James Brooks on the ball (photo courtesy of the Chichester Observer)

Lavant 4 Holbrook 1

Lavant hosted Holbrook on Saturday still in the hunt for their 1^st win of the season which they delivered with an assured performance.

From the start Lavant played with an intensity that was missing from the previous week with the midfield trio of Brooks, Stevens and Augustus proving a great engine room for the home side and bossing the game. With the insurance policy provided by these three it allowed the attacking trio of Sandford, Hancock and Caveney to cause the oppositions back line no end of grief and stretching them across the park.

After 20 minutes Lavant got their reward for such a positive start, Hancock breaking away at pace only to be felled in the area as steadying himself to get a shot away, penalty kick. Lavant’s track record from the spot isn’t the best, so the management opted to hand spot kick duties to centre back Paul Jones who thumped it home, with the keeper although getting a hand to it couldn’t keep it out.

With this platform to build from Lavant kicked on and 10 minutes later added a 2^nd, a free kick on the edge of the attacking third taken quickly by Sandford found Lyttle wide left whose first touch took him into a great scoring opportunity and it was pure desire that had the beating of the defender as he fired home a right footed drive.

Lavant weren’t done there for the half, Sandford was set free on the inside right channel and doing well to out muscle the Holbrook centre half and cross for the unmarked Caveney to convert from just a couple of yards. That’s three in three now for the wide man who has started the season very well.

Aaron Hancock and James Sandford on the attack (photo courtesy of the Chichester Observer)

The second half for Lavant was all about keeping it tight and not giving Holbrook any hopes of getting back into the match, the home side delivered exactly that with Lyttle getting his second goal of the game from a sweetly struck free kick from 25 yards.

From this point the game went flat, tiredness started to creep in and that showed in the way Lavant conceded. A Lavant throw in their defensive third was sent back to the keeper who was caught napping and his attempted clearance was by the Holbrook forward, the result was the ball in the back of Lavants net. This was all the encouragement Holbrook needed to make the last 20 minutes of the games nervous ones for the home side, but the defence held firm to take a deserved three points.

Team: Matt Bevan, Richard Gabb, Paul Jones, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, Matt Stevens, Simon Augustus, James Brooks, Aaron Hancock, Pete Caveney, James Sandford. Subs: Alex Holmes, Charles McLaren.

West Chiltington Reserves 0  Lavant Reserves 3

Lavant reserves secured their first win of the season with three unanswered second half goals to move 4^th in Division III South.

The away side should have been ahead just before the quarter hour after a poor quick free kick was intercepted, but Lavant striker Langridge’s effort cleared both the onrushing keeper and the bar. Ten minutes later a long goal kick was misjudged by the ‘Chilt defence but Greg Ayling was just unable to reach the loose ball.

An injury to left back Matt Grace saw a reshuffle on the half-hour, but Lavant stayed solid and were restricting their hosts to long range efforts.

The home side started the second half brightly without really testing Baylis in the Lavant goal. Gradually the men in yellow began to take control of the game and, heeding the message at half time, started to move the ball around with more fluency.

On the hour mark Adam Yaxley was played through but denied by a good stop from Dann in the ‘Chilt goal, but Lavant were ahead 8 minutes later. A flowing move involving six players resulted in a clumsy challenge on Yaxley 20 yards from goal. Ayling bent the ball sublimely round the wall and into the net via the post and the bemused keeper.

Lavant turned the screw and scored again on 75 minutes. Man of the match Yaxley was again played in down the left channel and this time was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Dann. Ayling stepped up to convert the penalty and the away side were cruising.

Langridge was denied by a good stop when one on one, with Yaxley unable to convert the loose ball, but the striker made no mistake two minutes later. Another slide-rule pass into the right channel found the No 9 and he drove the ball under the advancing keeper and into the far corner.

The points were safe but ‘Chilt nearly grabbed a consolation when the ball was poked past Baylis. Neil Latham got back ahead of the attacker to deny a certain goal, ensuring Lavant’s second clean sheet in three in a thoroughly professional performance.

Lavant: Rob Baylis, Martin Smith, Henry Polack, Neil Latham, Matt Grace, Tom Parker, Scott Yaxley, Adam Yaxley, Chris Harvey, Greg Ayling, John Langridge. Subs: Don Polack, Will Cieszynski

Hunston CC Reserves 2 Lavant Reserves 1

A Greg Ayling penalty wasn’t enough to prevent Lavant Reserves falling to their first defeat of the season at local rivals Hunston.

