Tomorrow’s league fixture at home to Fittleworth has been called off tonight as Fittleworth are unable to raise a team.

Lavant Reserves will get the league points but would have liked to have played the game as goal difference at the end of the season could be critical with regard to league places.

But the Reserve players can now come and watch the first team in their Malcom Simmonds Cup Semi final at Lancing United. 3.00 pm KO.

Croshaw Ground, Lancing. BN15 9SW

April

May

Lavant 11 Ockley 0

This weekend saw Lavant host bottom side and league title holders Ockley with the home side romping to an 11-0 win. Lavant had their issues for the fixture with a few first team regulars missing caused a change in shape which had spectacular results.

There wasn’t much between the sides in the opening 15 minutes, both sides looking to settle into some rhythm during the early sparing. At this point Lavant opened the scoring, with James Sandford in fine form of late accepting a gift from the Ockley defence to slot home.

Next up was Matthew Lyttle, dispatching a free-kick hard and low from 25 yards and evading the wrong footed keeper to double the hosts lead. Lavant very much in the ascendancy capitalised on further poor defending, Sandford bagged his 2^nd converting off of his thigh.

This is where the sparring stopped and the games threatened to turn into an actual boxing match as frustrations really began to show from the visitors. Fortunately things simmered down and Lavant closed off the half with a 4^th and Sandford completing his hattrick.

You would have expected Ockley to come out with some pride in the second half and show a bit of fight in the right way but this wasn’t the case. Lavant managed to extend their lead to 7-0 in the opening 10 minutes of the half with goals coming from Aaron Hancock, James Brooks and Peter Caveney. There was clearly no way back for the league champions as the game had now descended into a free for all for the Lavant attackers.

Next up Caveney bagged his 2^nd from the spot after Sandford was climbed all over in the box. Ash Hawkes then entered the fray and took only a few minutes to get in on the act scoring his 1^st goal for the club. Hancock got his 2^nd with a curled effort from the edge of the area before Hawkes got his 2^nd after firing in to the roof of the net from 12 yards.

It really was a superb attacking performance by Lavant with some of the build up play a joy to watch and the icing on the cake was a clean sheet, the 1^st for keeper Ash Court this season.

Team: Ash Court, Matt Lyttle, Simon Augustus, Jon Wright, James Brooks (c), Charlie McLaren, Chris Harvey, Pete Caveney, Aaron Hancock, James Sandford, Dan Baker. Subs – Ash Hawkes, Stuart Eastwood.

Predators Reserves vs Lavant Reserves

The game at the Arena Sport Centre in Bognor was abandoned after 70 minutes on Saturday following an incident involving both teams.

Lavant: Rob Baylis, Paul Taylor, Matt Grace, Neil Latham (c), Scott Yaxley, Tom Parker, Will Cieszynski, Louis Weller, Adam Yaxley, Lee Smith, John Langridge. Subs: Keanu Burton-Hoyte, Martin Pullen, Neil Sanson.

Lavant 2 Newtown Villa 2

Lavant managed to beat the weather and get their game on against Bognor side Newtown Villa. Villa is historically a bit of a bogie side for Lavant but after a 2-0 victory over the visitors earlier in the season, it was hoped that this would be a thing of the past.

Sadly there were to be no league double for the home side as both teams left with a share of the spoils but the result does not tell the whole story of the fixture.

Lavant had to shuffle the pack with front man Baker missing along with centre half Augustus but based on the opening exchanges this was not to be an issue. Caveney deployed up front found himself clear on a number of occasions but failed to convert whilst broke clear from the right only to fire wide.

Lavant were very much on top but on the half hour they had their wobble. A purposeful break down the right by Villa with the resulting cross finding Russell to convert from 10 yards out.

Minutes later, a Villa corner found the back of the net, Lavant appeared to of dealt with the threat but with the ball seemingly sailing out of play was hooked back into the box by a Lavant player for Russell again to convert. Halftime came and Lavant were left wondering how they were two down.

Lavant came out for the second half and pretty much enjoyed complete domination. The play was neat, tidy and full of purpose. Villa found themselves playing deeper and deeper but still Lavant failed to find that illusive goal.

Villa had virtually no outlet and Court found himself player as a sweeper keeper as Lavant popped the ball around looking for an opening despite the deteriorating surface.

With 10 to play finally Lavant netted, after some good build-up a Caveney knock down found Brooks to sweep home and give the home side a lifeline.

5 minutes later Lavant were level, a Haggar corner found substitute Stevens whose header hit the post and skewed along the goal line for Sandford to poke in.

Sadly time ran out for Lavant in a fixture that must be viewed as 2 points dropped rather than 1 point gained after the 2 goal deficit at half time.

