17th Octoberr 2009
Keymer & Hassocks vs Cuckfield Rangers
Div 2
K & H finally managed to secure their first win of the season as they overcame Cuckfield Rangers 2-1 at the Adastra.It did not seem that would be the case however as the youthful visitors started in very confident mood passing the ball around with ease and forcing K & H onto the back foot.Indeed their keeper was so relaxed he took to wandering about the pitch and at one point chose to lie down and watch proceedings as his colleagues encamped in the K & H half.As it was K & H had perhaps the first clear chance with James Emmens finding himself one on one with the keeper but he could not get anything on the ball and the chance was spurned.Perhaps the keeper should have heeded this warning though as in another rare foray into the visitors half Dan Southcombe unleashed a perfect ball to the far post which Emmens dispatched on the volley.For all he could do about it the keeper might just as well have continued his lie down.K & H felt they gave a better account of themselves as the half progressed with Adam Walker playing his first game in years proving influencial but most were feeling the pace at half time.
As expected Cuckfield were quickly on the offensive after the break and the home defence were put under extreme pressure as they surged forward but the defensive pairing of K & H MOM Troy Raftery and Fin Fogarty was gelling well whilst Southcombe and Dave Edwards battled for every ball and Robin King the substitute keeper stood firm.That said it looked like disaster when Matt Thomas and Southcombe clashed heads going for the same ball.There was a long delay whilst they recovered only for Cuckfield to then catch K & H cold with a well worked effort.
Of late K & H's heads would have gone down but they remained upbeat this time noting that Emmens was getting a lot of space on the left.He made a couple of good runs before finally creating a chance which cannoned back of the post to Toby Raftery who thankfully smashed the ball home past the startled (and statuesque) Cuckfield keeper.
This was to prove the decisive strike although Duncan O'Reilly (qualified ref who was lino for the day) came in for a bit of stick over an offside decision.One of the visitors allegedly kindly offered to p**s in his face after the game at which point Duncan' s face lit up.But when Club Captain Ben Watson generously expressed the wish to reciprocate in the water sports the offer seemed to be withdrawn.Cuckfield had one last opportunity near the end but Troy Raftery made a splendid interception to deny the shot on goal.
A big result for K & H against a fine footballing side who will surely be title contenders.As for K & H they remain in a battle for survival with a mountain of injury worries to boot.
