Sussex County League | Travels of the Traveller

Saturday 27th October 2012
Dorking Wanderers 3 Chichester City 1
Sussex County League Division One
At: West Humble Playing Field
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £6; Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Weather: cold, showers
Attendance: 35
Duration: first-half: 45:36; second-half: 45:49

Founded as recently as 1999, Dorking Wanderers were initially members of the Crawley & District League and West Sussex League so weren’t on my radar during those early years prior to our move away from the South East. So, during the 11 years since we headed up to the Midlands, they have made great strides both on and off the field to progress into the top division of the Sussex County League. Today they recorded a fine 3-1 victory over Chichester City on a cold and rainy afternoon despite playing the last half-hour with ten men after goalkeeper Paul Williams was sent off for handling outside his area.

The promotion of Dorking Wanderers during the summer had meant I was one ground short of visiting all of the grounds in Sussex County League Division One (see list at the end). Travelling by train, I took the hourly London Victoria to Horsham service (departed 12.31) via Sutton and Leatherhead, alighting at Box Hill & Westhumble station (arrived 13.21) and continued on foot past the Stepping Stones pub currently undergoing refurbishment prior to a ‘grand reopening’ in a few weeks time, and along the A24 towards Dorking. A drive led from the northbound carriageway of the A24 to the ground’s entrance. Arriving very early due to train times, I was greeted by a club official who went out of his way to get me a programme and spent time in the relative warmth of the clubhouse.

All of the ground’s facilities are either behind the near goal or along the far touchline closest to the railway. Looking at the photos which Laurence and Mishi took on their visit 10 months ago, a new stand has been erected containing 50 seats as well as new area of covered standing in front of the clubhouse. Dugouts have been relocated from the railway side to the far side and floodlights installed as well. At the moment spectators only have access to two sides of the ground.

I mentioned recently, in conjunction with my visit to Holbrook St Michaels, that I like seeing the home side’s history printed in the programme.

Dorking’s programme (Programme Monthly’s Sussex County League Division Two Programme of the Year 2011/12) didn’t disappoint and I read that Wanderers moved to the West Humble Playing Field around 2007 and joined the Sussex County League for the 2007/08 season. The past two seasons have seen the club rise from Division Three to Division One with back-to-back promotions in 2011 and 2012.

One thing the editor wrote jogged my memory of recent events during the summer I’d sketchily read about. Both Dorking (to gain promotion to Division One) and Chichester (to avoid relegation) successfully appealed to the FA at Wembley as part of the controversy surrounding the expansion of the top Sussex County League division to 22 clubs. So today’s game could have been a Division Two clash had things turned out differently.

Dorking’s rookie season in Division One has been them so far pick up 13 points from 11 games and stood in 17th position. After bottom last season, Chichester (20th with 9 points from 15 games) haven’t found things easy in 2012/13 either with just two league wins.

With a northerly wind blowing and rain falling diagonally, Chichester (in white and green) got the game underway attacking the northern end into the elements – right to left in relation to my seat in the stand, which provided a great view of Box Hill all afternoon!

A spectator’s umbrella became the first casualty of the game, rendered useless by a severe gust of wind!

Dorking took just four minutes to take the lead. Jake Hill indirect free-kick, delivered from near the left bye-line, fell perfectly for Rob Osgood to fire home.

Impressed with the start his side had made, one Dorking defender told his teammates to “keep the work rate up,” and they did just that. Glenn Boosey forced a diving save out of Chichester goalkeeper Matt Evans, during a period around the quarter-hour mark when the wind briefly eased and small patches of blue sky started to emerge.

Evans produced a great save in the 24th minute to push a rising 35-yard free-kick against the right-hand post.

While the visitors were creating the odd scoring opportunity, the wind continued to aid Dorking as they pressed for a second goal. Twice Sean Finlay fired against the legs of Evans who later tipped over a header from Boosey.

Chatting to a spectator at the interval, we wondered if Dorking’s one-goal advantage would be sufficient bearing in mind that Chichester would be attacking with the wind during the second half.

To the shouts from the touchline of “C’mon Chi,” the visitors almost equalised five minutes after the restart. Jack Blatchford fed Dom Taylor who saw a rising 30-yard shot tipped on to the bar by Paul Williams, who up to this point had had little to do.