Lavant: Ahley Court, Oli Haggar, James Batten, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, Charlie McLaren, James Brooks, aaron Hancock, Ashley Hawkes, James Sandford, Pete Caveney Subs: Matt Stevens

Ambassadors 0 Lavant Reserves 7

Lavant Reserves stormed back to the top of the league as they blew away Ambassadors at a wind-swept Avisford Park.

In their first game for 2 months, the visitors dominated from start to finish, with two goals for Greg Ayling, one each for Lee Smith and debutant John Price and a hat-trick for man-of-the-match John Langridge.

Even a late penalty couldn’t yield a consolation for the hosts, Rob Baylis diving to his left to push the spot-kick away and keep the clean sheet intact.

Manager Neil Sanson demanded a fast tempo start and Lavant didn’t disappoint, despite playing into the wind. With the Ambassador’s back line in disarray, Lavant broke the deadlock on 12 minutes as Langridge beat the off-side trap to bear down on goal before lifting over the advancing ‘keeper.

However, shortly after they were indebted to Baylis for maintaining the lead. Making his first start since breaking a finger in October, the ‘keeper dived full length to his right to superbly push away a fierce drive that came through a crowded area. Despite this, the visitors continued to threaten, Langridge having a shot well saved and Smith blazing over.

Lavant were 2-0 ahead on 26 minutes, Smith breaking quickly down the left before calmly slotting under the ‘keeper, and Langridge made it three 8 minutes later, again breaking free from a static defence before selling the ‘keeper a dummy with some cute footwork and tapping home.

The second half was even more one-sided, with Langridge completing his hat-trick after 53 minutes, lashing in a loose ball from 12 yards. Amabassadors literally gave Lavant a helping hand on the hour, as an attempted clearance hit a teammate’s arm from 3 yards away, and the ref harshly pointed to the spot. Ayling tucked the ball in the corner, but was made to retake the kick due to encroachment; it made no difference as he calmly put it in the opposite corner as the visitors began to run riot.

Ayling made it 6 five minutes later, sliding in at the back post to steer home Smith’s ball in, and Price stroked home a half volley from Adam Yaxley’s corner with 17 minutes to go.

A lovely piece of interchange between Langridge and Smith saw them play three one-twos before Smith’s scuffed shot dribbled wide, and Mickey Earle shot over from close range moments after coming on.

Amabassadors kept probing and were rewarded with 5 minutes to go as Earle’s high challenge resulted in a penalty, but Baylis guessed right to round off an excellent performance from the men in yellow.

Lavant: Rob Baylis, Matt Grace, Neil Latham (c), John Price, Mike Sleet, Scott Yaxley, Tom Parker, Paul Taylor, Greg Ayling, Lee Smith, John Langridge. Subs: Adam Yaxley, Mickey Earle.

Holbrook 1 Lavant 5

Lavant were back in action this week with their fixture away to Holbrook just about beating the weather. With the wind blowing an absolute gale and the surface under foot being somewhat spongy this wasn’t going to be a game for the purist. Lavant had the two changes from their fixture away to Nyetimber two weeks prior, with Matt Stevens coming in for the absent James Brooks and Ash Court returning between the sticks.

Holbrook started the brighter and despite the conditions was managing to play neat triangles around the park and monopolise possession of the football early on. Despite their early dominance Holbrook didn’t really fashion any clear openings with Lavant defending with a new found tenacity and resilience across the back four comforted again by the protection in front by the ever improving Charlie McLaren who delivered yet another MOM display.

After 20 minutes Lavant started to find their outlets with Pete Caveney and Aaron Hancock using their pace and direct running on the flanks to relieve the pressure off the back four. By this Lavant broke the deadlock and it was Caveney on the score sheet after being set free down the left bursting into the box to poke past the keeper.

On the half hour mark, Lavant doubled their lead, again it was Caveney but the build up was superb. James Sandford picking up the ball between the lines of Brook, using the decoy run of Caveney he picked out Baker who headed down for Caveney lash in from 18 yards.

Lavant weren’t done before the break, a Caveney corner was headed in to their own net by a Holbrook defender, Caveney will try and claim it but he isn’t having it.

The second half started as the first finished with Lavant mainly on top, Holbrook huffed and puffed but again didn’t create too much. They did find the net on the hour but was ruled offside much to the dissatisfaction of their bench. From the resulting free kick Lavant broke and Dan Baker was felled by the home team keeper, penalty given. It’s safe to say this didn’t help the Holbrook bench mood after just having one chalked off. Up stepped sub Lee Smith who put the ball into orbit, how not to take a penalty.

Smith soon put this right, breaking down the left and putting in a delightful cross finding Sandford who calmly chested and volleyed in to the top left, a proper postage stamp.

Holbrook finally got their consolation goal, a cheap free kick to the right of the Lavant area was clipped in and after a small scramble was tucked home.

Lavant weren’t done, Sandford completed the Lavant rout after been played through to slide home his second and round off a solid team performance.

