match reports
Butters team slip up in the cup
Hikers Rest 2 - 1 Old V's
Simon Butterfield's 1st team exited the SCFA Intermediate Cup in the 2nd round on Saturday after a lack-lustre performance against Hikers BHA. On a poor pitch at Stammer Park the Vs took the lead in the 9th minute after a great move down the left involving Iain Sallis and clinically finished first time by Dave Phillips. The Vs had a very good first 15 mins and could have gone 2 0 up which would have put a very different complexion on the game. However after this period the Vs couldn’t get the ball on the floor and play the attractive football they did at the start of the game. This gave Hikers BHA some hope and they duly equalised before half time after some promising approach play down both flanks.
In the 2nd half Hikers BHA had the majority of the possession and attacks on goal. It was against the run of play that the Old Vs went back ahead in the 60th minute through Pablo Garcia “es muy fria aqui” Lopez. Even after this goal the Vs only had a few promising moves throughout the second half. Hikers BHA, even at 2 - 1 down, had more desire and duly equalised in the 78th minute. This fired them up even more and it was no real surprise when they scored what turned out to be the winner in the 82nd minute. Missing James Mason through injury, this really was not the Vs day, especially when a third goal for the Vs was ruled out for offside in the last few minutes of the game. With the referee spoiling the game with many bizarre and unnecessary stoppages and with darkness approaching, the Vs travelling fans (Norman Wright) were somewhat glad that the game did not enter extra time. Another possibility for this lack-lustre performance was that the Vs were half thinking about the Xmas do in the evening - or was it because Badger was being a complete woman (well he is on Wednesday’s down Revenge) by staying in his vehicle to watch the game instead of being by the touch line hurling the usual abuse which seems to work most Saturdays. That being said, the Old Vs did not show enough grit and backbone on this occasion - something Ricky Lenton would have had bags of if only he was given the opportunity to enter the fray. “Now at least we can concentrate on the league and the Xmas do”, reflected Norman Wright and Ant Faulkner after the game.
AFC Ringmer 2 - 1 Old V's II
The jinx of AFC Ringmer continues as they beat us 2-1 in the Junior Cup. Yet again we had a close game and there was little to choose between the two teams. Mike Setters hit the bar with a far post header and we started the first 25 minutes brightly. AFC Ringmer gradually got going after a slow start and were awarded a penalty which Stu managed to save with his trailing foot. Five minutes later we were lucky not to conceded another penalty when Matt Ryan used his upper arm to usher the ball out for a corner. Ringmer opened the scoring when our nemisis Goble finished from close range but from the kick off a good move involving Mike and debut boy Tom O'Brien resulted in a clinical finish from old man Bridges, from 1 yard. Ringmer took thelead 10 minutes later with a goal effected by the blinding sunlight, as Ben lost sight of the ball and headed it backwards for their centre half to dispatch.The second half saw both sides huff and puff for 20 minutes with no real opportunities. Eddie came on to give our midfield more bite immediately three crunching challenges and Louis, on for Gary, kept the ball well on the left. A Jay Tostevin freekick slammed against the bar and Seb managed to miss the target from 5 yards. AFC Ringmer always looked dangerous on thebreak as we pushed forward for the elusive equalizer. In the last minute acorner saw everyone including Stu congregate in their area only for the ballto hit the post and go out. Game over. The ref performed well and let thegame flow. Good luck to AFC Ringmer and thanks for knocking us out of thecup... Again! MOM Jay Tostevin.
Wood saved from the chop by Harrybo.
Old V's III 5 - 2 Crowborough
In contrast to the 1s and 2s, the 3rds excelled in a 7 goal thriller on the hallowed Wembley like 3g pitch. Keeper Will Izod made a great save during the warm up which broke his finger. He could not start the game and Andy Joinson ended up starting in goal. Steve Low, Adriano Soriano, and Chris Lee scored the first 3 Vs goals. It was nip and tuck and 3-2 and with the ref wearing glasses it could have gone either way with Crowborough coming close to equalising. However after a good move down the left in the 88th minute Zac Wood, clearly heeding the instructions from the bench to take two touches, scored the Vs fourth with two sublime touches, the second of which thundered the ball into the top left hand corner from 12 yards out despite being closely marked. A fifth came along seconds later through Brian Dalton after Nigel “nipper” Pamplin created the move from the centre of midfield. Nigel moved and jinked through the whole match, and at certain points we weren’t sure whether he knew which team he was on, moving from defence to attack and doing a pirouette in the centre of the park. A sixth almost arrived, and the Vs notched their 5th win of the season to end 5th in the table.
results - 28th nov
Old V's 4 - 2 Hassocks III
The first team continued their fine run of wins with an important victory. In cold and wet conditions they started well, playing good football and attacking from the start. After 20 minutes Pablo Garcia-Lopez was fed in on the left wing, and produced a fine cross to the far post, which Iain Sallis managed to squeeze into the net. Old V's continued to dominate the game, hitting the bar twice. On the stroke of half time Sallis scored his second goal with a fine finish, when some thought he should have passed (Matt Kelly was particular miffed). Unbelievably, that was Iain's sixth goal in four games, two of which he came on as sub for the last 10mins. The second half, typically, started poorly for Old V's, conceding two sloppy goals. However, two penalties from Simon Butterfield sealed the win - Flair won the first to cap a good performance and Matt Waterman the second. Combined age of the goalscorers was over 70...... Old Varndeanians indeed.