Lavant were out of the blocks like a shot, John Langridge’s run in to the channel and shot forcing a save from the home keeper after just 20 seconds. But having dominated the opening 20 minutes with some excellent football, the visitors fell behind when Aidan Oliver’s driven cross from the left found the far corner of the Lavant net.

The visitors were stunned and begun to lack patience in the final third as they pressed for an equaliser, but were still having the lions’ share of the possession.

Hunston started the second half brightly and a change of tactic saw them repeatedly attack down their right. Ten minutes into the half a sweeping move was deftly finished by Ryan Godfrey’s first-time chip. However the deficit was reduced within minutes as the ball bounced up in the Hunston box following a corner and hit a hand. Ayling stepped up to coolly send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Chances were appearing at both ends as Lavant pressed for an equaliser, with the home team looking dangerous on the break. Don Polack could only fire over under pressure at the back post, and Lavant were denied by the Hunston keeper’s quick reactions as Micky Earle looked sure to tuck in the loose ball after the initial parry.

It proved to be the last opportunity for the visitors who, despite controlling large spells, left empty handed and must now look to turn possession in to points when they go to West Chiltington next Saturday.

Team: Neil Sanson, Neil Latham, Tom Parker, Matt Hine, Matt Stevens (c), Dave Maclean, Greg Ayling,  Paul Taylor, Adam Yaxley, Leon Mears, John Langridge. Subs: Don Polack, Michael Earle, Will Cieszynski

Lavant 3 West Chiltington 6

This weekend saw Lavant entertain West Chiltington in their first home fixture of the season and looking to build on a hard earned point against Lancing the previous week.

The open exchanges were an even affair but it was Chilt that broke the deadlock on 10 minutes after a cheap free kick conceded in a dangerous area by Mclaren. The resulting free kick was clipped in to a delightful area for the on running Weedon to glance home over the out rushing keeper.

For the next 20 minutes Lavant tried to get their football going but Chilt stood firm until Caveney with his direct running burst into the box and was felled, penalty kick. Baker stepped up and shot wide, a real missed opportunity.

2 minutes later Lavant managed to level the match after Jones winning the ball in defence found Baker wide right who fed a sublime ball into Caveney who finished 1^st time. Lavant were in a buoyant mood now and 5 minutes later got their noses in front. Good build up by Hancock who delivered a great cross to Caveney at the back post who tried an audacious scissor kick only for the keeper to save. The resulting corner saw a bit of a mêlée in the box and Baker stabbing home, 2-1.

You would think Lavant would run away with the game now but credit to Chilt, they got straight back into it from the re-start. A ball over the top of the sleeping Lavant defence and winning a corner. The initial cross was dealt with but the ball was sent looping back in with Baylis only managing to palm onto the bar with the Chilt forward accepting his gift of a tap in.

Chilt punished the home side once more before the break, a well worked corner steered in at the near post.

The 2^nd half saw Chilt continue punish the home side with yet another goal from a corner, 4-2.

This forced Lavant into making a number of changes in personnel and shape in an attempt to get back in it. With 15 minutes to play Lavant made it 4-3, Hancock with a neat left footed finish inside the area.

As the home side continued to push to get back on level terms they were left vulnerable at the back and Chilt found the net on another 2 occasions to run out eventual 6-3 winners.

Team : Rob Baylis, Matt Grace, Paul Jones, Jon Wright, Matt Lyttle, Charles Mclaren, Simon Augustus, Aaron Hancock, Ollie Haggar, Pete Caveney, Dan Baker. Subs: Alex Holmes, James Brooks, James Sandford.

Whyke 0 Lavant Reserves 0

West Sussex League

August & September 2015

August

September

Lavant 5 Yapton 4

Lavant hosted Div 2 Yapton just 19 hours after visiting Chichester City’s Development Side, with 8 of the players having featured for at least 45 minutes the evening before. With a shortage of midfielders available, Matt Hine and Neil Latham were asked to do a job in the centre, whilst ‘new’ John Langridge led the line up front.

