homeside had then to throw caution to the wind to seek the equaliser. It was clear they,d either manage it or go further behind. Breakaways from Lavant pressure gave Fishbourne two counter-attack goals, as Cox completed his hat-trick on 85 and 89 mins. In between, Shaun Gooding’s goal for Lavant was disallowed for offside.

Martin Pullen punching the ball clear.

Fishbourne won it in the first half but the second was a great spectacle.

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, M.Hine, M.Ayers, B.Evans, J.Walsh, B.Thomas, R.Lines, S.Loversidge, T.Parker. Subs: M.Neville, C.Withall, M.Price.

Ross Lines tracking back.

Tom Sheppard heading clear.

Boxgrove 4 Lavant Reserves 0

Lavant Reserves woes continued this week as they were comprehensively beaten by a strong Boxgrove side.

Both teams started the match in cold wet murky conditions and for the first fifteen minutes Boxgrove forced the pace of the game hemming Lavant back in their half.  A mistake by keeper Dave Kent saw Boxgrove have the ball in the back of the net, only for the striker to be ruled offside and so Lavant managed to keep the status quo.

Eventually Lavant began to make inroads into the game, managing to get the ball forward and attack the Boxgrove half, but Alex Waters, Joe Hepworth and Robbie Pinder were unable to capitalize on their chances, rarely threatening the homeside’s goal.  Boxgrove defended well, plus were quick to counterattack and when Lavant’s Greg Ockwell was tackled in midfield, the home side were fastest to react slicing through the heart of the Lavant defence of Stuart Eastwood and Matt Court and opening the scoring one nil, 1-0.

Both teams works hard for the remainder of the half but the scores remained unchanged going into the interval.

Lavant very optimistic of getting back in the game never really got going in the second half, whereas Boxgrove started again very strongly forcing Lavant to defend and so eventually took full advantage of their possession as the left winger broke clear down the flank and blasted past the out-coming keeper, further increasing their lead, 2-0.

Shortly afterwards it was three nil as poor marking saw two Boxgrove strikers break through the Lavant central defence and pass the ball around the stranded keeper, 3-0.

The home side added another making sure there was no way back for the visitors as they rounded up a resounding victory, 4-0.

Lavant to there credit again never gave up and kept battling on to the final whistle and were somewhat unlucky not the grab a consolation goal in the last ten minutes as Boxgrove took their foot pedal.

Team: D.Kent, S.Blackman, S.Eastwood, M.Court, D.Hall, J.Houghton, G.Ockwell, C.Swain, R.Pinder, J.Hepworth, A.Waters. Subs: D.Knight, D.Morris, A.Strange.

Selsey Town 2 Lavant 0

Both Selsey and Lavant had 100% league credentials prior to their meeting on Saturday, but it was Selsey who emerged with their record intact.

The homeside started the sharper to the ball and for a quarter of an hour, Selsey were encamped in Lavant’s half. Ironically, it was when the visitors came out of their shells, that Selsey took the lead. Ross Elliott capitalised on an individual error by a Lavant player to fire home on 22 minutes. The visitors fought back and Sam Vickery in goal did well to turn Chris Withall’s 30 yard drive wide.

The second half was a different affair. Selsey seemed lack lustre and Lavant should have equalised when Withall put Loversidge clear 3 minutes after the re-start.

The Chichester side produced several chances and Ayres, Loversidge twice, Evans and Lines came close to levelling the score. Against the run of play Selsey broke on the right and Kieran Craddock struck a superb goal from the edge of the box on 75minutes, to give the home side a 2 goal advantage.

Disappointed coach, David Parker, summed up his team’s performance when he said, “Selsey had four shots and scored twice; we had loads of chances but failed to score. We were too cautious but Selsey had more fight early on, more composure throughout and so deserved their win.”

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, M.Hine; M.Ayers, B.Evans, J.Walsh, D.Kennard, R.Lines, S.Loversidge, C.Withall. Subs: B.Thomas, M.Price.

Lavant Reserves 1 Rustington Park Seniors 5
Division IV Charity Cup

Lavant suffering from Tottenham syndrome due to a poor start to the season began the match very tentatively and so it was no surprise when after ten minutes a nervous back pass lacking pace gifted Rustington their opener as their striker ran through one on one with the keeper, 0-1.

