Lavant FC – Keep It Yellow!
Malcom Simmonds Cup
Lavant 3 Hunston CC 1 (AET)
Premier Division
Cowfold 3 Wittering o
Holbrook 2 Predator 4
Newtown Villa 2 Faygate 3
Ockley 5 West Chiltington 2
Division IV South
West Chiltington Reserves 0 Lavant Reserves 1
Ajax Trees 4 The Unicorn 1
Tangmere 0 Chapel 6
Wittering Reserves 1 The nelson 4
Lavant proved to be a formidable force this weekend when they took on league strugglers FNK United.
After just 7 minutes The Lions were ahead. Richard Gabb passed to Adam Yaxley who took on and beat the left back. A cross to the far post was met by the in form Nick Eccles, who headed the ball into the goal. 0-1.
Only a minute later a Anthony Wills through ball to Ollie Haggar was taken out wide, then crossed to the incoming Stuart Loversidge who side footed to take it to 0-2.
Gabb was again involved when a lovely through ball into the path of Yaxley led to the third for Lavant. Yako took the ball into the area but his shot hit the keeper. ‘Luckily’ for the homeside a defender was on the line. The ball hit him and bounced back onto the keeper, Yaxleyand finally into the back of net. 0-3. (Yaxley’s goal?)
Just after the half hour mark, the ball was bouncing around in the FNK box. It was cleared, but only as far as Wills who was 20 yards out. A low, well struck drive made it to 0-4 to Lavant.
Half time saw a change. The fit again Matt Hine coming on for Carl Drinkwater.
It only took Hiner 5 minutes to get involved. Neat passes between himself, Haggar and Loversidge were opening the opposition even more. A ball down the wing was received by Haggar who crossed for Loversidge to net his 2nd of the game. 0-5.
A reshuffle in formation saw Chris Withall and Louis Weller on for Eccles and Anthony ‘Val Kilmer’ Wills.
Weller got straight to work. A nice run with the ball and a neat pass to Loversidge resulted in the keeper being rounded and a hat trick for the Lavant forward. 0-6.
A combination of passing bewtween Hine and Haggar and a well hit strike from the corner of the box bagged Haggar bagges him a deserved goal. 0-7
A disciplined, hard working, team effort from Lavant.
M.o.M.
Ollie Haggar
It must also be noted that Jason Houghton took to the stage to perform a beautiful salsa around the FNK striker. 7!
Team: Rob Baylis, Steve Williams, Carl Drinkwater, Jason houghton (c), Graham Fargagr, Richard Gabb, Anthony Wills, Adam yaxley, Stuart Loversidge, Ollie haggar, Nick Eccles. Subs: Chris Withall, Matt hine, Louis Weller.
| Date | Team | Opponents | Venue | Pitch | Kick- Off |
| 1st | Lavant | Hunston CC (Malcom Simmonds Cup) |
H | Village Green | 1.30pm |
| 1st | Lavant Reserves | West Chiltington Reserves | A | – | 2.00pm |
| 2nd | Lavant Sundays | No Game | – | – | – |
| 8th | Lavant | Nyetimber Pirates (Sussex Intermediate Cup) |
A | – | 1.30pm |
| 8th | Lavant Reserves | Ajax Trees | H | Raughmere Park | 2.00pm |
| 9th | Lavant Sundays | Whyke Utd | A | – | 11.02am |
| 15th | Lavant | No Game | – | – | – |
| 15th | Lavant Reserves | Wittering Reserves | H | Raughmere Park | 2.00pm |
| 16th | Lavant Sundays | Six Village Utd | A | – | 10.30am |
| 22nd | Lavant | Barns Green (Centenary Cup) |
H | Village Green | 1.30pm |
| 22nd | Lavant Reserves | No Game (But could get rescheduled) | – | – | – |
| 23rd | Lavant Sundays | Hunston CC | A | – | 10.30am |
| 29th | Lavant | Hunston CC | A | – | 2.00pm |
| 29th | Lavant Reserves | The Nelson | A | – | 2.00pm |
| 30th | Lavant Sundays | Westbourne | A | – | 10.30am |
Chichester & West Sussex Sunday League
FNK Utd 0 Lavant 7
Hunston CC 9 Whyke 2
LG Utd 1 BR Railway Club 2
The Claremont 1 Six Villages 5
Westbourne Club 3 Avisford Sports 4
Lavant (in red away kit sponsored by the Belle Isle) too strong in defence for Holbrook
Lavant returned to league action this weekend following a week’s break and run of cup fixtures with a journey to Horsham side Holbrook.
Conditions weren’t ideal for the Chichester side with the pitch suffering from the week’s rainfall which was bound to influence their passing game. It was Lavant that started the stronger and again it was Hancock on the right flank provided the outlet and having the beating of the opposing full back that was clearly out of his depth.
It was by this avenue where Lavant opened the scoring 15 minutes in, Hancock fired a low and hard cross in to the area only for the Holbrook centre half to divert into his own net, a finish any striker would be proud of.
