Today in the Southern Combination Football League, 4th placed Eastbourne Town take on 10th placed Alfold FC. Eastbourne Town have only lost once so far this season at the Saffron’s and they will be hoping to buid some more momentum after their two previous victories against Lancing and Langney Wanderers. Whereas Alfold will be looking to build on their impressive 5-1 away win against Crawley Down Gatwick 4 days ago.
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1: Alfold will kick the game off today and they will be playing from right to left.
3: Confident defending from Clyde Jacques gets Alfold out of trouble, Eastbourne Town have started off the better side in this fixture.
5: 5 minutes in and it has been a scrappy affair so far with both sides using long balls to try and get in behind the opposition defence with no real clear cut chances for either side so far.
6: CHANCE! First chance of the game with Kelvin Lucas picking the ball up from around 25 yards out and attempts a curling effort into the far right corner but it whistles past the post.
8: CHANCE! Nathan Crabb and Zac Attwood go close for Eastbourne Town but it is a good double save from the keeper, Attwood especially should have done better on the rebound.
10: Matt Astle is released down the right and picks out Nathan Crabb with a great cutback but he drags his shot wide of the left post for Eastbourne.
13: The ball gets worked out to Matt Astle after some good play from Nathan Crabb and George Taggart but the cross is just too high for Sam Cule.
15: CHANCE! Asti Mutongerwa works it out to Sam Leaton who puts a wicked ball into the box which needed to be cleared of the line by Dan Hull, best move of the game by Alfold so far.
20: The game is becoming more competitive with both teams having spells of possession but not with many chances, this in turn is starting to warm up the fans with chants now being sung from the East Terrace.
21: Jamie Chilsworth whips in a great ball which Sam Leaton can’t get on the end of.
23: Lengthy stoppage as the Alfold defender Clyde Jacques is down after a late challenge. He eventually gets back up and can return to the field of play.
26: Fantastic tackle by Sam Cole on an advancing Sam Leaton.
27: Asti Mutongerwa wins a suspect free kick for Alfold after the Referee claims Dan Hull obstructed the ball. The freekick is in a good area around 20 yards out but Conor Wilford hits it over the bar.
29: SUB: Alfold forced into an early change as the injured Jordon Mase is replaced by Tiago Andrade.
34: CHANCE! Alford’s Asti Mutongerwa and Sam Leaton play a clever one-two but Chris Winterton makes a great save in the Eastbourne Town net. The subsequent Alfold corner is headed clear by Tom Vickers.
35: CHANCE! Zac Attwood goes through 1v1 but once again he can’t convert one of his countless chances and Luis Correia saves well with his feet.
38: CHANCE! This time Nathan Crabb is played in 1v1 but his shot goes straight at the keepers outstretched leg.
39: Jamie Chilsworth puts a wicked ball into the box and Dan Hull scuffs his clearance just past the post and pass a diving Chris Winterton to put the ball out for a corner.
42: Asti Mutongerwa is tripped outside the area for Alfold giving them a free kick in a promising area but the wall does its job effectively.
45: The final play of the half sees Alfold have a corner just before halftime but it dosen’t lead to anything.
46: SUB: Kieran Joseph replaces Charles Jacques for Alfold who still would have been feeling the effects of his earlier injury.
50: Sam Leaton thinks he is through on goal for Alfold but a fantastic lunge from the Dan Hull prevents the chance.
53: Tiago Andrande is yellow carded for Alfold.
55: Conor Wilford whips a free kick into the Eastbourne Town box but Chris Winterton claims it comfortably.
58: Alfold keeper Luis Correia has lost two balls in the space of 1 minute with two sweeping clearances from long balls over the top of his defence.
60: Eastbourne Town have a corner whipped into the box, the keeper misses his punch but there is no one in yellow to head into the empty net.
63: The game has turned scrappy with both teams gifting each other possession and giving away lots of unneccessary fouls.
67: Considering Eastbourne are 3rd highest scoring and Alford are 5th highest scoring in the league so far, the amount of chances both sides have missed is surprising.
68: CHANCE! Sam Cole clears of the line from Sam Leaton who dribbled around a few defenders and got a shot away, best chance of the second half from either side so far.
70: SUB: Nathan Crabb and Tom Vickers to be replaced by Sam Scott and Tom McDonald for Eastbourne Town.
72: CHANCE! Chris Winterton makes a great save to his right after a shot from Asti Mutongerwa.
76: Luis Correia once again sweeps up after a long ball from the Eastbourne midfield.
80: CHANCE! George Taggart with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box but Luis Correia makes a fantastic down save to his left, Eastbourne staring to apply the pressure into the last 10 minutes of the game.
85: Sam Cole gets down to the byline and smashes the ball back across goal but it hits Tom McDonald and flies over the bar for a goal kick.
87: Eastbourne play with the ball on the edge of the Alfold to try and find a breakthrough, but the ball to Sam Cole by Tom McDonald runs out of play for a goal kick.
89: GOAL! The ball is played over the top to by Sam Scott to Tom McDonald, he holds it up lays it back to the Zac Attwood and with what seems like his 10th chance of the game he slots it past the helpless Luis Correia. 1-0 Eastbourne Town!
90+2: Late free kick for Alfold with Luis Correia going up for it. However the cross into the box was poor and with the clearance the Referee ends proceedings here today.
FT: Eastbourne town 1-0 Alfold Town