Old V's III 3 - 4 Scaynes Hill
A disappointing loss hinged around a disputed penalty. After going 1-0 down Old V's began to get into the game when an innocuous looking clearance from Loz was deemed to be a foul, as there centre forward fell over Loz's leg. Penalty. Goal. 2-0. After that we were chasing the game and despite Tom getting us back to 2-1 in the second half Scayne's Hill scored twice to euphoric shouts with their number 9 a constant threat. Harry made a couple of substitutions and they both scored. Colin Morris back from suspension drilled in our second and Andy thumped in our third to set up a hectic last ten minutes. However Scaynes Hill came closest to scoring another goal and had made more chances during the game to win the match.
results - 21st nov
Old V's II 3 - 3 Wisdom Sports II
Short of the three riders coming over the horizon these were apolytic conditions with the rain driving in horizontally and gale force winds blowing the ball in all directions. Before the game the dug out was sheared off its hinges and blown over. Amazingly in these gale force conditions some football was played. Matt Waterman opened up his legs (not for the first time) and buried a sweet shot only for Wisdoms to hit back with a wind assisted shot and a bizarre goal where from a corner the ball hit the bar came out and was blown in through Ant's distraught legs. Rob Burnham trundled around the pitch kicking thin air and all in all we lost the plot. Ant was kicked off the ball by their centre forward who complained his little toes had been trodden upon. The ref booked them both. Jay made a rallying call at half time to get back at them. We immediately went 3-1 down. With the Wisdom bench jumping around, and their players losing their discipline we somehow managed to get back into the match. Flair started running the show and with a classic Old V's move involving Jake, Eddie, Bridges and Waterman he ran into open space to clinically finish. A blatent penalty shout was turned down and then a unblatent penalty shout was given for handball. Up steps Flair 3-3. A deserved point in unbelievable conditions with the ref at the end in a running argument with their supporters and management.
Old V's II 4 - 0 Buxted
After a non-descript first half where neither side created many changes, Old V's came out second half with a bit more purpose and cutting edge. Louis Jones, making his second team debut, opened the scoring for us with a cooly taken goal after a good move and then Mike Setters,on as sub, made an immediate impact to score the second. Louis added his second goal in the 75 minute finishing well when he was one on one with the keeper and there was still time for Rob Burnham to strike a thunderbolt with his trusty rightfoot. The defence played looked solid with Simon Rea dictating proceedings which gave us the platform for a well earned win.
Crawley Down III 2 - 4 Old V's
Matt Waterman scored from a free kick. J. Mason scored the goal of the season (by all accounts), controlling the ball on his chest and smashing the ball in from the halfway line... on the volley. Iain Sallis scored the two winning goals after the Old V's again started the second half poorly and conceded two goals.
results - 7th nov
Forest Row 0 - 2 Old V's
Strange game in which the referee seemed to lose the plot, sending off four players in the last twenty minutes (three from Forest Row, and Ricky Lenton from Old V's for two yellows, one for dissent). It didn't seem a particularly dirty game, but Forest Row's reputation seemed to have caught up with them, and the referee has no qualms about dishing out straight red cards. Old V's dominated the game in truth and it was only fine goalkeeping which kept the score down. Simon Natarajan scored a fine goal (if I say so myself) after nutmegging the right back and beating the keeper at his near post. Iain Sallis came off the bench and scored with his second touch after a beautiful cross from Matt Waterman. At this point the goalkeeper, threw his gloves to the floor and launched an attack on Iain Sallis for no apparent reason (although this may have been triggered after enduring 70mins of Sallis's 'banter' from the sideline.)
results - 31st Oct
Old V's 6 - 3 Jarvis Brook
results - 25th Oct
Hassocks III 2 - 1 Old V's
results - 25th Oct
Old V's 3 - 2 Eastbourne Borough
Fantastic win for the Old V's against an excellent young team of footballers. The Old boys used their vast experience to defend stoutly, working hard to stop Eastbourne penetrating the defence. But a special mention must go to Pablo Garcis-Lopez, who scored two incredible solo goals. Sallis described the goals as the best back to back goals hes seen at any level (including Tottenham). The second one was stunning, running from inside the centre circle, chased by three midfielders, he ghosted past several more defenders and left four of them on their backsides, including the goalkeeper to tap in the finish.
results - 26th sept
The 1st team won their first league game of the season, 3.2 away against Uckfield II. A good result, but after leading 3.0 at halftime, it was a nervous finish against poor opposition. Matt Waterman had another excellent game, as did Ant Faulkner. Goal of the game came from Captain Dave Phillips, who finished with aplomb, after a superb team move. The 2nd Team conceded two late goals to draw 2.2 against Franklins Village. The lads were understandably dissappointed. Pete Murr scored his fifth goal of the season and Chris Phillips his third. The 2nds will play Beulah Baptist Church this saturday. The 3rds won their first game of the season 3.2 against Roffey II in the cup. Two goals from Robbie Grice and Lawrence Eke got the other
results - 19th sept
Great result this week for the 2nd team, away at Roffey in the league, 4.2 winners in a match which promised to be very difficult. Chris Phillips scored a brace and Seb Chick got on the score sheet, doubling his career tally for the Old V's. The 1st team won their first game of the season 5.0 against Franklins Village in the cup. Outstanding performance from Matt Gotel in goal to keep a clean sheet and spectacular long range goals from Matt Waterman and Mark Williams. The 3rds lost their first game of the season, but are sure to improve once they get a few more games under their belts.