As the half progressed, further chances fell to Baker and Sandford leading the line but Lavant failed to extend their lead before the break. This left the away side hoping their profligacy in front of goal wouldn’t cost them in the second half as the pitch deteriorated.
Matt Lyttle in to clear the ball up-field
The home side had shuffled the pack during the interval with the skipper now leading the line and from the outset clearly more effective. Lavant weathered any early Holbrook skirmishes and doubled their lead on the hour, a well delivered corner finding Lyttle at the far post who guided the ball back into the path of Sandford to smash home.
This settled Lavant who minutes later extended the advantage to three as Baker was set free down the inside left channel who calmly guided the ball round the outstretched keeper with the sweetest of finishes.
Lavant attack the Holbrook goal again dow the left flank
Credit to Holbrook as they still strived to cause Lavant problems and got their consolation goal 15 minutes from time with a fabulous header from their skipper. Despite the setback, Lavant weren’t finished yet; Sandford bagged his 2nd after showing great feet in the area and dancing past the opposing centre halves to hit home the goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Team: Rob Baylis, Richard Gabb, James Batten, Ben Purgavie, Matt Lyttle, Aaron Hancock, James Brooks, Dave Knight, Ollie Haggar, Dan Baker, James Sandford (c). Subs: Mike Neville, Alex Holmes.
Neil Latham attacking the ball
Not the best run up to a very big game with Lavant Reserves losing their keeper to the 1st Team on Friday morning along with Henry Polack pulling out (injured). Then Saturday Morning Dan Mortimer also pulling out (injured).
Tom parker was therefore selected to go in goal from no less than four volunteers, positions re-thought and nets put up and it was time to take on Ajax Trees who are unbeaten this season and top of of Division 4 South.
The game started well and it was clear that it was going to be a battle with the visitors challenging hard and challenging every decision until Referee Ricky Steed laid down the law in no uncertain terms.
With the referee now in certain control of the game the battle continued until the visitors broke the dead-lock on 15 minutes with a shot that went in off the inside of the post that stand-in keeper Parker could do nothing about.
Lavant regrouped and carried on with the task at hand with Lavant striker Lee Smith giving Ajax Trees defenders problems. Then on 39 minutes Greg Ayling score the equalizer and the task now turned to not conceding before the half time break, which Lavant succeeded to do.
The half time talk consisted of keeping the tempo and fight up and as the 2nd half started with Louis Weller on for Adam Yaxley, the game seem a lot more open with Lavant occasionally dropping in tempo but also missing a few chances the best of which was Lee Smith’s shot hitting the bar.
But it was Ajax Trees who eventually took the lead 1-2 in the 65th minute with a goal which left the defenders swapping quizzical looks and gestures with the assistant ref, but no flag was raised.
Neale Wattts on the ball
Lavant now chasing the game saw the introduction of Leon Mears for Lee Smith and later the introduction of Neale Watts for Don Polack but this couldnt stop Ajax Trees putting the game out of Lavant’s reach on 83 minutes with a speculative shot/thru ball from midfield which was intercepted by the striker inches in front of Lavant’s stand-in keeper and chipped into the net. The remaining 7 minutes saw Ajax protect their lead and running down the clock.
Final score 1-3 saw the end of this years Bareham Trophy crusade for Lavant Reserves.
Team: Tom Parker, Craig Spann, Neil Latham, Matt Grace, Ben Thomas, Adam Yaxley, Greg Ayling, Don Pollack, Pete Caveney, Lee Smith, Dave Maclean. Subs: Louis Weller, Neale Watts, Leon Mears.
West Sussex League
Premiership
Holbrook 1 Lavant 4
Cowfold 4 Henfield 1
Newtown Villa 1 Predators 5
Ockley 4 Upper Beeding 0
West Chiltington 2 Faygate 2
Wittering 4 Hunston CC 2
Division IV South
Chapel vs Wittering Reserves (HW)
Barehanm Trophy
Lavant Reserves 1 Ajax Trees 3
Horsham Baptists 5 West Chiltington Reserves
The Crown 6 Predators Reserves 1
The Unicorn 3 Lodsworth Reserves 0
Henry Pollack battles for the ball
Match Report to follow:
Team: Rob Baylis, Craig Spann, Neil Latham, Ben Thomas, Tom Parker, Henry Polack, Greg Ayling, Dave Maclean, Pete Caveney, Lee Smith. Subs: Alex Holmes, Don Pollack.
