Bridport Battle To Remain Unbeaten

This week I visited the Dorset town of Chideock after realising that Dorset is the only county that does not have a motor way, my journey up taking over 5 hours after leaving at 7.30 am, showed me why Dorset desperatly needs one.

The journey up was meant to take a measly 3 hours, and all was going well until we stopped of at Ringwood to take the dog on a walk, when the traffic decided to build up on the road next to us so that we had nothing but sitting in a traffic jam for the rest of the journey.

Dinner was late the first night as a BBQ from Argos took a while to construct as the parts were extremly wobbly. When me and my friend, Matt had eventually constructed the dodgy contraption, it was lit immediatly due to hunger, only for the poor neibours to remove their washing from the line as the windsheild, designed by Argos didn't seem to stop the smoke from gassing the neibours... the burgers were nice though.

On tuesday we had planned to go and see Bridport town FC against Exeter Youths, Bridport were unbeaten before the game having played fixtures such as beating Dorchester 3-1 and drawing with Plymouth youths. Bridport play in the same colours as Lewes FC and it felt remarkably welcoming, with Lewes playing on the same night againt Hampton (3-2 win!) I could have been forgiven for thinking I was there.

On the day of the game we went to Hugh Fernly Whittingstalls resturant in Axeminster where i dulged into a £8 cooked breakfast which was very tasty although I could have done with more, but that is posh food places for you, unlike our day at Splashdown in Bournemouth where it was KFC for lunch and 'Maccy D's' for lunch.

The game started with Exeters young players outplaying Bridport with their beautiful passing motion which was quite a shock to see the young under 18's doing, however Bridport soon found their feet and looked good through their left back's pace running down the left causing Exeter big problems.

However it was Exeter who took the lead when a clever one two set the midfielder up on the edge of the box where he calmly side footed it into the very bottom right corner.

Not long before half time I went to get the burgers as Bridport had made an announcemnt that they would not be taking any more "orders" at half time. However in doing so I missed two goals, I completly missed the Bridport equaliser and I caught a glimps of Exeter taking the lead again literally on the half time whistle. A free kick was given on the left of the box where a simple ball was chipped in to the box for a youth player to head the ball home.

Despite the set back, Bridport were encouraged by the goal that they scored and battled on eventually levelling the game.

The Exeter sub goalkeeper was kept very busy and nearly caused trouble when a ball came in to the box and the young keeper rushed out for unnecissarily only for Bridport to win the ball and a shot was well blocked keeping the score level.

With only a minuet to go at 2-2 Bridport were confident of keeping up their unbeaten record in pre season, however Exeter were on the attack under the blare of the extremly bright floodlights. The youth team played a low ball into the box which was deflected out where the same midfielder was given far too much time to hit the ball home again to surely give Exeter the win.

But yet again Bridport were not giving up and had a penalty shout moments later when an Exeter substitute slipped in the area and handelled the ball, however the referee claimed not to see, much to the disturbance of the three old women sitting behind us who gave us a laugh with their constant noises throughout the match, this decision drawing a particularly memorable "oooohhhh"

However, Bridport did eventually get their penalty when a Exeter challenge appeared to win the ball but maybe the referee regretted his earlier decision and so awarded Bridport the penalty which was calmly slotted away by Dan Wise to maintain Bridports unbeaten record.

Worthing Win Over Wobbly Rooks

Fenelon on trial against one of his former clubs

Steve King suffered his first defeat since returning to the Lewes job in just his second friendly at the club, falling down to Ryman South side Worthing. King decided to experiment with his side that won against St Neots last week by bringing Stuart Robinson out of the goal and replacing him with Mark Zawadski on trial from Horsham.

Another trialist Dylan Merchant also replaced Jordan Lang meaning Hamilton was over at left back with Merchant on the right. There was even one more trialist on display in the form of Hakin who played solidly in the centre of midfield replacing Jed Wallace, on trial at the club last week.

Rooks legendary striker Paul Booth also fitted in to the side replacing Jamie Cade after he has now returned from his holiday.

In a game that you would expect this Lewes sie to dominate, Lewes fell short in what seemed very much like a training game for the Rooks against the Rebels.

Lewes actually started the game on the upper foot and could have been two nil up within the first ten minuets when Ian Draycott, who was playing on the wide right side, was played through on goal only for his shot blocked well after he took a second too long to get his shot away.

The second chance came when a similar ball played attacking midfielder, Michael Malcolm, through but again hesitated before his shot was well blocked on to the side netting by the Worthing keeper who had a good game.

