Match Reports
12/11/05
Southwick 4 1-3 Men's 6th XI
Scorers - Dicky Barnes, Howard Harden (Pen) & Ollie Arkaah
Brighton lined up against a Southwick side struggling at the foot of the table. As if this weren't enough the visitors were hampered by a lack of numbers, playing most of the game with 10 Men. (That's 3 times this season we played short handed opposition, anyone would think other sides didn't like playing at the Fortress - ED.)
Unusually, Brighton came spiriting out of blocks, Southwick unable to cope with the home sides quick movement and ball retention. Early dominance turning into goals when the ball dropped to Dicky at the top of the D and he slotted home a fine low shot. After going ahead after only 5 minutes, Brighton continued to dominate, transfering the ball across the back and frequently creating good opportunities on both flanks. Sam & Myles playing high up the pitch, offering good support to Josh, Ollie and Tom in wide positions. Unfortunately, such dominance turned into a desire to walk the ball into the net and several good saves from the Southwick keeper started to frustrate the home side.
By the end of the first half, Brighton had sunk down their visitors level, requiring some serious words at half time as Brighton failed to ram home their expected advantage.
Despite this, the first 10 minutes of the second half went from bad to worse as the game descending into a succession of free hits as Southwick adopted direct, grass style tactics. Unfortunately, this worked when the visitors equalised, the centre forward touching a free hit past Kumar.
The equaliser prompted another period of Brighton territorial dominance. Dicky, Will and Hendo using the wide open spaces of midfield to good effect and Howie giving the visiting defence the run around. However, incident was never far away and Myles was yellowed for ungentlemanly conduct.
10 v 10 didn't put Brighton off however, yet another Brighton strike hit a defenders foot on the line and Howie roofed the resultant penalty stroke with apomb. Going 2-1 up finally broke Southwick's resistance and 2 minutes later Ollie finished from close range from Josh's cross to put Brighton 3-1 up.
Despite continued pressure, an attritional and fiesty encounter finished with a 3-1 home victory.
Ollie's Afro Watch - Just let your Souuuul Glooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!