A quick turnaround in August brings in the Bank Holiday weekend. It is a fair bit to ask for non-league players to play twice in 48 hours, supporters to shell out especially with midweek games the week before and the standard Saturday games.
However, it’s been a staple of the calendar for years and unlikely to ever change. For those of us who like getting about to games then it’s just more of a bonus especially when kick off times don’t stick to the usual 3pm.
With a couple of days away planned the early part of this week, 11am Southern Combination fixtures were just perfect. Within my new site, www.thesnlf.co.uk I’ve run a couple of Twitter/X polls for people to decide where I’m watching football so I set another for the Monday, me knowing on Sunday evening my destination.
The content below was originally paywalled.
Worthing Utd hosting league leaders Seaford Town were the poll winners and one of the picturesque views across a pitch in Sussex. Town were beaten play-off finalists last year and seem determined to go one better this time around.
In contrast to Saturday bright sunshine from the word go in front of a very decent looking crowd. The opening moments were a little scrappy, no doubt some tired players having performed less than 48 hours prior, a wind coming in off the Downs having some effect too.
Both sides however wanted and tried to play as much football on the deck as they could, and chances certainly came. The keeping skills of both Nathan Bryson and Wester Young kept the scoreline level at half time, and were some super saves to thwart players who felt they had scored only to see the custodians in the way.
The second half was a similar story, saves and defensive blocks but slowly Seaford got more on top as Utd struggled to get out and cause problems in the final third.
The game looked set to finish goal less when a winner arrived from almost nowhere. A defensive mistake from Utd saw Town’s Alex Saunders capitalise, dancing his way through a couple of challenges before rounding Bryson and slotting into the empty net.
The home side had no answer despite a couple of corners put into dangerous areas and a Danny Kingston free kick at a nice height for Young to make a save.
Six win from six for Seaford is an excellent start, however they were made to work hard for their second clean sheet in three days. Callum Connor was a constant menace for the visitors while Kingston and Liam Appleton showed some good promise down the flanks for 18 years of age, a young Utd side who could well go close again in the play off’s.
Nice to meet Bill Clifford and Mark Sanderson from the home side before kick off and to catch up with Paul Wise from Seaford Town too, also Dean (@deanbha) whose son plays for the home side.