Lavant: Ash Court, Oli Haggar, Simon Augustus, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, Charlie McLaren, Matt Stevens, Aaron Hancock, Pete Caveney, James Sandford, Dan Baker Sub: Lee Smith

Today’s game away to Petworth in the league has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Nyetimber Pirates 0 Lavant 5

Lavant were fortunate enough to be playing football this weekend as their hosts had secured the all weather surface at the Arun Leisure Centre. Lavant took full advantage, ran out emphatic 5-0 winners and it was fully deserved bar a few wobbles.

Lavant set out to stretch their host at every opportunity with both wide men Caveney and Hancock taking full advantage of the exceptional distribution from Lyttle at centre half.

10 minutes in Lavant took the lead with Caveney again having the beating of his opposing full back, driving into the box and firing a low left footed cross and via a few deflections finding the back of the net. One for the dubious goals committee but the build up alone meant the winger deserved the credit.

Lavant didn’t really kick on from here and the Pirates were unlucky not to find themselves level on a number of occasions but resolute defending and a little bit of luck saw Lavant weather the storm.

Cruising into the break and Lavant doubled their lead to further punish the Pirates profligacy in front of goal. An Aaron Hancock corner found Sandford at the back post to thump his free header home, 2-0 and Lavant were no very much in the ascendancy. Caveney, Hancock and Baker had further opportunities but failed to capitalise before the close of the half.

Lavant found their stride straight away after the break, Smith was on for the injured Caveney and saw several long range efforts easily gathered by the Pirate stopper.

It wasn’t long until Sandford bagged his second with an audacious long range effort sailing into the top left corner with the keeper rooted. Sandford wasn’t done there, as again he found himself on the score sheet to complete his hattrick be it a fortuitous one as another deflection help the ball on its way into the back of the net.

It was clear now that the hosts had given up allowing Lavant to finish their rout as man of the match Baker got his reward for working tirelessly up front heading in Hancocks smart centre.

The remaining minutes of the game were played with Sandford in between the sticks after keeper Sanson had to be withdrawn due to injury and the hattrick hero managed to preserve a deserved clean sheet.

Team: Neil Sanson, Oli Haggar, Matt Lyttle, Simon Augustus,Jon Wright, Aaron Hancock, Charlie McLaren, James Brooks, James Sandford, Pete Caveney, Dan Baker. Subs: Lee.Smith, Will Cieszynski, Richards Gabb, Matt Grace.

Lavant 2 Lancing 3

Lavant welcomed unbeaten table toppers Lancing to Pook Lane in which was a keenly competed affair. Following the 2-2 draw in the first game of the season we knew both side were well matched despite the home side failing to really kick on this season.

Sticking with the system that managed to beat Nyetimber Pirates before the Christmas break and only one change in the starting 11, Lavant were hopeful to start a run in the second half of the season.

The open exchanges were even but it was clear that the visitors were happy to appeal for every decision to gain any advantage they could get from the referee. Frustrations were growing in both ranks and eventually Lancing’s persistence in this manner paid off and they got something off the ref. Lancing’s busy number 9 drove into the box whilst tussling with Lavant’s Augustus and with no obvious challenge the front man appealed and got his spot kick which was comfortably converted. Soft would be a fair description.

However, this was a good catalyst for the home side that started to find some rhythm. Although clear cut chances were few and far between, the build up was neat and tidy and with purpose. Lavant’s best chance fell to Sandford, a long clearance from keeper Court clearing the Lancing centre half and setting Sandford free but he fired agonizingly wide.

After the break Lavant felt they were well in this fixture but minutes from the restart Lancing doubled their lead with a superb following move through the centre of the park which was well finished again by their number 9.

Five minutes later it was again another cruel blow for the home side, after being on the attack themselves, Lancing cleared their lines well and formed what was to be a crucial counter attack. With the ball being played into the area between the back line and the keeper and indecision between the defense and the goalie caused by another player calling KEEPER allowed Lancing to slot away into an empty net.

So here came the Lavant fight back but all too late again. Changes were made and they made an instant impact. Lavant finally utilizing Caveney on their left flank picked up the ball, drove at his fullback and flashed a cross to the back post for substitute Smith to slide home.

It wasn’t long until Lavant had their second, again it was that man Caveney driving into the box from the left but this time going all the way to clip over the on rushing Lancing stopper.

This forced Lancing into some changes to stop the rot and to good effect as the game basically descended into handbags. I’m not going to sit here and write that it was all Lancing as for me both set of players were as bad as each other and spoilt what was in the main a good game.

Lavant: Ashley Court, Oli Haggar, Simon Augustus, Matt Lyttle,  Jon Wright, Matt Stevens, Charlie Mclaren, James Brooks, Aaron Hancock, Pete Caveney, James Sandford. Subs: Lee Smith, Will Cieszynski, James Woodhouse, Chris Coe.