League Leaders Taken All The Way

The trauma continues for Seaford Town as they continue to search for their elusive first point of the season

The trauma continues for Seaford Town as they continue to search for their elusive first point of the season, but their latest effort certainly put the frighteners on league leaders Worthing United.
Ben Barnett took his young side to The Robert Albon ground on Saturday and far from being over-run by their hosts they were more than a match for a side has has scored 22 times at home this season, winning all 7 of their matches, but 3 times they were forced to come from behind by a Seaford side that had lost all 9 away games, conceding 33 goals in the process while only managing to find the net 5 times in the process.
Team selection is an ongoing problem and once again Barnett was unable to name an unchanged side with no less than 5 players missing from the previous week. In came Mitch Ellingham, David Hawes, Mike Piperakis and new signing Ross Gardner for his first game.
The constant changes make life difficult but one significant plus has been the form of goalkeeper Ben Head and he was once again superb, making a number of saves right out of the top drawer and frustrating the home attack in the process.
It was Town who struck first with Gardner finishing off a fine move with an excellent finish after 25 minutes, but United equalised on the half-hour through Paul Elliott from the penalty spot after Barnett was unfortunately adjudged to have fouled the striker when he had clearly deflected the ball away.
Matt Acton restored Town’s advantage just after the hour, scoring his third goal in two games but Worthing again drew level when Jack Hayward scored 10 minutes later.
Not to be deterred the visitors again went ahead, this time it was Ben Courtnage who fired home in the 77th minute and it looked as though Town may be on the verge of some reward for their efforts for the first time this season. Unfortunately the referee was at the centre of another dispute when he awarded a second spot kick to the home side for a trip which all the players were certain was outside the area. Indeed the official himself first awarded a free-kick but then changed his mind and Paul Elliott took advantage with just 8 minutes to go.
Sadly it wasn’t to be for a brave Town side and 4 minutes into stoppage time Hawes misjudged a long ball down the middle and slipped slightly, his attempted clearance went nowhere and Ben Hall fired home to snatch maximum points which ensured they maintained their advantage at the top of the table.
Barnett was proud of his team after the game, they had taken a good side all the way without any reward. He said afterwards ‘The players did everything I asked of them today and deserved something from the game. They have worked tremendously hard in training and if they continue in this vein that elusive win will soon be theirs’
On Saturday Town entertain Haywards Heath Town at the Crouch, kick-off 3.00pm
Team: Head, Brown, Ellingham (Flynn), Le Cras, Hawes, B.Barnett, Courtnage, Acton, Gardner (Tullett), Stannard, Piperakis (Browning)
Man of the Match - Ben Head