Lewes carried on the offensive style and a Hamilton cross found the top of Paul Booths head which looped up a came close to coming back down into the net but fell just over the bar. Just moments later and the head of Paul Booth had yet another chance, this time Nic Ciardini the creator as his ball found Booth perfectly but he dragged the header just wide of the post.

However, despite Lewes having the majority of chances, Worthing were the team to brake the deadlock when a ball into the box was bouncing up and fell to trialist Dylan Merchant at chest level, the right back attempted the chest the ball back to keeper Mark Zawadski but it was week and Worthing striker, Steve Davis, crept inside and headed the ball in from 1 yard out.

Fans may have expected Lewes to create a wonderful turn around like last week at St Neots but the rest of the half didn't promise much with just two week shots on goal, one from a Michael Malcolm free kick which found its way under the wall but wasn't strong enough to beat the Worthing keeper. The other from Matt Somner who took a shot which was easy for the keeper to dive on.

Lewes made some changes for the second half, bringing on Stuart Robinson in goal and bringing on new signing Warren Mcbean who played on the left wing with Nic Ciardini moving back to left back.

With the game going on and on, no team were creating major chances despite Stuart Robinson having to make a few very good saves from the giant keeper, although his first three goalkicks were miss kicked allowing Worthing to keep coming back at Lewes.

However, again it was Lewes who had the best chances of the second half with Chamel Fenelon, on trial to come back to the club, came on for Ian Draycott and the tired Booth was taken of and replaced by another trialist Nayim.

Lewis Hamilton came forward from his right back position in the second half and twice managed to turn the defender inside out, running in to the box and playing square balls across, only for the strikers various shots to be very well blocked by a resilient Worthing defence.

Fenelon looked strong on the left and barged his way down the wing with strenght and speed before whipping a ball in to the box only for Hakin to drill the ball high and wide. Fenelon repeated this run moments later but this time went alone and sent a powerful shot at goal which the Worthing keeper again made a great save, however the ball fell down to Warren McBean with the goalkeeper on the floor, he side footed away from the last defender only for Nayim to be in his way and Nayim took a week shot on goal which the keeper was able to wrap up.

In the end Worthing deserved their lead as they were more up for the game than Lewes who seemed to just want a run around, however with improved performances sure to come Lewes will look ahead to next week when they will hope to put in a better performance againts a good Essex Utd. side.

McBean And Malcolm Latest Rooks

Michael Malcolm

Lewes have pulled off two magnificant signings in forward players Michael Malcolm and Warren McBean who come from Farnborough and Bromley respectivly.

Michael Malcolm is a striker who follows King from Farnborough. The 25 year old who can also play as a right winger has been at Wycombe and Stockport as well as being a trainee at Spurs.

In 2007 Malcolm joined, then onference North side Kettering and clearly impressed as a month later he found him self at Conference Premier side Rushden.

Just last season Malcolm started at big spenders Crawley but was loaned out to also Conference Premier side Hayes before King signed him for Farnborough last christmas.

Warren McBean

The other signing, Warren Mcbean joins up with an already impressive strikeforce including Paul Booth and Ian Draycott. McBean is well known to Conference football as he was such a key player for Bromley and finished their top scorer two seasons ago.

McBean has played for a host of clubs including; Barnet, Farnborough, St Albans and Sutton before making the switch to Bromley in 2009 and quickly establishing himself there.

Steve King is delighted with his new players as the squad is coming together and had this to say on them:

"Both are very talented signings and each are capable of 20 goals a season, as all my strikers are."
"Strikers win you games and we've got four of the best in the Ryman league."

King was particularly pleased to have secured long term target Michael Malcolm stating that he is a "big signing for Lewes Football Club". 

Rooks Sign New Defender After Stirling Performance

Dominic Stirling

Lewes have made their 10th signing of the new season as they have snapped up Dominic Stirling after he impressed while on trial in the 3-2 win over St Neots on the weekend.

Stirling joins Lewes from Staines of the conference south after he has made 23 appearances for club where Dave Wheeler has just made the move he other way. Stirling started his career at AFC Wimbledon before he made a brief appearance for Wealdstone when he then enjoyed a good two seasons at Hayes where he made 75 appearances.

Jed wallace

However, his expeience does not stop there, he also played 36 times for Aldershot where he was in the team that were promoted to league 2, he has also made an appearance in the play off final. He has also played for Canvey Island in the Conference Premier for a couple of seasons before he moved to Maidenhead in 2006 where he made over 100 apps and won 3 player of the season awards.

