The weather once again gave me a different choice of destination on Tuesday evening, something I seem to have to keep repeating with a lot of frequency. I should have been heading to Horndean to watch them take on Isthmian South East Division leaders Ramsgate, another waterlogged pitch put paid to that.
With so much of the wet stuff in the last few weeks I’ve managed to use up a fair few of my 3G options that are local, it doesn’t bother me to head to the same venue more than once in a season, I don’t go for ticks and what not’s, that’s completely not my bag.
Two games were left to pick from, I originally plumped for Horsham taking on Haringey just because there is more cover available, but at the last minute changed to Steyning, literally because the forecast for the evening had decided rain was off the agenda.
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The game itself a cup quarter final between the top two in the Southern Combination Premier Division promised much, Newhaven the visitors and current leaders had already won 4-2 in the league at the Shooting Field, the Barrowmen on a run of seven wins in a row and firmly back in the title race.
League points aside though, Haven were defending their trophy on the evening, the crowd no doubt diluted by the weather conditions given the ground doesn’t possess too much cover for spectators.
A couple of rain showers early on in the half with a wind gusting across the pitch didn’t hinder either side as both like to play with the ball on the deck but not afraid to put a ball over the top if the opportunity was there to turn the defenders.
The early chances were all those for the visitors although not all hit the target, they were finding gaps and much joy down the left side, Steyning unable to stem the flow for the first twenty minutes.
However, the home side then came closest to scoring a couple of minutes after, the ball being cleared off the line amidst some strong appeals but to no avail. Haven then came back again on the half hour mark and five minutes later won a penalty after they might have already had one awarded.
Lee Robinson beat Barrowmen keeper Lucas Szendela-Goetzke to the ball and as the striker turned away from goal the keeper brought him down and to the spot the referee pointed. Up stepped Alfie Rogers but Szendela-Goetzke was equal to his kick, redeeming himself in the process to keep the scores level.
But the breakthrough did come for the visitors just as they thought half time was coming with a 0-0 scoreline, Robinson clean through and wiped out by Szendela-Goetzke with the ball past both players, Rob Malila alert however to head the bouncing ball home, the referee allowing the goal and not awarding another penalty.
A goal their dominance deserved at the interval, Steyning with much work to do despite a couple of very good chances themselves, Haven should have been two or three in front.
But, whatever was said in the home dressing room at half time came to have a huge effect on proceedings. Steyning were on the attack constantly as the half began, Haven struggling to clear the ball and again the left hand side was bearing fruit, but this time for the Barrowmen.
The equaliser duly arrived three minutes before the hour mark, a superbly flighted corner was deftly headed home by in-form marksman Tom Chalaye who managed to position himself in between the two centre halves.
Steyning finally got into the lead with 18 minutes to play, a great cross in from the left found the head of Sam Remfry who headed home unmarked for the home side’s second goal.
With the bit between their teeth the Barrowmen should have added to their tally three minutes later, substitute Jazz Rance breaking clear but shooting over when in sight of Jake Buss’ goal. Moments later Steyning hit the bar through Nathan Cooper as the visitors struggled to deal with relentless pressure from the home side, Buss becoming a very busy man.
Haven did muster up one or two more efforts but the game was made safe for Steyning in the final minute, a few blocks and a fine save from Buss, but Chalaye pounced on the loose ball for his second and victory for the home side plus a place in the Peter Bentley Cup semi-final.
The cliché of a game of two halves is ever evident here, Steyning struggled to stay in the game first half where the visitors should have had the game wrapped up by half time. But Kevin Green’s half time talk for the Barrowmen had the desired effect as the pressure flipped the opposite way and Haven struggled to defend their one goal lead.
Not taking the first half chances and the saved penalty certainly cost them the progress into the semi-final but a very entertaining game to take in, it could easily have ended 5-5 if chances were all taken.
Chalaye is a man in form, 20 I think it is for the season now for the former Worthing and Bognor striker and having followed his career closely since the Woodside Road days he seems to be settling once again and Steyning are certainly getting the best out of him.
Good to see Jazz Rance back involved as well, another one I know from Worthing days and also away from the pitch too, he’ll probably be disappointed not to cap his second half substitute appearance with a goal.
Haven’s front two of Robinson and Rogers certainly gave the Barrowmen a lot to think about in the first half, Malila ran the show in midfield but ultimately couldn’t keep it up over the full 90 minutes, great entertainment though for me as a neutral.
Great to catch up with fellow blogger and Newhaven Twitter/X updater David Fuller, always people to see and share a chat with wherever you go, both sides could potentially be playing each other in a different division next season if the next two months goes to plan for these two clubs.
