After last weeks tough match against Peacehaven, we needed to get back on track to finish the season as strong as we can however, Injuries, Sickness & holidays took effect on our availability and we went into today with a bare 12 but 3 players were playing with sickness and 1 more with a knock.

Oliver started in goal, Charlie slotted in at RB, Toby and Ethan as the CB duo and Dean as left back. Cam stepped into the middle with Stan and Lewis G. Harley on the right Wing, Lewis B on the left and Sam took the CF spot. Stephen was our sub today.

We knew from the off that Buxted would come out strong and fast and that we would need to match them and nullify their danger men as quick as possible. The boys started fast and created the first few chances through Sam, Harley and Lewis B. How we didn't score still baffles me in that opening 10 minutes but a mixture of wayward finishing and good goalkeeping.

We started the stronger and we were winning a lot of the first and second balls and kept pinning Buxted back however they were defending well and looking to cause danger on the counter.

It was a counter that they got their first goal right on 21 minutes. We had a throw in deep into their half and pushed up to the half way line and after losing the ball, a quick ball over the top from their number 8 to the no9 and a flick on sent their LW through and beating Oliver to the ball to tuck it away for 0-1.

We came close to scoring from kick off, winning a corner and sending it deep into the box with the ball getting cleared off the line and several blocks from Buxted defenders, kept us out. Buxted cleared the ball and pushed us back and with the press forcing us to play it back to Oliver, a sliced clearance put Dean under pressure and a bounce favoured the winger who did well to win it and send a cross into the middle. Their no9 cut inside and got his shot off but a great stop from Oliver kept it out but sent it into the path of the LW who tucked it away for 0-2. All in the space of 2 minutes we have gone from being in control to being 2 down.

At this point, Stephen came in for Lewis G and Sam dropped into the 10 role.

Buxted continued to grow into the game from this point and we were doing well to defend & hold the lead to a manageable scoreline. They were whipping in corners and throw ins but our boys were strong and were winning the challenges.

Stephen came close to getting a goal back when he won the ball back high up the pitch, dribbled past 2 players and hit a shot just over the bar from outside the area.

From the resulting goal kick, Sam won the ball back in the middle and drove towards the defence before playing a great ball into the path of Harley who drove forward into the area and hit a low shot towards the far post but a bobble sent it just past the post.

Lewis G came back on for Lewis B at this point to give Lewis B a breather. Sam and Harley's pace was causing issues and we looked like we were going to create something through them. It started to get a bit chippy before the half with challenges Flying in. Sam came off with 5 to go to catch his breath.

HT - TD - 0 - BUXTED - 2

At the half the boys were vocal in how they were going to get back into the game and knew that they would need to take the game to Buxted. Sam came back into the fold with Lewis B staying out left and Sam into the 10.

When they kicked off we started a bit sloppy and gave the ball away too many times to start the half.

The defence were holding very well and doing their best to get us forward with Stan buzzing around the midfield winning tackles and trying to get us forward.

The sloppiness cost us when a misplaced pass fell to their midfielder who lashed the ball clear over the top of our defence and their striker was through. Oliver came out and pulled him down outside the box as the last man giving the ref no choice but to brandish the red card.

Oliver was gutted and you could see this was tough on him but the boys didn't give him any rubbish. Toby without me asking took the responsibility as Captain and put on the gloves and keeper top. Proud of him for doing this for the team and you can see the boys and fans were too! Every save, every collection they cheered Toby on!

This seemed to lift the boys levels and we got a goal very soon after. A long ball over the top was defended well and shielded back into the path of Toby who picked up the pass and ran towards the edge of the area and punted the ball long into the run of Sam who flew past several players before knocking the ball past the onrushing keeper and despite being taken down by the defender and keeper, slotted the ball into the back of the net for 1-2.

We defended really well after this and kept Buxted to the long ball and set pieces while doing our best to push forward and get the equaliser.

We made several chances for ourselves with Stephen going close but Buxted's keeper pulled off a great save. Stephen then sent through Sam again and this time a last minute block on the line stopped us equalising.

Buxted lost one of their players through a nasty looking twist, sending our best to him that it isn't bad!

Charlie then had to come off due to a bad challenge meaning another switch up. Lewis B had to drop at RB and Lewis G into the midfield. At this point we were playing 4-3-1-1 to get into the game. Cam and Dean were covering every blade of grass while Ethan was doing really well winning the ball quickly to get us on the front foot again. Sam with his endless running, Harley and Lewis G battling in the middle while Stan, Lewis B and Stephen were pressing hard.

Both teams were going for it but it felt like the momentum was shifting our way and we were on top. Buxted were defending well and we kept pushing and pushing and pushing but it felt like it wasn't going to be our day. It was the shot that Stephen sent across the face of the goal right near the final whistle and then the corners that just wouldn't go in that made it clear that we couldn't break them down.

FT - TD - 1 - BUXTED - 2

A battle today, against a well organized side. We could of got something out of this game but from the start with the injuries, sickness and then the red card it just wasn't going to be our day. What i will say is how proud I am of these boys. To play 35 minutes of the second half with 10 men and look like the team most likely to get something out of today, they showed the level of fight and character that i know they have in them and have seen over the years.

MOTM - Toby H - Who else but our Captain. Stepping up when the team needed him, both outfield and in goal. To not even blink before volunteering shows what a great team mate and leader he is!