Rustington’s second goal should never have been given as Lavant keeper Dave Kent raced off his line to clear the ball was met by the Jason Jarvis’s stud high boot, leaving the keeper grounded nursing a two inch cut to the leg, as to the referee just waved play on to the total surprise of everyone on the pitch, especially the other Rustington striker who eventually decided to tap the ball into the empty net, 0-2.

Lavant for long periods got the ball into the visitors half, but strikers, Joe Hepworth, Christian Swain and Alex Waters never really made their chances count.  Rustington defended well and were quick to counterattack and so further extended their lead when a long clearance over the Lavant defence was not dealt with by either Guy Pinder or Kent and in the confusion the Rustington striker ran in and neatly lobbed the stranded keeper to make it three nil just before half time, 0-3.

The half time score line somewhat flattered the visitors as Lavant’s performance did not warrant being three nil down, but with the home-side’s confidence low they started the second half very cautiously allowing Rustington time to move the ball around freelyin the home-side’s half and a well worked move opened space on the right for the winger to drill home the ball 12 yards out, 0-4.

Minutes later Lavant’s bad luck continued as they conceded a penalty as Kent brought down Jarvis in the area. Dave Kent then made amends for his earlier faux par saving the penalty forcing the ball to bounce off the post to safety, and then only to find Pinder was deemed to have had a foot in the area, as the referee had the penalty retaken.  The thankful Rustington striker made no mistake second time around as the visitors coasted to a five nil lead, 0-5.

To their credit Lavant never gave up and finally scored a much deserved goal with twenty minutes remaining as Alex Waters again for the second week running headed home into the top corner past the outstretched arm of the keeper, 1-5.

This eventually only proved to be a consolation goal as the scores remained unchanged for the remainder of the game. Rustington now move onto the next round of the Div II cup, whilst Lavant Reserves in the space of two weeks are out of all cup competitions and so are now free to concentrate on what is their real challenge this season which is to escape relegation from Division IV South.

Team: D.Kent, J.Strange, G.Pinder, S.Blackman, M.Paintin, D.Morris, G.Ockwell, D.Knight, C.Swain, J.Hepworth, A.Waters. Subs: J.Houghton, A.Strange, A.Yaxley.

A big thank you to John & Jan Squires who are keen supporters of Lavant FC and who have yet again made a very kind donation this season to the football club.

Johns’ Dad was first team captain in 1935 and played for Lavant for many seasons.

Bill Squires picture front row centre holding the ball, in the Lavant FC team photo outside the village hall around 1946.

John himself followed in the family tradition and also spent many seasons playing for Lavant.

A young John Squires first left front row in Lavant FC – 1st XI team photo at Raughmere Park (Top pitch) Lavant, 5th January 1962.
They were playing in Division II of the West Sussex League.

Centenary Cup
Worthing BCOB 1 Lavant 5

Lavant progressed to Round 3 of the Centenary Cup as they brushed aside Worthing at Pound Lane on Saturday.

Tom Parker opened the scoring after 55 seconds when he dispossessed Scott Law in the Worthing defence and rode off 3 defenders to fire home. The homeside looked ragged before a well-oiled Lavant machine. Twelve mins later, Stuart Loversidge dispossessed Woods on the left touchline, bore inside and left ‘keeper Kevin Punter clutching at air as he doubled Lavant’s lead. An intricate build up by the visitors on the right ended with Dave Kennard being upended in the area and Ben Evans dispatched the penalty kick on 40 mins.

Worthing resumed the second-half with more fight and better organisation. They were rewarded half-way through the half, when Harry Killick, the best Worthing player, beat the offside trap to score.

But, within 2 mins, the Chichester side stepped right back in the game and cancelled Killick’s goal. Ayers burst through to force ‘keeper Punter to concede a corner from which subsitute , Chris Withall, rose to head home.

Lavant saved the best team goal of the game until last. Sheppard played a ball from defence to midfielder, Walsh, who set substitute, Price, free on the left. His speedy pass found Withall on the left of the penalty area, who beat his marker to cross into Kennard’s path 10 mins from time for him to crown a magnificent display from the visitors.

