Eastbourne Town are hosting Alfold here today with the home side looking to continue their hot start to the season having won five of their last six. Eastbourne are without their top goal scorer Temba Bright today, we will see how they will fair in front of goal in his absence. Stanley Challenor will be taking you through the action as it takes place.
Eastbourne starting XI
- Chris Winterton 2.Matty Astle 3.Sam Cole 4. Dan Bolwell 5. Dan Rogers 6. Dan Hull 7. Tom Vickers 8. Simon Johnson 9. Zac Attwood 10. Nathan Crabbe 11. George Targgart
Subs
12. Matthew Barbosa 14. Sam Scott 15. Josh Mailey 16. Tom McDonald 17. Ethan Strevett
Alfold starting XI
1. Luis Correia 2. Conor Wilford 3. Jamie Chilsworth 4. Jamie Wanstall 5. Clyde Jacques 20. Dan Mobsby 7. Kelvin Lucas 8. Jordan Mase 9. Ash Mutongerwa 10. Renato Carvalho 11. Sam Leaton
Subs
12. Kieron Joseph 13. James Stallan 14. Ayo Oke 15. Ryan Harris 17. Tiago Andrade
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold, Line Ups, 24/10/2020, The Saffrons, Taken by Emillia Hawkins
Alfold get us underway here at The Saffrons.
1′ Alfold come racing out the blocks applying pressure from the get go, a diagonal ball from the right into Mutongerwa on the edge of the box but the centre foward just cannot sort out his feet and the ball is cleared. This is a very lively start to the contest.
5′ Lucas has started really brightly on this left hand side giving Astle a lot of issues early, he cuts inside onto his favoured right foot but the shot doesn’t trouble the keeper and flys wide past the post.
6′ How things can change so quickly this high line of Alfolds gets them in trouble, as a simple ball in behind puts Crabbe in on goal who forces an excellent initial save from Correia low down to his right. But the keeper can only push the ball into the path of Atwood who strikes it well only to be denied again by the out stretched foot of Correia who manages to get to his feet quickly and pull off a sensational double save.
8′ Another chance for Eastbourne a ball down the right hand Astle puts a good cross into Crabbe who never really gets hold of the shot and drags the ball wide.
14′ Its Alfold this time the very direct approach is creating them some chances, Leaton receives the ball in a dangerous area but he doesn’t connect with the ball cleanly and Hull manages to clear.
Dan Hull performing a sliding tackle on Sam Leaton
20′ They have looked the most dangerous down this left hand side Alfold, it’s tidy feet from Lucas to beat his man but his cross just narrowly misses the head of Carvalho and the danger fizzles out.
22′ Trouble here for Jacques as the defender is on the floor and seems to be in some pain. But it seems like he will continue.
27′ Once more its a fairly simple ball that has given Eastbourne trouble, a ball played in front of Mutongerwa the striker has chopped inside and Hull has to bring him down just outside the box.
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold, Alfold free-kick, 24/10/2020, The Saffrons, taken by Mathias Kamfjord
28′ No real conviction in the free kick attempt and it sails over the bar.
29′ More injury worries for Alfold as Mase cannot carry on and is subsequently replaced by Andrade.
33′ Alfold again causing issues it’s excellent feet from Mutongerwa and works the ball to Leaton within a crowded box and he forces a smart save out of Winterton down to his left.
35′ An excellent ball through by the Eastbourne captain puts Atwood one on one with the keeper but Correia stays big and Atwood cant get it past his large frame. Another big chance blown by Eastbourne.
38′ It is almost a carbon copy of the previous chance a simple ball in behind the Alfold defence into Crabbe who cannot punish them as he shoots straight at the goalkeeper.
39′ One end to the other just like that and Chilsworth gets down the left flank crosses the ball into the box where Hull swipes at the ball gets it all wrong and calls upon Winterton to claw the ball away for a corner. Both keepers are really putting on an excellent display here in the first half.
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold, Dan Mobsby takes on Eastbourne’s number 9 Zac Attwood, The Saffrons, 44th minute, 26/10/2020, SCFL fixture, taken by Ashley Adamson-Edwards
Half-time
A fairly stale end to what was a very high action first 45 minutes, both teams being thwarted by superb keeping efforts.
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold FC, The Saffrons, 24th October 2020, Photo taken by Jordan Grainger
Eastbourne gets us back underway, just the one change at the break Joseph replaces Jacques.
51′ Not as bright a start to the second as we saw in the first, both teams struggling to keep the ball in any dangerous areas, but Alfold manage to work the ball through to Leaton who thinks he is in on goal but another delightful challenge from Hull stops him in his tracks.
54′ The first yellow card of the game is brandished to Mutongewa for a push on Johnson. This is turning into quite a feisty afair all of a sudden. Let’s hope the referee doesn’t lose control of this game.
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold, Match – second half, 24/10/2020, The Saffrons, taken by Mathias Kamfjord
60′ Really smart work in corner by Taggart winning Eastbourne their first corner of the match.
61′ It’s a really dangerous corner from the left hand side, the ball is flicked on at the near post across the face of goal but no Eastbourne player can latch on to it and the ball is cleared into touch.
66′ Eastbourne are starting to take a strangle hold on this game over the last 10 minutes as Crabbe gets down the byline once more puts in a teasing cross but Eastbourne have had difficulty all game getting numbers into the opposition box so therefore once again nobody is there to meet it.
Eastbourne Town vs Alfold on Saturday 24, October 2020 Photo by Oliver Jeffery
69′ Against the run of play Alfold find themselves in an unusual position in this second half behind the Eastbourne back four, Leaton does an excellent job of beating the defender his shot beats the goal keeper but Cole superbly manages to clear the ball off the line. Could this be a turning point in the contest.
72′ It’s a double change for Eastbourne as they look like they are trying to go for it now with time running out. Vickers and Crabbe are replaced by Scott and McDonald.
73′ Alfold yet again showing everyone that they are in this game, as Lucas, who has been kept relatively quiet throughout this second half manages to sneak a shot from the edge of the box but Winterton matches up to the attempt as he has done all game.
80′ Eastbourne are mounting on the pressure here as some good work from the substitutes forces the ball inside into Taggart in the very crowded box, he strikes the ball with some real venom but low and behold Correia as he has done numerous times today pulls off a world class save and somehow keeps this tie level. If this game ends up scoreless one of these goalkeepers will be taking home the man of the match award.
85′ Alfold trying to relieve some pressure a deep free kick is delivered into the box it is met with a large looping header by Andrade but they can’t win the second ball and Bolwell can clear.
89′ Goal Attwood Eastbourne Town 1-0 Alfold
Absolute bedlam here at the Saffrons the high line of Alfold gets them into trouble once more. A ball is played in behind the right channel to the lighting fast McDonald who cuts inside on to his favoured left foot, he squares the ball to Attwood who bends the ball into the far corner. Surely that will give Eastbourne all the points now.
90+2′ Last chance saloon here for Alfold as they have a free kick by the by line on the left hand side, the keeper is coming up could we see even more drama here.
90+2 A poor ball in that doesn’t even beat the first man and Astle launches the ball clear. Anywhere will do for Eastbourne right now.
Full time.
Eastbourne Town v Alfold, 24th October 2020, The Safrons, Full-time, Photo taken by Cameron Clark
That’s it there goes the final whistle what an incredible end to an exuberating game it was a shame to see either team lose. Eastbourne continue their brilliant start to the season with promotion surely the clubs sole objective and they are one step closer to it.