Dorking doubled their lead in the 56th minute. Boosey robbed defender Julian Boniface, got into the area and beat Evans with a deft lob.

The goal proved crucial as Dorking’s hopes looked to have taken a massive blow just after the hour mark when goalkeeper Paul Williams was sent off for handling outside his area, an offence spotted by the nearby assistant. I couldn’t tell if a clear goalscoring opportunity was denied or not. Defender Shane Duffell went in goal and a reshuffle of the nine remaining outfield players resulted in Boosey being substituted. At least the wind had eased and Wanderers had a valuable two-goal cushion to protect.

Goalkeepers handling outside their area has become a hot topic in recent games I’ve seen. Just 11 days ago Heath Hayes’ Adam Lane was sent off for the offence while at Coles Lane on Monday, Rainworth’s Joe McCormack escaped with just one booking even though he twice handed outside his area against Romulus.

Dorking’s two-goal cushion became a one-goal cushion in the 72nd minute. Blatchford delivered a free-kick into the area where Boniface sent a glancing header past Duffell.

Chichester really needed to test the Duffell but the Dorking defence protected their seemingly nervy goalkeeper. Blatchford resorted to a long range shot which flew past the right-hand post.

“At least five minutes,” said the referee to someone in the crowd who enquired how long remained. Whether he followed Dorking or Chichester, I don’t know.

Dorking made good use of the remaining minutes. They put outcome beyond doubt with a third goal scored in the 86th minute by Chris Williams who sent a right-foot shot into the bottom-left corner from 15 yards out. They then won a late corner and kept the ball to themselves to wind down the cock. Boniface gave away a free-kick and picked up a booking moments before the referee blew the final whistle.

I made my way back alongside the A24 and left into Westhumble Street to the station in time to catch the 17.26 train back to London, feeling satisfied to have once again visited all of the grounds in Sussex County League Division One.

“Nowhere in England is richer foliage, or wilder downs and fresher woodlands” George Meredith (1829-1909). Sign spotted at Box Hill & Westhumble station welcoming visitors to the Surrey Hills.

Good day out!

Dorking Wanderers (blue and black stripes / black / black): 1. Paul Williams, 2. Dave Suchy, 3. Sean Smart, 4. Duncan Fraser, 5. Shane Duffell, 6. Jake Hill (capt), 7. Bobby Hooper, 8. Rob Osgood, 9. Glenn Boosey, 10. Chris Williams, 11. Sean Finlay. Subs: 12. Jack Lyons (for Boosey, 64), 14. Martin Marritt (for Osgood, ht), 15. Kevin Bassika (not used), 16. Jamal Okai (not used).

Chichester City (white/green/green): 1. Matt Evans, 2. Dave Knight, 3. Tom Bigwood, 4. Peter Hibbert, 15. Julian Boniface, 6. Dan Smith, 7. Jack Blatchford, 8. James Parsons, 9. Pat Busquets, 10. Dom Taylor, 11. Perry Northeast (capt). Subs: 12. Rob Madden (for Parsons, 55), 14. Oliver Lambert (for Northeast, 72).

Referee: Darren Eaton.
Assistants: Alexander Hall and Anthony Scott.

Goals:
1-0 Rob Osgood (4)
2-0 Glenn Boosey (56)
2-1 Julian Boniface (72)
3-1 Chris Williams (87)

Cards:
Dorking: Paul Williams (RC, 62)
Chichester: Julian Boniface (YC, 90+1)