Team: M.Pullen, T.Sheppard, S.Gooding, M.Hine; M.Ayers, B.Evans, J.Walsh, D.Kennard, M.Neville; T.Parker, S.Loversidge. Subs: B.Thomas, C.Withall, M.Price.

Bareham Trophy
Square Deal 4 Lavant Reserves 2

Lavant Reserves this week had a respite from the league as they travelled to Littlehampton to play Division III side Square Deal in the Bareham Trophy.

Lavant had to make a number of changes due to injury and unavailability of players and were forced to field their last choice keeper, manager Dave Kent in goal for this game.

The first half saw the visitors put in a very low par performance as they found themselves two nil down within the opening fifteen minutes as Square Deal capitalized on their limited chances, whilst Lavant squandered theirs. Both Robbie Pinder and Dave Knight should have scored from close range and levelled the game, 2-0.

Eventually, however Lavant did manage to reduce the deficit as Christian Swain scrambled the ball across the line on the half hour, 2-1.

The home side were swift to respond as they made it three goals from three attempts on goal, as their winger beat Dave Morris to the cross and heading into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance, 3-1.

The half time team talk must have worked as Lavant looked a different team in the second half as they dominated for large periods of the game as the home side seemed content on defending their lead.

Lavant again did not make their chances count as Swain somehow failed to score a yard out one on one with the keeper.

Then a dubious decision by the stand in referee, waving play on as the lineman clearly flagged for offside allowed the home side striker to break clear, round the keeper and score, restoring Square Deal’s advantage, before Lavant substitute Alex Waters industrious work rate was finally rewarded as the headed home from Greg Ockwell’s corner, 4-2.

Square Deal saw out the ninety minutes, booking their place into the next round of the cup, whilst Lavant were left to reflect on their poor first half performance which clearly cost them the match and how they were going to raise their game for next weeks league cup fixture at home to Rustington Park Seniors.

Team: D.Kent, J.Strange, S.Eastwood, G.Pinder, M.Paintin, D.Morris, G.Ockwell, A.Strange, C.Swain, D.Knight, R.Pinder. Subs: A.Waters, A.Yaxley.

Division II Charity Cup
Lavant 6 West Wittering Res 1

After three league wins, Lavant made it four on the trot as they advanced into the second round of the Cup in their first home game of the season.

Striker, Stuart Loversidge, gave the homeside the lead on 8 mins.

But 10 mins later, Wittering were level when Jamie Clayton took advantage of an uncharacteristic error by veteran sweeper, Matt Court, to finish well.

Tom Parker restored Lavant’s lead on 20 mins and wing-back, Martin Ayers played an inch perfect ball into the path of his colleague, Mike Neville who gave Lavant a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Court was a casualty of a first-half tackle and Gooding took over the sweeper role. Wittering increased their work-rate and the visitors created two good chances and forced the save of the century from Lavant’s ‘keeper, Martin Pullen. But the Chichester side defended resolutely and launched a series of counter-attacks, which saw Parker add his second on 75 mins.

Wittering ‘keeper, Neil Janson, pulled off four quality saves and saw Justin Walsh fire against the Wittering bar. Then, Lavant scored the best goal of the game. Ross Lines, on the left, played a ball inside to Dave Kennard who worked a wall-pass off Parker before playing Lines in again, whose cross was swept home by midfielder, Ben Evans, on 87 mins.

Evans was there again, just before the final whistle, to volley home, after Parker topped on Kennard’s long throw.

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

Rustington Park Seniors 3 Lavant Reserves 1

On Saturday, Lavant travelled to Rustington Park Seniors joint leaders of Division IV South.

With the weather more akin to a hot summer’s day both teams made sluggish starts, but early on Lavant should have taken the lead as Christian Swain linked up with Robbie Pinder, who then saw his shot deflected by the keeper into the path of the oncoming Chris Withall. But with an open goal beckoning, the ball somehow went though his legs as he failed to get his shot off on target.

Lavant’s good start was beginning to frustrating the home side, but with 15 minutes gone all that changed in the space of two minutes as the home side went into a somewhat unexpected 2-0 lead, due to some lapse marking.

Firstly Bright Kushata won the ball in midfield and was allowed to get into the box unopposed before beating Paul Czajka in the Lavant goal and then minutes from the restart slack marking from a corner allowed the Rustington striker a free header, which he dutifully dispatched into the top corner of the goal. 2-0.