Neil Latham first to the ball
West Sussex League
Premiership
Holbrook 2 Upper Beeding 2
Malcolm Simmonds Cup
AFC Roffey 2 Newtown Villa 5
Cowfold 0 Nyetimber Pirates 3
Faygate 3 Partridge Green 1
Henfield 4 Lancing Utd 7 (AET)
Ockley 9 Wittering 2
Predators 4 West Chiltington 5 (Pens 4-4)
Division IV South
West Chiltington Res 1 Predators Res 1
Division IV Cup
Lavant Reserves 5 Rowfant Village 3
Chapel 4 Horsham Trinity Res 2
Plaistow 2 Ajax Trees 9
Rudgwick Res 3 Tangmere 0
The Nelson 3 Holbrook 3rds 1
The Unicorn 2 Capel 4
Chichester & District Sunday League
Division II
Lavant 1 Wyhke 1
Avisford Sports 5 FNK Utd 2
BR Railway Club 2 Six Villages 5
Hunston 1 The Claremont 5
LG Utd 0 Westbourne Club 3
Stedham’s pitch is great condition and adjacent their new club-house under construction
Lavant progressed to the next round of the Sussex Intermediate Cup after a 5-2 victory over division 1 side Stedham. It was clear from the outset that the hosts were more than happy to play the long ball and utilise the pace of their front men. However, the Lavant defence held firm as they looked themselves to impose their own game.
The away team soon settled with Hancock consistently an outlet on the right of midfield beating the opposing full back with ease. It was through this where Lavant broke the deadlock with Hancock beating his man and rifling a shot at the Stedham stopper only to parry into the path of Sandford to tap home.
Lavant continued to press on, looking to stretch their advantage but it was Stedham who scored next, a long ball up field in behind the Lavant defence and despite and good starting position from keeper Sanson managed to completely miss the ball allowing the Stedham striker to pass into the empty net.
Lavant continued to create chances and it was long until they were back in front with Sandford scoring his second of the game with ease as the keeper was poorly positioned. Next came the goal of the game, a free kick on the halfway line taken by Gabb who followed his pass and laid in on goal to hammer home.
With halftime looming Lavant further extended their lead, allowing Sandford to complete his hat-trick and his 8th goal in 2 games with a smart finish with the outside of his right boot.
The start of the second half saw Stedham fly out of the blocks and within minutes they cut the deficit to two with an unstoppable drive into the top left corner. With the early goal you would have thought that we were in for a real cup tie but instead the game turned into a slog. Poor football from both sides and continuous minor infringements stopped the game from having any real flow. Lavant then lost Knight after a clash of heads which worsened the cause.
Stedham were then reduced to 10 men after their substitute committed 2 bookable offences after only being on the field for 10 minutes. This eased the pressure on the visitors who put the game to bed late on with substitute Baker volleying home a Hancock cross.
Team: Neil Sanson, Richard Gabb, Ross Longland, Ben Purgavie, Jon Wright, Aaron Hancock, Mike Neville, James Brooks, Dave Knight, Ollie Haggar, James Sandford (c). Subs: Matt Lyttle, Dan Baker.
Greg Ayling sent flying by the Unicorn tackle
Team: Rob Baylis, Craig Spann, Neil Latham, Neale Watts, Ben Thomas, Tom Parker, Dan Mortimer, Greg Ayling, Pete Caveney, Lee Smith, Alex Holmes. Subs: Matt Grace, Henry Polark, Dave Maclean.
Pete Caveney breaksdown the left wing
Captain James Sandford scorer of five of the seven Lavant goals
Lavant showed they really mean business in the West Sussex Premier League this year after they trounced Faygate 7-1 away from home.
The lions started brightly and within ten minutes they had the lead. A marauding run by winger Aaron Hancock ended with him squaring the ball to James Sandford who cooly dummied the on-rushing keeper to tap into the empty net. Moments later it was two, Hancock again supplying Sandford whose crisp finish cannoned in off the post. Sandford completed his hat trick before half time by flicking a corner that took a slight deflection to beat the home goalie.
The goals kept coming after half-time, the fourth scored again by Sandford as he latched onto a poor clearance to slot home. Good work from Dave Knight brought about Lavant’s fifth as he expertly let the ball run past him to allow Sandford to swivel and volley home his and Lavant’s fifth from 12 yards.
Then came the only low point of the afternoon as Neil Sanson needlessly rushed out of goal to concede a penalty which was converted by the home side.
However, Lavant weren’t deterred and went on to score two more, the first from the spot after Sandford was felled in the area. Up stepped James Brooks and he put the penalty on a postage stamp into the top corner. Brooks then completed the scoring after a flowing move that started at the back. After being teed up by the excellent Knight he curled the ball beyond the reach of the despairing home goalie.
Lavant captain James Sandford spoke of his delight at the end of the game saying: ” I think today we showed that we are a force in this league. We want to be in the mix at the top of the table this year and this will hopefully give the squad the confidence to challenge.”
Lavant are next in action against Stedham in the Malcolm Simmonds cup. Kick off in Stedham is 3pm Saturday 11 October.
Team: Neil Sanson, Richard Gabb, Ross Longland, Ben Purgavie, Matt Lyttle, James Batten, Aaron Hancock, Mike Neville, James Brooks, Dave Knight, James Sandford (c). Subs: Jon Wright, Alex Holmes.
