Felpham 1 Lavant 6

After a frantic pre-season Lavant FC kick started their league fixtures away to Felpham Colts at King George V playing fields, Felpham Bognor Regis.

For a Council pitch there was plenty of grass and the pitch was in good condition. But the marking out of the pitch was a little questionable. Felpham just about roped off one side of the pitch and could only find 3 corner flags so they had to improvise

But Felpham from the kick off was not going to make it easy for the visitors and they worked exceptionally hard to contain Lavant who were constantly attacking the home sides goal.

The deadlock was broken by Lavant’s Zac Moy on on 8 minutes. 0-1.

Most of the first half Lavant were encamped in Felpham’s half, forging some good chances, but just not being able to find the final touch and score. But eventually with the hot weather telling on the home side the flood gates opened just before half time as goals in quick succession from George Cody, Aaron Hancock and James Hubbard, gave Lavant a comfortable four-nil lead going into half time. 0-4

Football is a game of two half’s and with Lavant making a number of changes and Felpham again coming out with a lot of determination from the re-start, the second 45 minutes were less rewarding for the visitors.

Further goals from George Cody and a first for the club from Harrison Mitchell saw Lavant add another two goals to their tally, but in between a sloppy back pass from James Hubbard put captain Charles Selby under unnecessary pressure in the box, resulting in him get a booking and giving away a penalty, which the Felpham striker despatched in the top corner giving goalkeeper Luke Terry, no chance. 1-6.

Team: Luke Terry, Mason Haga-Hammond, Matt Lyttle, Charles Selby (c), Jake O’Brennan, Aaron Hancock, James Hubbard, Kieran Dowell, Cam Corell , Zac Moy, George Cody.
Subs: Charles Griggs, Levi Bentley, James Sandford, Matt noble, Mitchell Harrison.
Management: John Price, Ash Rochester, John Wickenden

Upper Beeding 2 Lavant 1

Lavant first team opened their season with an away fixture to Upper Beeding Reserves.

Due to a number of reasons, seven of the first team squad were missing for this fixture and so Lavant were depleted in numbers, just managed to field a side with one sub.

That said the team worked together and started the game well, keeping their shape and giving Beeding few chances.

Lavant reworked the ball well and were quick to counterattack and one such move saw Andy Rickett break down the right hand side to cross low into the box where Justin Harrison neatly slotted home from 6 yard. 0-1

Lavant should have gone two nil up when Harrision got past the keeper and facing an empty goal somehow put the ball wide to the relief of the home side.

Lavant managed to hold onto the lead going into half time, but rode their luck, as perhaps the home side were unlucky not to get awarded a penalty when temporary keeper James Callnon took our the Beeding striker in the air, but the Referee adjudged it to be a fair 50-50 challenge, to the disbelief of the home team.

The second half saw Beeding come sprinting out the blocks forcing Lavant to defend for much of the half and were level within 5 minutes of the restart, as the ball bounced off the post and following a scrap in the 6 yard area the the ball was poked across the line. 1-1

With Lavant running out of steam and struggling with injuries, Upper Beeding after spells of continuous pressure took the lead from a long range shot into the top corner of the goal, giving keeper Lewis Fogden on chance. 2-1

Lavant came back into the game in an attempt to draw level, but Beeding used all their squad and were able to put on fresh legs and see out the remainder of the half to eventually claim all three points at the final whistle.

A tired Lavant were really disappointed after the game for not to at least coming away with draw, which was truly deserved on the day after a great team effort.

Team: Lewis Forden, Toby Young, James Callnon, Aaron Hancock, Charlie Cooper, Sam Baldwin, James Sandford, Tom Davy, Justin Harrison, Andy Ricketts, Max Barragan-Segre, Sam Wiggins

The West Sussex League begins on the 4th September and the league have issue currently the first weeks fixtures.

The First team are unfortunately without a game, but the Reserves are at home at Florence Rd  to The Unicorn Reserves and it is a 3.00pm KO.

Up the Lavant

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.

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

Division II South

Lavant FC kicked-off their pre-season schedule in early July in preparation for the new season starting on the 4th 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