On the half hour Lavant halved the deficit when Matt Hines beautifully lofted ball was met by Withall who stepped past his marker and slotted the ball home into the left corner, 1-2.

Then with almost the last kick in extra time for the first half, all Lavant’s previous hard work was undone as they failed to clear the ball in their own area and as the ball spilled outside the box the waiting Jason Jarvis was able to lob the ball over the stranded defence and goalkeeper, ensuring Rustington went into the half time with their two goal lead still intact, 3-1.

Lavant still believed they could salvage something from this game; however the next 45 minutes resulted in stalemate, as both teams were unable to capitalize on their chances.

The introduction of Andy Strange and Dave Knight in Lavant’s midfield ensured the visitors were able to fight on right to the final whistle, attacking Rustingtons goal.

But it was the home side which maintained their unbeaten run and the visitors that were left still looking for their first points of the season.

Lavant however should take heart from this very positive performance and hopefully take it forward into next week’s Bareham Trophy cup game.

Team: P.Czajka, J.Strange, S.Eastwood, M.Hine, S.Blackman, D.Morris, G.Ockwell, M.Price, C.Swain, C.Withall, R.Pinder. Subs: A.Strange, D.Knight.

Lavant Reserves 1 Boxgrove 5

Lavant still looking to secure their first points in Division IV South, started the game nervously, taking time to settle during the first quarter.

The home side should however have taken the lead as Joe Hepworth broke through on the left flank and lofted the ball over the out-coming keeper, but the ball smashed against the cross bar and the score remained nil, nil. Moments later Dave Knight won the ball in the visitor’s box and his early shot went agonisingly close as it beat the keeper but again the ball was just wide of the goal.

Lavant were just starting to establish themselves in the game when they were knock for six as a Boxgrove speculative shot 20 yards out skidded on the wet surface and through the hands of Lavant keeper Chris Bowles, giving the visitors an unexpected lead, 0-1.

Minutes later Boxgrove should have gone two nil up as Lavant still in shock failed to defend a corner, but somehow the ball smashing against Lavant’s Jon Strange on the line went up and over the bar to safety.

The game had turned around in minutes and it was now all Boxgrove and a dangerous ball into the box saw their striker flick the ball past the out-coming Bowles, to double their lead, 0-2.

Lavant to their credit were back in the game minutes later as Joe Hepworth intercepted a poor goal kick and smashed the ball home from the edge of the box, 1-2.

With minutes of the half remaining Boxgrove again pressurized Lavant’s box and the ensuing goalmouth scramble resulted in grounded Stuart Eastwood handling the ball.  Boxgrove despatched the penalty, giving them a three one lead going into the break, 1-3.

Lavant felt they could still get something out of the game going into the second half, but Boxgrove had other ideas as from the restart they were in complete command and eventually extended their lead even further, 1-4.

Then with 30 minutes remaining, Robbie Pinder replaced Alex Waters and Lavant with nothing to lose pushed three up front and the game changed instantly as Lavant for the first time actually put the visitors under prolonged pressure and they should have reduced the deficit as Robbie Pinder wide on the left unleashed a shot which beat the keeper but this time smashed against the post and deflected to safety.

For the last half hour Lavant continued to pressurize Boxgrove’s goal but without reward and with minutes remaining the visitors were quick to counter attack and snatch another goal against the run of play to ensure they ended game with a resounding victory against their local rivals, 1-5.

Team: C.Bowles, J.Strange, S.Eastwood, T.Sheppard, M.Paintin, D.Knight, G.Ockwell, D.Morris, A.Waters, C.Withall, J.Hepworth. Subs: A.Strange, R.Pinder, T.Sheppard.

Hunston 0 Lavant 2

Lavant extended their league wins to three out of three in their visit to a rejuvenated Hunston. The homeside started the brighter and fed off target man Ian Fletcher to test the visitors’ defence. But gradually, the Chichester side settled into the game and nearly went ahead when Ross Lines’s shot from a Dave Kennard long-throw was blocked by Hunston defender, Jody Turner on its way goalward.

Lavant striker, Stuart Loversidge, stole the ball off the Hunston defence and was upended in the penalty area with only goalkeeper, Stephen Chiddle to beat. Ben Evans fired the visitors ahead from the resulting spot kick on the quarter hour.

