There were a total of nine fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League being played on Saturday. Little Common were without a game as Peacehaven and Telscombe were trying for the third time to play their fourth round F.A. ISUZU Challenge Vase game away to Egham Town at the Runnymede Stadium.

It has been twenty-seven years since Peacehaven and Telscombe last qualified for the 5th round of the F.A.Vase but they have now done it again and they are the only League representative left in the competition. A close range header by Jack Pettett in the first half gave the "Haven" the lead in their 4th round F.A. Cup match against Egham Town. In the second half, great work by Jack Pettett saw the ball through to Callum Edwards who secured the 2-0 away victory late in added time to set up an away game against Harefield Utd in February who won their game on penalties. Harefield Utd are currently in a mid-table position in the Combined Counties Football League. Premier Division North. Peacehaven and Telscombe named Jack Pettett as their Man of the Match. After receiving a serious injury just before halftime Ryan Welch was fit enough to travel home with the rest of the team in the coach.

In the early kick off game, Crawley Down Gatwick were hoping to return to the top of the Premier division when Saltdean United were the visitors to the "Haven Centre." A quiet first half ended goalless with both teams having chances and trying to get into the rhythm of playing football again after the enforced layoff. Straight from the restart a screamer from Guy Harding put the "Anvils" into the lead. In the last few minutes of the second half, Mark Zydonik scored his first goal for the club to double the home side's lead. With two goals from their centre backs, Crawley Down Gatwick gained a hard earned 2-0 home victory and moved back to the top of the Premier division.

A draw was played out at the "Withdean Stadium" where AFC Varndeanians were playing Lingfield. An early first half goal by Finlay Agnihotri put the "V's" in front but then Dennis Asante equalised for the "Lingers". It was a good 1-1 draw and a welcome point to both teams played on a challenging pitch. At the end AFC Varndeanians were hanging on after Alfie Mitchell had been sent off for receiving a red card.

A crucial cracker of a game for both teams as they both fought to stay in this Division. With many familiar faces being involved in a relegation clash as bottom club Roffey travelled to the "Elliott Scott Group Stadium" and played second to bottom club Alfold. Both teams were struggling to avoid relegation by winning matches so this was a six pointer in a true relegation cracker of a game. Alfold took a very early lead when debutant Owen Flyn scored. After some excellent work by Jamie Wanstall, the ball came to Ricardo Rodriquez who hammered the ball into the goal off the crossbar to equalise for the "Boars". Later in the first half George Cousin put Roffey ahead and then Andrew Demdy converted a penalty to equalise. Minutes later Alfold took the lead when Ben Hughes calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. In the second half Alfold scored again with a goal from debutant Tyrese Sutherland followed by a goal from Ben Hughes with a great free kick to lead by a long way at half time. Roffey then reduced the lead in the second half when Tiago Andrade scored. A great strike by mid-fielder Manny Katundu increased the lead for Alfold with the final goal coming from Charlie Martin just before full time which resulted in a 7-3 home victory for Alfold.. Andrew Demby was named as the Alfold Man of the Match

With a lineup the same as for the Tuesday win, Newhaven were trying to stay at the top of the Premier division when they travelled up to the "Polegrove" for a difficult game against Bexhill United. Right on half time Harvey Mapstone gave Bexhill Utd the lead which was later doubled with another goal from Harvey Mapstone to give Bexhill United a 2-0 home victory after a super performance against the Division leaders.

Hassocks travelled to the "Countryside Stadium" to play high flying Broadbridge Heath but could not get a victory. Ryan Brackpool and Charlie Parmiter scored for the "Bears" with Phillip Johnson getting one for the "Robins". The game ended in a 2-1 home victory for Broadbridge Heath which kept them in third place in the division.

Crowborough Ath took the lead midway in the first half when a free kick came to Leo Vowles who had a great touch to control the ball and then fired it into the goal from close range. A few minutes later, the "Crows" doubled their lead when Leo Vowles collected a loose ball from a goalkeeper save to score. The well deserved 2-0 home victory went to Crowbourough Athletic who not surprisingly named Leo Vowles as their Man of the Match.

