Category: News 2019 / 2020

Covid 19 Pandemic Strikes

In March the Village Hall and Changing Rooms were closed due to the high local water table levels and issues with the foul drainage, the responsibility of Southern Water. It was hoped the hall would be back in use by the end of March latest.
So where there was a home fixture Lavant would try to swap fixtures or hire alternative pitches.

6th March, the West Sussex League Committee reluctantly took the decision to abandon this seasons Cup Competitions.  This decision had not been taken lightly but in view of the continuing bad weather there is just not enough playing time to allow these competitions to come to a conclusion. Entries for this seasons competition will will carried forward to next season at no cost.

13th March, the league notified the clubs that the league would still continue at present but Sussex County FA had noted that increased numbers of football clubs had players who are ‘self isolating’ due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, in which case it is probably prudent to postpone matches in which these players may have been anticipating taking part in.  At this stage it is impossible to anticipate what the effect the Pandemic will have on the season as a whole.

14th March, Lavant First team played their last fixture of the season away to Nyetimber Pirates at the Arun Leisure Centre on the 3G Pitch.
Lavant lost the game 1-0.  Man of the Match was Matt Lyttle.

16th March, the Prime Minister (PM) announced “now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact and travel.”

17th March, Statement from the FA & Sussex County FA, stated that all Grassroots football is postponed for the foreseeable future, this includes friendlies and training, with IMMEDIATE effect

23rd March, the PM announces the first lockdown in the UK, ordering people to stay at home. He also expected to the UK can “turn the tide of coronavirus in 12 weeks.”

25 March, Coronavirus Act 2020 gets Royal Assent and on the 26th March, Lockdown measures legally come into force.

26th March, The FA decides that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019/20 season and issues the following statement.

For 2019/2020 Season  – COVID-19 pandemic puts a close to the grassroots football season.

The FA has decided that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019/20 season.  Since the outbreak of COVID-19 The FA has been working on how to conclude the 2019/20 season in the most appropriate way possible. This resolution will allow the game to move forward and to commence planning for next season.

We will be supporting all of our grassroots leagues over the coming days to determine how they should close out their current competitions.

With our County Cup competitions all at advanced stages, we are reviewing all options as we seek to try and complete these competitions if it is safe and appropriate to do so. Clubs involved are close to reaching a major Final and for those clubs and supporters we will do all we can to try and keep the Cup Final dream alive. We will be communicating further on this in due course…

These are challenging circumstances for English football and all decisions taken are in the best interests of the game and in consultation across key stakeholders. The FA’s primary concern will always be for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time.

Today’s steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, whilst considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided, with the integrity of the Leagues in mind.

Throughout this period The FA continues to seek guidance in respect of the Government’s financial support packages relative to COVID-19 and how they are applicable to clubs in the National League System (NLS), the Women’s Football Pyramid and the wider grassroots game.

2nd April, The WEST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE; Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting stated:

We can confirm that all football is cancelled as per The FA instruction, this has been circulated to all clubs.

RECOMMENDATION; In view of the declaration by the FA the Committee determined that the league season is declared void and all results be expunged with no trophies or awards presented. Hopefully the 2020/21 season can start as normal Aug/Sept 2020.

The ‘FINAL’ tables for games played can be viewed below:

Premier Division

Pos Team P W D L GD PTS
1 Southwater 13 7 2 4 9 23
2 Capel 8 5 2 1 14 17
3 The Unicorn Bognor Regis 7 5 1 1 9 16
4 West Chiltington 6 4 2 0 9 14
5 Newtown Villa 11 4 1 6 -11 13
6 Nyetimber Pirates 6 4 0 2 2 12
7 Lavant First 9 2 1 6 -13 7
8 Steyning Town Community Reserves 12 0 1 11 -19 1
9 Angmering Saturday 0 0 0 0 0 0

Division II South

Pos Team P W D L GD PTS
1 Harting 13 9 1 3 11 28
2 Barnham Trojans 10 8 0 2 23 24
3 Whyke United 15 6 4 5 -2 19 *
4 Yapton 13 5 2 6 1 17
5 Milland 12 4 3 5 6 15
6 AFC Southbourne Saturday 9 4 2 3 6 14
7 Storrington Community Reserves 9 4 1 4 8 13
8 Lavant Reserves 10 3 1 6 -10 9 *
9 Felpham Colts Mens 15 3 0 12 -43 9

 

Wet Winter is taking its Toll

February’s fixtures have been nearly a total washed-out due to the wet weather.

Of a total of possible 10 fixtures in the month, 5 where postponed due to the weather, 2 the club had no appointed fixture, 1 game the Reserves were unable to field a team and that just left only two fixtures played in the month and both on all-weather pitches.  The first team played away at Steyning Town Reserves at the start of February winning two-nil and the Reserves played away to Felpham Colts on the Arena All Weather pitch at Bognor Regis at the very end of Februaryl winning five-two.

To add to the problems for the last two weeks of February the village hall has been closed due to foul drainage problems in the main road outside, flooding the car park and backing up the drains. Until the local water table goes down and the drains are clear the hall remains closed, which include the changing rooms.