Visits to Sussex County League Division One grounds
AFC Uckfield (as Wealden) – 4/9/99 v St Francis (Sussex County League Division 3)
Arundel – 22/2/92 v Hailsham Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Chichester City – 3/10/92 v Cray Wanderers (FA Vase Preliminary Round)
Crowborough Athletic – 17/8/94 v Oakwood (Sussex County League Division 1)
Dorking Wanderers – 27/10/12 v Chichester City (Sussex County League Division 1)
East Grinstead Town – 4/10/91 v Midhurst & Easebourne (Sussex County League Division 2)
East Preston – 27/12/93 v Lindfield (Sussex County League Division 3)
Hailsham Town – 26/1/91 v Arundel (Sussex County League Division 1)
Hassocks – 3/12/94 v Mile Oak (Sussex County League Division 2)
Horsham YMCA – 7/12/91 v Stamco (Sussex County League Division 2)
Lancing – 19/4/90 v Hailsham Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Lingfield – 13/4/98 v Franklands Village (Sussex County League Division 3)
Pagham – 28/11/90 v Hastings Town (Sussex Floodlight Cup)
Peacehaven & Telscombe – 18/8/90 v Three Bridges (Sussex County League Division 1)
Redhill – 30/4/90 v Littlehampton Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Ringmer – 12/10/90 v Eastbourne Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Rye United – 28/3/98 v Thames Poly (Kent County League Premier Division)
St Francis Rangers – 26/8/96 v Haywards Heath Town (Sussex County League Division 3)
Selsey – 9/3/94 v Steyning Town (Sussex County League Division 2)
Shoreham – 2/8/90 v Crawley Town (Pre-Season Friendly)
Sidley United – 14/1/95 v Chichester City (Sussex County League Division 2)
Worthing United – 9/10/93 v Mile Oak (Sussex County League Division 2)

Saturday 1st September 2012
Rustington 1 Wick 3
Sussex County League Division Two
At: Recreation Ground, Jubilee Avenue
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (36 pages)
Weather: warm and sunny
Attendance: 57
Duration: first-half: 47:11; second-half: 50:52

With the Paralympics to look forward to tomorrow (morning swimming and evening athletics), we decided to turn the trip to the Olympic Park into a four-night holiday. The family choice of a trip to Brighton today suited me as it provided an unmissable opportunity to continue along the coast to one of the two grounds in the current Sussex County League Division Two line-up I hadn’t previously visited (Loxwood being the other – see below at the end). The added spice of this fixture between Rustington and Wick was its ‘local derby’ tag as the respective grounds are less than two miles apart as the crow flies.

Rustington, founded over 100 years ago in 1903 and based a few miles to the west of Littlehampton, joined the Sussex County League in 2004 as West Sussex League champions. In 2006/07, they won Division Three and gained promotion to Division Two. The present 2012/13 campaign is their sixth in this division. The team attached national attention, including Sky TV, when they went unbeaten in the league throughout the whole of 2006.

The nearest station to the ground is Angmering, about 15 minutes walk, which Chris1963 on the Non-League Matters Forum agreed with and he must walk at a similar pace to me! There are two entrances: one from the Woodlands Centre car park off Woodlands Avenue which emerges behind the goal and another at the end of Jubilee Avenue next to the white pavilion. My route to the ground took me north from the station, left along the noisy A259, via the footpath next to retail park, left back over the railway, right after passing the Windmill pub, right at the roundabout into Worthing Road (A2187) and Jubilee Avenue was second left. The walk back was far calmer from the entrance behind the goal via Station Road.

The pitch, running widthways in relation to the white pavilion, was fully railed off with hardstanding laid down where there is no overlap with the adjacent cricket pitch. At present, the ground has neither a stand or floodlights, though I’m sure efforts are being made to improve the ground. The tea bar was found inside the clubhouse and teams displayed on a whiteboard hung on the side of the building – a nice touch. All in all, I found Rustington FC very welcoming and a few people were interested in where I’d travelled from.

Due to cricket, Rustington were playing their first home game of the season so the programme updated fans on the new manager and team, and reports from several away games. I knew that the club has issued decent programmes in the past and the 2012/13 version keeps up the standard. On the road, Rustington (14th position with 4 points from 5 games) had won one, drawn one and lost three games.

This afternoon, Rustington (in all blue) got the action underway defending the cricket end in the first half.

Wick (18th and bottom with four defeats out of four) got off to a perfect start with a goal in the 11th minute. Michael Frangou swung a vicious corner from the right to the near post where the ball flew in off the head of a Rustington defender (photo right). Simon Clayton (obscured by ‘2’ and ‘3’ at the near post) was the unfortunate player to be subsequently credited with an own goal – the first part of Clayton’s eventful afternoon!