Eight mins before half-time, Tom Parker nearly put the Chichester side further ahead, when he shimmied two players to create space for himself but shot wide from 18 yds.

At the restart, Hunston threw everything into a search for an equaliser with Martin Lomas looking strong at the back. But Lavant were having none of it and looked comfortable building from defence. One such move saw Ben Thomas find Parker who headed down for Kennard to thread Loversidge through with only the’keeper to beat. Quick feet left Chiddle stranded and Loversidge sealed the game by passing the ball into the empty net on 55 mins.

Lavant’s substitutions and tactical rearrangement in midfield created further good chances for Parker and Loversidge but Chiddle was equal to both. The visitors sealed up the game to bag full points.

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

Coal Exchange 1 Lavant Reserves 0

After a week off Lavant Reserves travelled to Emsworth for their first away game of the season.

Fielding six changes from the previous game, Lavant started well and controlled the ball from the start and for the first 15 minutes the Coal Exchange struggled to get into the game.

The home side’s defence were well organised and proving hard to break down, however a neat move between Dave Knight and Matt Price, put through Greg Ockwell who’s shot went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.

It took 25 minutes before the homeside really threatened Lavant’s half and they came close to surprisingly opening the scoring from a dangerous lofted free kick into the area, which was headed just wide of the post.

Then Lavant striker Chris Withall’s quick pass wide put Alex Waters through on the right flank and his cross, found Adam Yaxley, free at the far post, but his effort again went wide of goal.

As the half drew on Lavant short of ideas for opening up the homeside’s defence let the Coal Exchange get back into the game and with 5 minutes remaining they capitalised on a mistake from Stuart Eastwood, allowing their striker to break clear down the middle of the pitch and score past Chris Bowles in the Lavant goal, 1-0.

Lavant started the second half determined to get something from the game and with 5 minutes gone they should have drawn level as Alex Water’s broke through the defence, but this time his shot was well saved by the keeper.

With the early introduction of substitutes Christian Swain and Dave Morris, the visitors were able to again encamped themselves in the Coal Exchange’s half for long periods, but they rarely threaten the goal.

The last quarter saw Matt Hine replace Mike Paintin who was suffering from cramp, but the Coal Exchange without any real pressure were able to run down the clock and claim all three points to the great disappointment of Lavant.

Team: C.Bowles, S.Blackman, S.Eastwood, J.Strange, A.Waters, D.Knight, G.Ockwell, M.Paintin, M.Price, C.Withall, A.Yaxley. Subs: M.Hine, D.Morris, C.Swain.

Defender, Tom Sheppard’s 56 min goal on his full debut secured Lavant another win.

Adroitly setting out their stall to tactically deal with Worthing’s long ball, the Chichester side looked defensively secure under veteran sweeper Matt Court’s captaincy. However, it was the homeside who forced the first save, a finger tip touch over by Lavant ‘keeper, Martin Pullen from a 17th minute free-kick.

The Visitors’ Ben Thomas shaved the post from25 yds on the half hour after a delightful build up. The half-time score remained goalless.

Tom Parker deftly beat Worthing ‘keeper, Kevin Punter, 3 mins into the second half but was ruled offside; his chip hitting the post.

The Chichester side always looked dangerous from well rehearsed set-pieces. So it was no surprise when a clearance from one such free kick resulted in Martin Ayers rolling the ball into the path of Sheppard who sweetly struck the ball home from 20 yds.

The rest of the match was a game of tactical substitutions and reformations between the two managers but Lavant played it out to gather 3 more points.

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

With a new format to training this season, the players are put thorugh their paces during the one and a half hour slot booked on the all weather pitch every Wednesday night.

The training team of Dave Parker, Dave Kent, Mike Kent and Scott Carter are ensuring the players receive the right combination of fitness training and football coaching.

Greg Ockwell about to blast one over the goal.

Matt Price receiving pass and shooting first time.  Tom Sheppard looks on, I wonder if it will come in useful Saturday?

Jason Houghton receiving the ball from Dave Kennard closely marked by Dave Kent plays the ball to the waiting Stuart Eastwood (off picture).

Andy Strange starting his run recieving a pass from Alex Waters (off picture).