Category: 2022 / 2023

The rain all week. Along with heavy rain over night and again this most morning resulted in the pitch being waterlogged and the groundsman unfortunately calling off today’s game against Harting.

The West Sussex League have now changed the remaining two fixtures in February.

18th February home to Stedham. KO 2.00pm

25th February home to Fishbourne. KO 2.00pm

Next week we are now away to Newtown Villa. KO 2.00pm

This Saturday 4th February Lavant are now away to Harting and the following Saturday 11th February Lavant will host Harting in the league.

The reason for the swap of fixtures is becuase the changing rooms are not available as the Lavant Players have hired the whole of the Village Hall for the weekend to hold their annual production, which this year is Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

Back row: Jake O’Brennan, James Hubbard, Josh Castle, Matt Lyttle, James Sandford (with Lindt selection box), Luke Blackman, Dan Hillyer.
Front row: Matt Dacombe, Cam Corell, Dan Long, Jordan Clark, Charles Griggs, John Price

Lavant held their last training session on the 14th December at Chichester University’s All Weather pitch before the Christmas break and manager John Price let the players turn out in optional Christmas jumpers.

Also each player brought along Christmas selection boxes, which the club collectively donate to the kids ward at St Richard Hospital.

Lavant Football Club would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we hope to see you all in 2023, for the second half of the season, which begins again on the 7th January when we host Southern Combination Division 2 side Ferring in the Sussex Intermediate Cup. Kick-off 1.30pm.

James Hubbard shot from the edge of the box

Straight from kick-off both sides started this fixture at some pace and the first 30 minutes saw some good football played by both teams as the game was furiously contested at each end of the pitch.

But it was Lavant that finally broke the deadlock on 30 minutes as Josh Castle was quickest to react to George Cody’s shot, which smashed against and down off the visitors bar, to score from close range, 1-0.

Josh Castle should have claimed his brace just before half time, but the Barn’s Green keeper pulled off a great close range save to keep the score at one-nil to Lavant going into the break.

The second half was again evenly contested, but it was Lavant who extended their lead with a great strike from Aaron Hancock making it 2-0.

With 10 minutes remaining Barns Green pulled a goal back 2-1, but Lavant were able to hang on to the final whistle and bag all three valuable points, as well as ending the visitors unbeaten start to the season.

MOM: Aaron Hancock
Goal Scorers: Josh Castle, Aaron Hancock
Team: Luke Terry, Charles Griggs, Charles Selby (c), Danny Hillyer, Matt Little, Freddie Mercer,
James Hubbard, Levi Bentley, Aaron Hancock, Zac Moy, George Cody. Subs: Josh Castle, Billy Pope,
Mike Rogerson, Monty Morgan, Adam Yaxley.

Charlie Selby head’s in Lavant’s 5^th goal of the game

Lavant hosted championship side Horsham Crusaders in the 1^st round of the Centenary Cup on a very wet windy Saturday afternoon.

Within one minute from kick-off Lavant were one-nil up as they carved through the visitors defence with Zac Moy finishing of the move slotting the ball home past the keeper, 1-0.

Still suffering front the shock of conceding such an early goal the Crusaders struggled to get a foothold and on 20 minutes the homeside’s constant pressure paid off as James Hubbard’s delightful volley made it 2-0.

Two further goals followed in quick succession with a goal for Josh Castle and a second of the game for Moy.

With five minutes remaining of the first half Moy’s corner was met by captain Charlie Selby who headed in the homeside’s fifth goal of the half, 5-0.

Right on half-time Aaron Hancock scored the homeside’s sixth goal of the game, driving his shot home low into the corner, ensuring that on paper there was little chance of a Crusaders cup comeback, 6-0.

The second half saw Lavant make wholesale changes to the side and within 10 minutes of the re-start they extended their lead further as Moy’s through ball was met by sub Jordan Clark, who slotted home the ball past the outcoming keeper, 7-0.

Clark’s speed was causing real trouble up front as he beats the visitor back line to break down the right wing before picking out Mike Rogerson at the far post, to thump home Lavant’s eighth goal from close range, 8-0.

Castle added his second of the game and Lavant’s ninth before the final whistle, capping off an outstanding performance from the homeside, 9-0.

MOM: Zac Moy
Goal Scorers: Zac Moy x2, Josh Castle x2, James Hubbard, Charles Selby, Aaron Hancock, Jordan Clark, Mike Rogerson
Team: Luke Terry, Charles Griggs, Charles Selby (c), Jake O’Brennan, Matt Little, Freddie Mercer,
James Hubbard, Billy Pope, Josh Castle, Aaron Hancock, Zac Moy. Subs: Josh Hubbard, Mike Rogerson, Matt Dacombe, Jordan Clark, Danny Hillyer.

Lavant steadfastly defend their goal from another Sompting aerial attack

Saturday Lavant travelled the relatively short journey along the south coast to play Sompting, on a particularly balmy late October day.

Both teams started the game well, with the home side taking the more direct approach to attacking Lavant’s goal versus the visitors getting the ball on the ground, passing and moving the ball.  

With 20 minutes gone Josh Castle in on goal was denied a goal scoring opportunity as the outstretched foot of the Sompting defender just managed to but the ball out for a corner.

Sompting were a presenting an aerial treat up front especially from free kicks and corners and it was the home side which opened the scoring on 25 minutes after re-cycling the ball back into the box from a corner and heading in from close range, 1-0.