The hosts started slowly and found themselves behind after only 3 minutes. After some static defending the ball fell to the Yapton forward who hit it high past Rob Baylis from 8 yards out.

Yapton were playing some good football, whilst Lavant looked nervous and were finding it hard to get their passing going. With 25 minutes gone Yapton increased their lead, and could have had a third but for a good stop from the outstretched leg of Baylis.

A double change with 10 minutes of the half remaining paid dividends as Simon Augustus came into midfield and James Sandford joined the attack. An excellent Adam Yaxley cross from the right touchline was met by Langridge, who’s header was too much for the keeper. Two minutes before half time, a corner from the left saw Langridge out-jump the away defence again and thump home another header.

The second half ebbed and flowed as Lavant began to get more of a hold on the game, though they required an excellent save from their keeper as Baylis got strong hands to tip a close-range drive over bar . However it was Yapton who regained the lead as the defence stood off, a fine low drive finding the corner. Lavant were level within 3 minutes though as Langridge completed his hatrick with another fine leap and header, before taking the lead with the goal of the game. Hine, reverted to his more favoured left back position, kept the ball well before finding Baylis, whos clipped pass found Spann on the right. His ball into the channel was whipped in and was met by Pete Caveney’s well-timed run.

Yapton came back again with a fabulous curled effort from their centre midfielder, who found the top corner from the edge of the box. Sandford’s lovely first-time drive looked in but came back off the inside of the post, but Langridge ensured it was Lavant’s day as he swept home his fourth to give the home team a deserved victory.

Lavant:
Rob Baylis, Matt Grace, Henry Polack, Tom Parker, Martin Smith, Matt Hine, Neil Latham, Craig Spann, Pete Caveney, Adam Yaxley, John Langridge. Subs: Simon Augustus, John Wright, James Sandford

Pre-season is now well underway as we enter our third week of two weekly sessions, every Tuesday and Thursday on the village green. 6.30pm start prompt.

Result of the Beep Test are as follows:

Name – Level

Matt Grace – 8.6
Martin Smith – 9
Leon Mears – 11
Neil Latham – 10.1
Don Pollack – 10.1
Aaron Hancock – 13.7
Will Ciezynski – 11.8
James Sandford – 8
Sam Cole – 10.7
Henry Pollack – 10.6
Matt Lyttle – 11.3
Simon – 10.5
Dave Maclean – 12.1
Scott Yaxley – 11.2
Adam Yaxley – 11.4
Louis Weller – 9
Alex Holmes – 11

Friendlies are due to start in August with the first this Saturday 1st August away to Sidlesham.

Other friendlies in the pipeline are against Chichester Reserves, Midhurst and Stedham.

We are still looking to sign new players to strengthen both the first and reserve teams, so if your are interested please come along to one of our training sessions.

It is with great regret that Lavant has had to withdraw from the Chichester & West Sussex Sunday League with immediate effect.

Our Sunday team manager Mel Milburn has had a poor response from players wishing to carry on this season, even after such a great first season back in the league, winning the Charity Cup and being promoted.  So after much sole searching he has decided to resign as manager to concentrate on his son’s football with Felpham Colts.

We have tried to get someone to take on the Sunday team but no one is willing to take on the role and everything that goes with it.

We are very disappointed that we have to withdraw at this late stage, but 100% accept Mel’s decision to spend more time with his son and we will really miss him at the club after dedicating the last 16 seasons with being involved with Lavant.

At the League Annual General Meeting on the 16^th July the league tables for the forthcoming were agreed.

There were some last minute changes due to AFC Roffey, Ajax Trees, Littlehaven and Horsham Trinity Reserves all withdrawing from the league.

The Premier league remainder unchanged with eleven teams, but with Ajax Trees leaving, Division Three South was reduced to nine teams.  After discussions and a vote Worthing Borough were promoted into Division Three, restoring the teams to ten.

Leagues for the 2015-16 Season:

Start of the Season:

The start of the season was agreed as the 29^th August.

Roll-On & Roll-Off Substitutes:

Finally the league rules have been rewritten in line with FA requirements.  The one major change which brought about much discussion and finally a vote which was passed approximately three to one, is that five rolling subs can be used during a game.

This will mean the five named subs and the potential five starting players that are subbed can go on and off as many times as the club wishes during the game.