Lavant 4 Pulborough 2

Malcom Simmonds Cup

Lavant division one side Pulborough in the Malcom Simmonds Cup this weekend and ran out comfortable 4-2 winners to progress into the next round.

The host didn’t have it all their own way as yet again they conceded first, a long ball down the throat of the Lavant defence was headed straight up by Purgavie and with little challenge on the second ball saw Boro loop a header home over Sanson.

Captain James Sandford skips the Pulborough Keepers sliding tackle

Despite the setback Lavant finally started to kick into gear and expose the Boro diamond formation with Hancock having a free run at Parkinson with his midfield offering little protection. It was from here that Lavant got themselves on level terms, a fabulous cross field ball from Gabb into the path of Hancock to then cross and then spectacularly volleyed home by Baker to score his first goal for the club.

Ten minutes later Lavant took the lead, again good work down the right hand side by Hancock finding Sandford at the far post to bundle home and see the host 2-1 up at halftime.

Lavant started the second as they finished the first and 5 minutes in saw Baker score his second and double the hosts lead with a cute finish at the near post.

Lavant go close again. Keeper beaten but Aaron Hancock just unable to add the finishing touch at the side of goal

Lavant continued to probe with Boro offering little attacking threat and 15 minutes from time saw Baker played through 1 on 1 and confidently finished low to the keepers right to complete his hat-trick and put the tie beyond doubt.

Boro managed little more than a consolation goal in stoppage time as Gabb committed an un-necessary foul in the Lavant box which was duly dispatched to make it 4-2.

Team: Neil Sanson, Ross Longland, James Batten, Ben Purgavie, Richard Gabb, Aaron Hancock, Mike Neville, James Brooks, Dave Knight, Dan Baker, James Sandford (c). Subs: Alex Holmes, Adam Yaxley.

Newtown Villa 5 Lavant 4

Lavant made the trip down the A259 to local rivals Newtown Villa resulting in 2 hat-tricks, 3 penalties and a 9 goal thriller.

The opening exchanges saw Newtown boss the game, their extra man in the midfield was telling and the physical presence of Russell up front was effective as ever. However, Lavant began to settle but soon calamity struck, a long ball sent into the area by Newtown and with neither keeper Sanson nor defender Batten taking control of the situation saw Russell collect the ball and pass into the empty net. Shortly after Lavant had a further blow losing the in-form Knight from the centre of midfield who had been suffering from illness prior to the fixture.

Aaron Hancock on the ball (picture provided by kind permission of the Chichester Observer)

The change allowed Lavant the opportunity to change their system and counter the Newtown 3-5-2 formation by bringing on a third striker to replace Knight and play the 3 up against the Newtown back line. This positive change paid dividends, the high pressing and movement of Haggar, Sandford and Baker caused the defence all sorts of issues. It wasn’t long until Lavant were back on level terms, Haggar managing to weave his way into the opposition area only to be hacked from behind and winning a penalty kick which was confidently converted by Brooks.

James Batten challenges for the ball, as James Sandford look on (picture provided by kind permission of the Chichester Observer)

Lavant continued to enjoy a dominant spell of the game and soon took the lead, a cute through ball into Brooks who calmly rounded the keeper to slot home his second.

Lavant looked set to reach the break deservedly in front until Newtown won their own penalty kick after Neville was adjudged to of fouled Russell as he broke into the area which he dispatched past Sanson – 2-2 at halftime.

The second half saw Lavant continue to press the Newtown back line, hunting the ball down high up the pitch. Although this approach was creating opportunities the Lavant backline was left exposed at times and this eventually led to Newtown retaking the lead, a good delivery in from the right saw Russell head home his and third and complete his hat-trick.

The lead saw Newtown change their formation and revert to a back four and take the space away from the Lavant front men. Lavant continued to push on to get back on level terms but in their quest to do so Newtown put Lavant to the sword and further extended their lead on two occasions to stretch their lead to 5-2. Surely the Chichester side was dead and buried.

Credit to Lavant, they persevered and continued press and with 5 minutes to play substitute Holmes was played in by Brooks to fire home past the Newtown stopper. There was an air of optimism through the Lavant ranks and Newtown looked all the nervier, was there enough time to salvage anything. As the game entered stoppage time Haggar was again felled in the area and again Brooks stepped up and converted to seal his hat-trick.

Ollie Haggar beats the tackle to be through on goal (picture provided by kind permission of the Chichester Observer)

A dramatic finish looked on the cards back sadly the visitors came away with nothing when perhaps a share of the spoils would’ve been a fair result.

Team: Neil Sanson, James Batten, Matt Lyttle, Ben Purgavie, Jon Wright, Aaron Hancock, Mike Neville, James Brooks, Dave Knight, Ollie Haggar, James Sandford (c). Subs: Alex Holmes, Ross Longland, Dan Baker

Wittering have withdrawn from the Sunday league with immediate effect.

The Division 1 side were due to play Lavant in the Charity Cup on the 28th September.

So Lavant now have a bye into the next round of the cup and a Sunday off as there is no rearranged fixture planned.

Premier League
Newtown Villa 5 Lavant 4
Ockley 0 Henfield 3
Wittering 1 Faygate 4

Malcolm Simmonds Cup
Cowfold 2 Alfold 0
Hunston 3 East Dean 2
Predators 3 Upper Beeding 0
Southwater 2 Holbrook 0
West Chiltington 9 Rudwick 0

Divsion IV South
Wittering Reserves 0 Lavant Reserves 3
Ajax Trees 4 Tangmere 2
The Unicorn 9 Predators Reserves 0
Horsham Sparrows Mens 1 The Nelson 2
Pulborough Reserves 5 West Chiltington Reserves 0

Dont forget to get your order in for new LFC Training kit to Matt Lyttle.