Within two minutes from the restart, Lavant were level as they worked the ball down the right flank and Aaron Hancock’s cross was met by Levi Bentley who thumped home the ball from 12 yards out, giving the keeper no chance, 1-1.

In the last quarter of the half Lancing again came close to taking the lead once more from another corner, but the goal bound header was denied by keeper Luke Terry.  Lavant should have then taken the lead minutes later as a Charles Selby header smashed off the cross bar from a corner.

But it was Lavant that finally broke the deadlock right on the stroke of halftime, once more Hancock breaking down the right flank and sending in a delightful cross into the box, which the Sompting keeper’s outstretched arms failed to intercepted, resulting in the ball falling kindly in the path of the waiting Bentley, who reacted quickest and score the open goal. 1-2

The second half was very much Lavant’s as they stepped up a gear moving the ball around the tight pitch and making Sompting work hard to contain the visitors and with 55 minute gone Castle’s hard work finally paid off, chasing down the loose ball in the box and scoring for the visitors, 1-3.

Two minutes later another great cross this time by Charles Griggs was met by in the box by Bentley who headed into the top corner of the goal sealed his hat-trick, 1-4.

The last 15 minutes Lavant exploited the gaps that were beginning to appear in a tired Sompting team and with 3 minutes remaining another great move from the visitors saw Mike Rogerson score Lavant’s fifth of the game, 1-5.

MOM: Levi Bentley
Goal Scorers: Levi Bentley x3, Josh Castle, Mike Rogerson
Team: Luke Terry, Charles Griggs, Charles Selby (c), Jake O’Brennan, Matt Little, Freddie Mercer,
James Sandford, James Hubbard, Josh Castle, Aaron Hancock, Levi Bentley. Subs: Billy Pope, Josh Hubbard, Mike Rogerson, Matt Dacombe, John price.

Barnham Trojans break the deadlock with 10 minutes to go, to the joy of the team and travelling supporters

Lavant 0 Barnham Trojans 1

Saturday Lavant hosted Championship side Barnham Trojans in the second round of the Malcolm Simmonds Cup.

The first half saw a evenly contest match with both sides playing some good possession football, but neither side being able to forge any clear cut chances and make the breakthrough and take the lead.

The second half started very much the same as both sides continued forge few clear cut chances.

With twenty minutes remaining and with extra time looming, the game opened up as both teams searched for the winner.

Then following pressure from the visitors with ten minutes remaining the deadlock was broken, as a looping shot by Ben Mepham on the edge of the box dropped into the top far corner of the goal beating keeper James Callnon, 0-1. All to the delight of the travelling Trojan spectators.

The final minutes of the game saw Lavant press for the equaliser with Barnham stoutly defending their goal and seeing out the final minutes to book themselves into the next round of the Malcolm Simmonds Cup.

MOM: Jake O’Brennan
Team: James Callnon, Charles Griggs, Charles Selby (c), Jake O’Brennan, Matt Little, Freddie Mercer,
James Sandford, James Hubbard, Josh Castle, Aaron Hancock, Levi Bentley. Subs: Billy Pope, Josh Hubbard, Monty Morgan, Harrison Mitchell, Lewis Fogden.

Rudgwick 2 Lavant 3

Lavant travelled to Rudgwick Saturday for another stiff test for the young side as they faced last seasons Premiership league runners up.

Both teams started the game cautiously, playing good possession football and not giving much away, but with the homeside having the advantage of the slope you would have expected them to break the deadlock, however as the half progressed it was Lavant that started to put pressure on Rudgwick’s goal.

With 35 minutes gone Zac Moy’s corner was met decisively by Lavant captain Charles Selby who headed an unstoppable goal giving Lavant a deserved one-nil lead.

Five minutes later Moy added another doubling the visitors lead going into half time two-nil up.

Almost straight from the re-start Lavant conceded a contentious penalty. Rudgwick converts the spot kick as they now get a foothold into the game, 1-2.

It’s all Rudgwick now as Lavant struggle to keep possession resulting in the homeside drawing level, 2-2.

Lavant now have to show real character as they gradually raise their game once more, before Levi Bentley restores the visitors lead 2-3, ending a fast and furious fifteen minutes of football.

Lavant again start to press the homeside goal and with 7 minutes remaining Bentley is through on goal before being brought down by the Rudgwick defender, a stonewall penalty, but the referee only awards a corner. Incensed by the decision Matt Lyttle continued to argue with the referee earning a 10 minute sin-bin as Lavant go down to 10 men for the remaining minutes of the game.

Minutes later further decent to the referee saw Moy receive a straight red, leaving the visitors now to see out the remaining minutes with just nine men.

Lavant defended their goal robustly for the remainder of the match seeing out the continuous onslaught from the homeside and at the final whistle, securing all three valuable away points.

Goals Scorers: Charles Selby, Zac Moy, Levi Bentley
MOM: Freddie Mercer
Team: Luke Terry, Charles Griggs, Charles Selby (c), Jake O’Brennan, Matt Little, Freddie Mercer,
James Sandford, James Hubbard, Josh Castle, Zac Moy, Levi Bentley. Subs: Billy Pope, Josh Hubbard, Adam Yaxley, Monty Morgan, Mike Rogerson.