After Tuesday's impressive Senior Cup win over at Division One Hailsham, and three wins on the bounce, we came into this fixture with high hopes, and with both sides 'level pegging' on the same points it was billed as a good game to win...unfortunately though, this time it wasn't us.

The first-half offered very little in the way of excitement. On a very boggy pitch (and with some quite boggy refereeing decisions) both sides found it hard to settle or gain any real momentum and play was often 'stop-start' and scrappy.
For the hosts the main threat seemed to come from 'pocket rocket' winger Med Koroma, whose runs in from the right caused problems and indeed it was he who nearly gave Oak the lead on 25 minutes with an angled drive past Aaron Jeal which was cleared off the line by Ash Finch.

We didn't create too many chances ourselves, partly due to the heavy pitch conditions and maybe the unusual make-up of the Mile Oak playing surface. Mo Shuga'a and Ryan Warr threatened here and there and on 35 minutes a Chad Milner effort from the edge of the box went wide. The closest we came was a few minutes before the break when Ryan Warr forced his way into the box and slipped the ball under Oak keeper Aaron Stenning but only for the ball to be cleared off the line by a defender.

So at the break we were goalless. Half time 0-0.

In the second-half we came out with a little more vigor and early on a decent free-kick from the left by Milner was headed just wide of target by Ollie Pickup.

However, ten minutes in we fell behind. A defensive blunder let in Oak front-man Andy McDowell unmarked to slot past Aaron Jeal to break the deadlock. 1-0 Mile Oak. We then came 'under the cosh' with a minute later Koroma shooting just over before on 64 minutes he raced into our box to fire against the upright with the rebound falling at the feet of Oak skipper Danny Curd who netted easily from close range. 2-0 Mile Oak.

A block substitution with Jack Boxall, Marcus Robertshaw and Rob Clark coming on freshened things up a little but it was unfortunately left a bit too late. We did however test keeper Aaron Stenning a couple of times with a good Matt Dodd header and in the last minute a drive by Ryan Warr, tipped over the bar.

Not the best day at the office but hopefully we can bounce back over the Xmas period (Friday night home to Oakwood, in front of a bumper crowd would be a good place to start. Then its Sat 27 Dec, away to Storrington, Sat 3 Jan, away to Worthing United and Wednesday 7th January away to Worthing FC in the Senior Cup. Thats four big matches on the bounce.)

Final score - Mile Oak 2 Steyning Town 0

Town line-up - Jeal, Hare, Pickup, Finch, Parsons (capt), Dodd, Early, Kennett, Milner, Shuga'a, Warr Subs - Boxall, Clarke, Robertshaw

Ref: Bob Minty Assts: Andy Higgins & Thomas Latter