Frangou headed wide from Danny Cooper’s cross during a continuing good start for the visitors. Someone agreed: “keep this up, Wick”. Someone else said Rustington had “got to be better … let’s work together”. While Wick were comfortably hold their advantages, Rustington started to create chances and twice Jordan Matthews produced save to deny Dan Jarvis an equaliser.

Frangou impressed and doubled Wick’s lead shortly before the interval, bundling the ball over the line from Nathan Parke’s right-wing cross.

Most headed for the clubhouse a quite a few like me honed in on the tea bar hatch during the interval.

A significant moment occurred within four minutes of the restart when Rustington goalkeeper Andy McCarthy was sent off for handling outside his area. Defender Tim Leach took over in goal to leave the home side’s ten men a mountain to climb. The resulting free-kick, hit by Ross Adams was blocked by the wall.

I mentioned that Clayton had an eventful afternoon and, following an own goal and booking during the first half, he reduced his side’s deficit in the 70th minute. Chris Darwin delivered a free-kick into the area where Clayton bravely headed home.

However, hope for Rustington of salvaging a point soon evaporated as Wick scored a third goal barely a minute later. Frangou headed home his second goal of the game from Michael Hamm’s cross after Leach blocked initial shot by Parke.

It could have been four had Leach not deflected a close-range shot from Hamm over the bar.

Clayton’s eventful afternoon ended with a nasty cut to his head which subsequently required hospital treatment.

Rustington (blue/blue/blue): 1. Andy McCarthy (capt), 2. Ryan Morton, 3. Andy Boxall, 4. John Beaney, 5. Tim Leach, 6. Chris Matthews, 7. Simon Clayton, 8. Nathan Stock, 9. Steve Kirkham, 10. Dan Jarvis, 11. Chris Darwin. Subs: 12. Craig Cox (for Clayton, 81), 14. Scott Edwards (for Morton, 58), 15. Gavin Heater (not used).

Wick (red/black/red): 1. Jordan Matthews, 2. Michael Hamm, 3. Ruben French, 4. Ted Griffin (capt), 5. George Hotson, 6. Curtis Horn, 7. Nathan Parke, 8. Danny Cooper, 9. Ross Adams, 10. Michael Frangou, 11. Anders Wyatt. Subs: 12. Dan Cox (not used), 14. Andy Cox (for Wyatt, 43), 15. Joe Matthews (for Cooper, 64), 16. K. Urquhart (not used), 17. 17. Lee Farrell (for Frangou, 72).

Referee: Duncan Brooker
Assistants: Chris Hamilton and Malcolm Merrell.

Goals:
0-1 Simon Clayton (11 og)
0-2 Michael Frangou (42)
1-2 Simon Clayton (70)
1-3 Michael Frangou (71)

Cards:
Rustington: Simon Clayton (YC, 45), Andy McCarthy (RC, 49; Tim Leach went in goal); Scott Edwards (YC, 60)
Wick: none

Sussex County League Division Two
Bexhill United – 15/8/90 v Eastbourne Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Broadbridge Heath – 16/8/94 v Redhill (Sussex County League Division 2)
Eastbourne United – 10/2/96 v Lancing (Sussex County League Division 2)
Little Common – 26/12/94 v Buxted (Sussex County League Division 3)
Littlehampton Town – 3/4/92 v Wick (Sussex County League Division 1)
Loxwood – TO DO
Midhust & Easebourne – 23/1/93 v Oakwood (Sussex County League Division 1)
Mile Oak – 10/10/92 v Eastbourne Town (Sussex County League Cup Second Round)
Newhaven – 17/8/93 v Hailsham Town (Sussex County League Division 1)
Oakwood – 18/4/90 v Little Common Albion (Sussex County League Division 2)
Rustington – 1/9/12 v Wick (Sussex County League Division 2)
Saltdean United – 18/12/93 v Shoreham (Sussex County League Division 2)
Seaford Town – 24/12/94 v Little Common Albion (Sussex County League Division 3)
Southwick – 21/12/93 v Mile Oak (Sussex County League Division 2)
Steyning Town – 24/3/93 v Ash United (Parasol Combined Counties League)
Storrington – 8/8/90 v Arundel (Pre-season Friendly)
Westfield – 25/10/97 v Buxted (Sussex County League Division 3)
Wick – 6/3/92 v Arundel (Sussex County League Division 1)