As we now go into March and allegedly the start of Spring we are hopefully for drier weather and especially next week so the hall and changing rooms can reopen. At this point the first team have 7 games (4 home and 3 away), 6 in the league and 1 in the Malcolm Simmonds Cup second round. The Reserves have 6 league games remaining (4 home and 2 away).

The West Sussex League along with the Southern Combination League have agreed to now extend the season to the 16th May.

Angmering withdraw from the West Sussex Premier League

Angmering have formally withdrawn from the Premier League following the resignation of their manager and the loss of a number of players.

They are the second team this season to withdrawn from the Premier League following Horsham Olympic at the very start of the season.  The League is now down to just eight teams.

The league table has been adjusted to reflect their withdrawal from the league. Lavant are still at the foot of the table now on the same points as Steyning Town Reserves with both having played five league games each.

So in the league Lavant have nine games to play, four away games and six home games.

The in the Cup Competitions the first team are out of the Sussex Intermediate Cup , but are still in the Malcolm Simmonds Cup and the Centenary Cup.

Likelihood the rearranged 1st round Centenary Cup fixture away to Barns Green will be played the first weekend of December. With the winners facing a home fixture to Capel.

And in the Malcolm Simmonds Cup a re-arranged first round home fixture against Cowfold Reserves is likely to be in January.  With the winners going away to Westcott (1935).

Fixture Changes for the last two weeks in November

As a result of Sussex Junior Cup rescheduling the last two weeks of November has seen both sides without a fixture for the 23rd November and the Reserves now with a home fixture on the 30th November to play AFC Acorns from Crawley in the Sussex Junior Cup.

After two failed bids to play the Sussex Junior Cup fixture away to AFC Acorns in the month, this fixture takes priority over West Sussex League fixtures and on the third occasion reverts to the away’s team’s home ground.
Raughmere Park.

The fixture was planned initially for the 23rd of November so the previous fixtures were cancelled, then only to find from Sussex FA that in fact the fixture would actually be played the following weekend.

The result is no football on the 23rd for either team and the Sussex Junior Cup fixture reverts to the Reserves playing at home on the 30th November.

But guess should also add weather permitting as November’s fixtures have been effected by the heavy rainfall in month.

 

Match Reports 5th October

Almost a Yellow Weekend

West Chiltington 1 Lavant 1

Lavant first team earned a well-deserved point from Saturday’s game drawing 1-1 away to the league champions.

The first half was an evenly fought affair with Lavant keeping their shape and being well organised at the back, stifling out the home teams attempts on goal. Whilst also being quick to counter attack. And with 30 minutes gone Jordon Clarke broke through the home sides defence, rounded the keeper and score into the empty net, 0-1.

The second half was again an evenly matched game as Lavant pressed once more Clarke breaking down the right flank and squaring back across the six yard box for James Sandford to make it two-nil.  Only to somehow be adjudged to just be offsite.

West Chiltington reacted to this close call by urgently pressing forward in search of the equaliser.  With fifteen minutes remaining they finally got the breakthrough with a shot just inside the box eluding everyone and the keeper to draw level, 1-1.

Lavant saw out the remainder of the match and should have been happy at the final whistle with a draw, away from home against one of the top Premiership teams, but there was real disappointment that they never secured the three points.

Team:
Craig Hiller, Matt Grace, Matt Dacombe, Aaron Hancock, Matt Lyttle, James Brooks (c), Monty Morgan, Tom Gray, Jordan Clarke, James Sandford, Ilya Donets. Subs: Jordan Donovan, Ash Court, Harry Knight.

Lavant Reserves 2 Yapton 1
Sussex Junior Cup

The Reserves hosted local rivals Yapton in the first round of the Sussex Junior Cup and this match on paper had a typical local derby game written all over it and it proved to be the case with a player from both sides being sent off in the latter stages of this hard fought game.

The first half saw Lavant create a number of good chances to take the lead early on with both Olli Hamlett and Tim Dockerill coming close to opening the scoring for the home side. But it was James Hubbard on 20 minute who finally broke the deadlock, as his 25 yard shot slipped through the legs of the keeper and in, 1-0, giving Lavant a deserved lead going into half time.

The second half saw Lavant push forward seeking the second goal, whilst Yapton adopted a more direct approach, playing the long ball game to their strikers up front. And it was Yapton’s game plan that payed off as Adam Yaxley was caught in position of the ball allowing Matthews to react quickest and beat Ash Rochester in goal to draw level. 1-1

Lavant after conceding, immediately picked up their game once more and bossed large parts of the remainder of the second half, before Zac Moy’s unstoppable shot from the edge of the box gave the hosts the lead once more. 2-1

In fact Yapton found it hard to contain Moy all afternoon, so the visitors resorted to stopping him via other means and after a number of fouls, another late tackle from Retter on Moy saw both players reacting and eventually being sent off by referee Ken Vickery with ten minutes of the match remaining.

Lavant saw out the final minutes of the game to secure a second round tie away to AFC Acorns from Crawley on the 2nd November.

