willingdon afc

September 20, 2019

🏆 Mid-Sussex Premier Division   

Charlwood FC 4 - 2 Willingdon AFC 

Goals:

Steve Hickman (P)

Joshua Albert

*Match Report*

Having won their last two games, Willingdon headed to Charlwood knowing they were in for a tough game, but confident they could get a result.

With a depleted squad, marred by injuries, the starting eleven was strong and more than capable of imposing themselves on the game.

Charlwood came out of the blocks fast, hitting the post in the first couple of minutes. They were causing Willingdon lots of problems out wide and were knocking on the door of the Willingdon goal.

Their persistence paid off, when two quick fire goals found Charlwood 2-0 up at the halfway mark.

To combat the issues the Dons faced in the first half, a reshuffle in shape occurred and Willingdon started to come into the game and created chances.

The Dons pulled a goal back when Steve Hickman coolly dispatched a penalty awarded for handball.

Then against the run of play and following a sending off for Charlwood, a cross at the far post was met by an oncoming player, who appeared to climb the shoulders of a Willingdon defender, making it 3-1 to the opposing team.

Willingdon quickly pulled one back through Josh Albert, with Albert nearly bringing the Dons level with a wonderful left footed strike hitting the bar.

With the Dons applying pressure going forward, a long ball from Charlwood over the press appeared to be being dealt with by a Willingdon defender, who was subsequently “shoved” out of the way by an opposing forward. However the referee did not see it that way and allowed play to continue and Charlwood to make it 4-2.

All in all a really positive second half display against a really good Charlwood side.

MOM: Joshua Albert- worked extremely hard throughout the game, scoring and nearly turning provider on numerous occasions.

Team:

Byrne, Baker, Weston, Hickman, Elphick, Curry (Hughes), Ryder, Morton, Manton, (Addems), Broom, Albert

October 13, 2017

Chichester City have had player problems and were forced to field their U.18 side at Huggetts Lane in the Sussex Cup. They looked fitter and quicker than some of the Dons players but the Dons had too much strength and experience for their young opponents. Goals from Josh Albert and Skipper Tom Addems gave the Dons a 2 nil lead on 30 minutes but sloppy play from the Dons saw Chichester gifted 2 very good chances to equalise before half time. Both chances were very well saved by Dan Holt.  An early Dons goal in the 2nd half saw the young opponents heads go down and the Dons ran out worthy 6 nil winners.The Dons seemed determined to give away a goal but Chichester were let down by their finishing and should have pulled a few goals back.

Dons Scorers : Josh Albert 2  Tom Addems 2  Mike Keefe and  Matt Elphick  ( I am told the best goal of the game but I missed it while recovering footballs from the adjacent gardens).

M/O/M  Matt Elphick      

October 06, 2017

The Dons suffered their first ever defeat to Ringmer, having beaten them 7 nil and 3 nil last season. The Dons went into this game still missing Dan Weston and Mike Keefe and with Greg Manton, James Bywater and Louis Dixon all not available.  The Dons improved after the interval and had most of the possession but failed to create many scoring chances ( sympathies for Mr G.Southgate) 

Some interesting results in the Premier Division so far this season and AFC Ringmer moved to top of the table with this victory. Sporting Lindfield are now 2nd but the high scoring Copthorne side have games in hand.

The Dons have a break from league football this saturday and play Chichester City at Huggetts Lane, kick off 1.30pm with a welcome return to the Sussex Intermediate Cup.

September 30, 2017

The Dons were already missing Josh Albert and Mike Keefe, before losing Westy and Henry to injury and then also Joe Haffenden. Cuckfield Rangers have made a strong start to the season and it did not look good for the Dons when the visitors took the lead in the 4th minute. 10 minutes later a great header from Man of the Match Michael Brown from Ben Davis' well drilled corner, levelled the scores. The Dons were fortunate to welcome back James Bywater who did a good job in the middle of the Dons back line. The whole side worked hard but were lacking in the pace department, and so outlets were limited.

The Dons then lost James Curry to illness at half time, with Louis Dixon working hard in the 2nd half. The Dons contained Cuckfield  well but ran out of steam in the final 20 minutes. 10 minutes from time Dan Holt made a great save from a header, with a Cuckfield player not picked up. Shortly after it looked game over until a brilliant double save from Dan Holt saved the Dons from the penalty spot  The follow up save was even better than the first save, when the Rangers forward following up seemed to gain 2 yards on the Dons players. In the final minutes a great cross from Tom Morton was headed downwards but just wide by Ben Davis. Shortly after an excellent strike from Tom Morton won the match for the Dons (his 3rd goal in 2 games). The whole team then had to dig in for added on time until Referee Rupert Wells whistled for time. The Dons move up to 3rd place. Next week the Dons play 2nd placed AFC Ringmer on the Lewes FC 4G.