A shot from the edge of the box by Simon Johnson sneaks through a bundle of players into the goal to give Eastbourne Utd AFC the lead at home to AFC Uckfield Town at the "Oval". The lead was doubled before half time with a goal from Charlie Bell. With no more goals in the second half. Eastbourne Utd AFC recorded a 2-0 home victory. Eastbourne Utd AFC named captain Sam Cole as their Man of the Match.

Horsham YMCA went ahead early in the first half when a diagonal ball from Sekou Toure came to Joshua Neathey who rounded a defender and shot left footed into the far bottom corner of the goal. lt took only a few more minutes for the lead to be doubled when a ball from Sekou Toure bounced to Tom Tolfrey who looped his sumptuous strike over the goalkeeper into the goal. Just before halftime Jamie Rice played the ball into Joshua Neathey who jinxed past two challenges and slotted the ball calmly into the goal to give "YMCA" a good lead at half time. Midway through the second half Loxwood had their captain Terryll Joseph sent off for two yellow cards and then just before the final whistle Jay Popham converted a penalty. Horsham YMCA celebrated a 3-1 home victory and they moved one place up the division.

An Own Goal gave the lead to Steyning Town midway in the first half of their game against Midhurst and Easebourne after a pass from Ryan Hallett was turned into the goal by a home side defender. Later in the first half Midhurst and Easebourne equalised with a goal from Jordan Stallibrass as the game eventually ended in a 1-1 draw at full time.

The weather is still showing signs of warming-up so there is lots of hope about the mid-week fixtures being played. There is a total of four or five fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League to be played together with perhaps one rearranged game in the Sussex County F.A."Parafix" Senior Challenge Cup. 2nd round as Midhurst and Easebourne play Eastbourne Utd AFC at "home" at Lancing on the 3G all weather pitch ?????..

The weather was showing signs of warming-up so there must be some hope about the mid-week fixtures being played. There were a total of three fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League to be played.

NEW DIVISION LEADERS

Little Common had a difficult game when they welcomed second placed Newhaven to the "Recreation Ground" where the pitch was in good condition giving no concerns about the playability. Midway through the first half, Newhaven took the lead with a goal from Callum Connor and then just before halftime Charlie Bennett scored to double the lead at the break. In the second half. Callum Connor scored again to give the "Dockers" a 3-0 away victory which moved Newhaven to the top of the Premier Division level on points with Crawley Down Gatwick who have three games in hand.

CLASH OF THE CHASERS

Bexhill United travelled along the coast to play Peacehaven and Telscombe at a time when both teams were in good form and chasing the teams at the top of the division. The Groundsman had been busy cutting the grass and marking out the pitch which was in fine condition. A goal had been coming, a cross from Harry Docherty was cleared as far as Max Hollobone who volleyed the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. A fine run by Cameron Wiltshire who threaded the ball through to Harry Docherty who then crossed the ball to Jack Pettett who took a touch and finally smashed the ball into the goal.scores. Only minutes later, a dangerous ball was cleared as far as Robin Deen who smashed the ball into the goal from close range. The "Pirates" managed to pull a goal back just before half time. It was early in the second half when "Haven" went further into the lead. After a shot from Jack Pettett was cleared only as far as Callum Edwards who placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. Peacehaven and Telscombe gained a great 4-1 home victory but they stayed in fifth place in the Premier division but reduced the points difference to the leading teams.

MOVING UP ONE PLACE

Having recently won six Premier division games, Eastbourne Town, who were the visitors to the "Oaks", were hopeful of victory over AFC Uckfield Town who had lost their last five games in the Premier division and tonight all played were under 21. The reverse fixture was played early in the season which ended in a draw. Jack Samways opened the scoring for Eastbourne Town midway in the first half when he jinxed around several defenders to score then a few minutes later the score was doubled when James Waters dribbled around several defenders making multiple challenges, stayed on his feet and slotted the ball home. Just before half time, debutant James Hullgave "Town" a healthy lead at the halftime break after he thumped the ball into the goal. The lead could have been more had James Waters converted a penalty after Tyler Capon had been taken out by the "Oaks" goalkeeper. With all the goals coming in the first half, Eastbourne Town secured a 3-0 home victory which moved them up one place in the Premier division to sixth place.

There are a total of nine fixtures in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination Football League to be played on Saturday. Little Common will be without a game as Peacehaven and Telscombe will be trying again to play their fourth round F.A. ISUZU Challenge Vase game away to Egham Town.