Crowborough Athletic U21 0 Lavant 4
(Sussex Intermediate Cup)

Saturday saw Lavant make the journey across Sussex to face Crowborough Athletic U21’s from the Suburban Football League.

With the home side being the much younger it was important that Lavant used their experience and were happy to be patient ensuring that men were behind the ball and pressing as a unit to break down the Crowborough passing game. This meant in the opening exchanges Crowborough had the better of the possession but due to a good compact shape from the Chichester side, they did little with it.

Lavant corner, with James Sandford’s diving header just going wide of the Crowborough goal

Lavant gradually started to grow into the game with Hancock being a constant and useful outlet on the right hand side. Lavant had to still be on their toes as the Crowborough winger on the opposite flank, Theo Cunningham, was equally as dangerous and Lavant full back Jon Wright done well to marshal the continuous threat.

The remainder of the half was played out as a scrappy affair with the referee stopping play for any minor indiscretion.

Lavant’s Arron Hancock skips past the Crowborough tackle

The second half saw Lavant set about their task as they did the 1^st with a couple of minor tactical changes which included a swap in flanks between Hancock and Neville. This was to prove pivotal 5 minutes in, Hancock drove inside to let fly with a ferocious right footed strike from 25 yards leaving the Crowborough keeper with no chance as it sailed into the top corner.

This was a massive turning point in the game, the visitors buoyed by such a goal continued to press and bully their opposition and 10 minutes later they made it 2. Sandford managed to beat the last defender and then calmly slotted past the oncoming keeper to open his account for the season.

Credit to Crowborough they didn’t lay down at this point, the continued threat of Theo Cunningham oh so nearly got them back in the game after finally breaking through the Lavant line only to shoot wide. This was a let off and promptly Lavant altered their shape withdrawing Neville and bringing on Holmes to shore up the midfield.

However, this didn’t stop Lavant creating chances and their 3^rd came 5 minutes from time. A direct free kick dispatched by Lyttle with the Crowborough wall all at sea.

The 4^th came only minutes later following some neat footwork in the area by Haggar and hammered home to ensure it was Lavant who carried on into the next round in what was a very assured and effective performance.

Team: Neil Sanson, Richard Gabb, Matt Lyttle, James Batten, Jon Wright, Aaron Hancock, Mike Neville, James Brooks, Dave Knight, Ollie Haggar, James Sandford (c). Subs: Alex Holmes, Ben Purgavie.

Lavant Reserves 3 Chapel 2
Division IV South

Recently promoted Chapel came to Raughmere Park off the back of a previous weeks 6-6 draw,

Lavant started clearly the better side as Chapel slowly settled into the game. On 10 minutes striker Pete Caveney opened the scoring with a majestic cross goal shot from an acute angle, 1-0. After this Chapel settled further into their game, although Lavant should have extended their lead with a series of headers from corners and crosses going agonisingly close. First half ended 1-0.

With slight doubts creeping into the minds of the Lavant side the second half began, Lavant not so dominant now with Chapel’s long ball tactics unsettling the Lavant defenders at times. A 55^th minute Matt Stevens goal started to settle nerves giving Lavant a two goal cushion but shortly after that Chapel were awarded a somewhat soft penalty given away by Tom Parker. They scored the pen and now nerves returned during a dominant spell for the visitors and it wasn’t too long before they score the equalizer, had the wheels fallen off Lavants good start to the season?

Lavant re grouped and with a slight shuffle of the midfield and a introduction of substitutes Craig Spann and Leon Mears and Lavant regained a foothold in the game, threatening the Chapel goal once more and on one attack the Chapel defender lunged in catching Caveney, conceding a penalty. Greg Ayling scored the penalty confidently giving Lavant a narrow 3-2 lead

It was now time for the home side to shore up the midfield and protect their slim lead.  Don Polack was dispatched to midfield from the bench at the cost of a striker and Lavant saw out the final minutes with possession football and resolute pressure to break up any Chapel hopes of another equilizer.

Man of the match Matt Stevens.

Team: Rob Baylis, Martin Smith, Neil Latham, Ben Thomas (c), Tom parker, Louis Weller, Adam Yaxley, Lee Smith, Pete Caveney, Greg Ayling.  Subs: Craig Spann, Leon Mears, Don Polack

Division II
LG Utd 4 Lavant 4
Avisford Sports 2 Whyke 1
BR Railway Club 3 The Claremont 6
FNK Utd 0 Six Villages 1
Hunston CC 2 Westbourne Club 4

Its a Yellow Weekend

Sussex Intermediate Cup
Crowborough Athletic 0 Lavant 4
AFC Uckfield 2 Wittering 4
Burgess Hill Town 0 Cowfold 1
Cuckfield Rangers 5 Henfield 1
Predators 2 Boys Brigade OB 0
Wick & Barnham 1 Upper Beeding 0

Premier Division
Hunston CC 2 Faygate 2
Newtown Villa 2 West Chiltington 0
Ockley 4 Holbrook 3

Division IV South
Lavant 3 Chapel 2
Tangmere 1 Predators Reserves 4
The Nelson 0 Ajax Trees 3
The Unicorn 1 Wittering Reserves 0

Divsion II
Lavant 1 Hunston CC 3
BR Railway Club 2 Avisford Sports 6
LG Utd vs Whyke Utd HW
The Claremont 13 FHK Utd 0
WestbourneClub 1 Six Villages Utd 6