Team:
Ash Rochester, Ben Price, Joe Newton, John Price (c), Jonothon Loe, James Hubbart, James Hockin, Adam Yaxley, Tim Dockerill, Zac Moy, Olli Hamlett. Subs: Curtis Searle-Lunnon, Darren Cox, Ollie Hamlett, Lewis Fogden, Darnell Patrick.

Match Report 28th September

Goal-Fest At Raughmere Park

Darren Cox chasing down the ball

Lavant Reserves 6 Wisborough Green Reserves 5

Lavant start well and took immediate control the game as the first quarter of an hour saw them camped in the visitors half. Zac Moy came close to opening the scoring after five minutes, with his shot just wide of the right post and minutes later Tim Dockerill clear through on goal squared the ball to Moy who’s should have given Lavant an early lead, but frustratingly for the striker the shot went just wide of the goal again.

So it was really against the run of play that Wisborough Green on their first attack of the game gained and converted the penalty, after Dave Kennard was adjudged to commit a foul just inside the box. 0-1

Lavant were level 5 minutes later as a through ball by James Hubbard, let Dockerill get clear of the defence before lobbing the out-coming  keeper. 1-1

With 30 minutes gone Lavant should have taken the lead as once more Moy broke free on goal, but his shot was again agonisingly wide of the post.  Then minutes later another clumsy tackle down the other end of the pitch, just outside the Lavant box gave the visitors another opportunity from a dead ball situation, which they took beating the outstretched Lewis Fogden, to take the lead once more. 1-2

The remaining ten minutes of the half saw Lavant once more push forward, taking the game to the visitors and with minutes to go to half time a great move starting with Kennard breaking down the right flank, squaring the ball across the box into James Scutt who pulled the ball back into the oncoming Moy who shot from just outside the box scoring into the top corner. 2-2

Lavant attacking Wisborough Green’s goal

The second half saw Lavant immediately push forward once more, with Moy giving Lavant the lead for the first time in the game, two minutes into the half. 3-2

Much of the second half saw both sides have chances to score and with Lavant making five changes in the half the team’s balance was somewhat changed, somewhat stifling  their chances of getting a two goal lead, with their best chance falling to Dockerill whose shot clipped the bar from long range.

So with five minutes remaining as Lavant settled for working down the clock, a mistake between Curtis Searle and keeper Fogden gifted the visitors a walk-in equaliser, ensuring the cup game would go to extra time. 3-3

Extra time saw the visitors take the lead once more as their striker latching onto a Lavant short back pass scoring past the stranded keeper. 4-3.

Lavant on the attack again

Then with five minutes remaining Dockerill once more clear through rounded the keeper before being taken out and winning a penalty, with the keeper escaping with only a yellow card. James Hubbard’s  spot kick low to the right was met by the keeper but thankfully the ball still ended up in the back of the net as Lavant drew level once more. 4-4

Following the break and a roasting from manager Adam Yaxley and captain John Price, Lavant once more forced the visitors back into their own half. A long range shot from Hubbard was only palmed away by the keeper allowing Ollie Hamlett to react quickest and score from close range. 5-4.

Minutes later Moy once more beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper to walk the ball into the gaol, giving Lavant for the first time in the game a two goal lead.

But Wisborough Green never gave up until the final whistle and following a flurry of corners, one finally paid off heading in from close range past Yaxley at the far side of the goal. 6-5.

From the restart Lavant held onto the ball and saw out the remaining two minutes of extra time. Thankfully averting a penalty shootout and booking their place into the next round of the Chichester Charity Cup .

Team:
Lewis Fogden, Dave Kennard, Joe Newton, Darnell Patrick, (C) John Price, James Scutt, James Hubbart, Adam Yaxley, Tim Dockerill, Zac Moy, Ben Price. Subs: Curtis Searle-Lunnon, Darren Cox, Robbie Lake, Sam Chatfield, Ollie Hamlett.

Game over and into the next round to face Felpham Colts Mens away on the 23rd November

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LavantFC
lavantfc Lavant FC @lavantfc ·
20 Apr

Billingshurst score a great headed home goal from Ben Homer’s cross for Lavant’s 8th of the game, 0-8.
And 2 minutes later Charles Selby makes it nine- nil, 0-9.
Final score Billingshurst 0, Lavant 9.

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lavantfc Lavant FC @lavantfc ·
20 Apr

Lavant’s 6th goal is scored by captain Charles Selby following Matt Lyttle audacious overhead kick, 0-6
81 minutes gone and George Cody claims his second of the game, 0-7

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lavantfc Lavant FC @lavantfc ·
20 Apr

Three minutes later Jake O’Brennan hits the post almost claiming his hat-trick. And that is what happened on 72 minutes as Jake claims his well deserved third goal and Lavant fifth, 0-5.

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lavantfc Lavant FC @lavantfc ·
20 Apr

54 minutes gone and Lavant score their fourth and best of the game so far, as Levi Bentley, finds Aaron Hancock on the right wing, who’s cross in the box is met Jake O’Brennan to score his second of the game, 0-4.

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