Michael Malcolm

He then made the switch to Staines where he joins Lewes from, he also has international experience having played for Englands C team.

Lewes also had some trialists playing against St Neots over the weekend who were midfielder Jed Wallace from Farnborough, Michael Malcolm also from Farnborough who is very highly rated and is expected to sign permanantly for the Rooks.

Mark Zawadski

Lewes also had Horsham goalkeeper Mark Zawadski on trial and he kept a clean sheet as he came on for the second half of the 3-2 win over St Neots.

City Keeper To Villa Is A Given

Given To Villa

Manchester City goalkeeper is on the verge of signing for Aston Villa after a bad season for him in a deal worth £3.5 million. Villa were in need of a new keeper after they lost Brad Freidal to Tottenham, new boss Mcleish has been able to spend some of the funds recieved for the sales of Ashley Young to Manchester United and Stuart Downing to Liverpool.

Given has past his medical and so there is now no reason as to why the deal will not go through as everything is arranged. Given has plenty of Premier league experience having played for Blackburn and he became a fans favourite at Newcastle before making the big move to Man City. However after a successful couple of seasons Given was dropped to the bench as Joe Hart impressed during his season at Birmingham and took up the City number 1 spot.

Villa are also still waiting on a reply to their £10 million bid for Wigans Charles N'Zogbia who they see as a good replacement for Downing who moved to Liverpool for £20 million.

Brighton Make Winning Start To New Life

Brighton at Hart

Brighton and Hove Albion won the Sussex Senior Cup today in their first ever game at the Amex community stadium. Brighton overcame Eastbourne Borough 2-0 to claim the title thanks to goals from Gary Hart and Steve Cook.

It was a dramatic moment when Hart flicked the ball into the back of the net in his final appearance for Brighton, where he signed in 1998 and he earned the recognition he most deffinatly deserves after his time at Brighton has now come to an end.

Hart wore the captains armband and recieved several standing ovations from the pumped Brighton fans and his goal made the occassion that extra bit special. Brighton dominated the first half but coud not break through a resiliant Eastbourne defence.

The first clear cut chance came for Brighton in the second half when Hart curled a ball into the area for the ever busy George Barker where he took it past a defender with ease but took too long to get his shot away and a magnificent Rikki Banks was able to dive and punch the ball away from Barkers feet, a mistake would have resulted in a penalty but Banks was impecable all game.

Just moment later Eastbourne had a golden opportunity when they won a corner which Brighton failed to deal with properly allowing Baker to put a volley at goal, however his shot went over the bar, wasting the opportunity.

Throughout the game Brighton picked up more and more momentum with their beautiful passing play being lead by a solid Grant Hall at the back leading the passing play. Anton Rodgers nearly scored directly from a free kick when he curled the ball just over the wall and forced another brilliant save from Rikki Banks. However despite Eastbournes hard work they were unable to deal with the corner when Grant Hall flicked the ball back in after the corner was weakly cleared and in amongst a jumble of players Gary Hart managed to flick the ball on into the back of the net sending the Brighton fans into raptures.

Banks continued his fine form after that, saving a brilliant reaction shot after Barker shot from a tight angle which Banks dealt with well. However he stood no chance when Brighton won another free kick on the edge of the area, this time instead of shooting it was sent in with fantastic accuracy, finding Cooks head where he placed it perfectly into the top left leaving Banks standing.

Eastbourne were far from out of it though and substitute Ian Pulman had a super shot lob the keeper from a wide angle but just fall on to the bar to keep Brighton 2-0 up and cruising.

The game was a day of firsts, one of those being the first ever yellow card for Eastbourne left back Sonny Cobbs, it perhaps could of been a red for the two footed tackle, however the referee took sympathy for the slippery conditions. Cobbs has just signed for Eastbourne from rivals Lewes.

Confusion Over Barness And Breach

Promoted to First Team

In an interview with Lewes manager Steve King he confessed that with the current budget it has been difficult to attract the quality of players that he would like at the club and has said that numerous under 18's will be brought in to the first team squad to make up numbers throughout the season which is after all what Lewes fans were asking for and is proof that King is sticking to his tight budget.

Jordan Lang has impressed King during training and has signed a deal with the club, he played at left back during Lewes's friendly at St Neots today, joining in with the first team and it appears that he could feature a lot this year as King is impressed.

King claims that he still wants to sign up four more players as well as the nine signings that he has already made. We were also informed that Chris Breach and Anthoney Barness are still undecided about their future as they have both been offered new deals, however, at lower pay than that of last season and in Breach's case he also has offers from Bognor and Hastings.