Eastbourne Town come into this one off the back of 3 wins in their last 3 games and after beating local rivals Langney Wanderers away from home in their last outing. They are sitting very respectably in 4th place in the Southern Combination Premier Division.
Alfold however come into this after a very inconsistent start to the season which sees them in a mid-table position but do come into this game off the back of a convincing 5-1 away win at Crawley Down Gatwick.
Line ups:
Eastbourne Town starting XI: Winterton(GK), Astle, Cole, Bulwell, Rogers, Hul, Vickers, Johnson, Attwood, Crabb, Taggart
Alfold Starting XI: Correia(GK), Wilford, Chilsworth, Wanstal, Jacques, Mobsy, Lucas, Mase, Mutongerwa, Carvalho, Leaston, Joseph
ETFC subs: Rodrigues-Barbosa, Scott, Mailey, Mcdonald, Strevett
Alfold subs: Oke, Harris, Stallan, Andrade
Coverage of the game will be covered by Luke Hookings…
First Half
0, Alfold get the game underway here at The Saffrons
4, Nothing to really report on so far other than the conditions being really really windy.
6, CHANCE
First effort of the game comes to Alfold which sees Kelvin Lucas strike a shot wide of the far post after beating his man and cutting in onto his right foot,
8, BIG CHANCE
The ball drops to Zac Attwood at close range who sends the ball towards goal and its brilliantly saved by the Alfold keeper, Best chance of the game so far.
10, CHANCE
This time for Alfold again, Lucas picks out Wilford on the right hand side who whips a low ball in which is controlled and hit by Carvalho but he sees his effort dragged wide of the post.
15, CHANCE
Alfold looking dangerous on the counter and this is shown by Dan Leaton who controls the ball, flicks it past his man and has a strike from the right hand side of the box but Dan Hull is there to block the effort away for Eastbourne.
19, ETFC struggling to break Alford down with Clyde Jacques standing out at the back for Alfold.
23, Almost a blow for Alfold as Clyde Jacques is down but he seems to be ok and comes back into play.
27, Conor Wilford with a short range free kick on the edge of the box for Alfold but his effort goes miles over.
32, BIG CHANCE
Mutongerwa slides in Leaton who has a low strike from close range brilliantly kept out by Winterton in the Eastbourne net. should be 1-0 Alfold.
34, BIG CHANCE
Eastbourne catch Alfold sleeping as Vickers plays a lovely ball over the top for Zac Attwood who’s 1 on 1 with the Alfold keeper but its a weak finish straight at him and the chance is gone.
37, BIG CHANCE
Huge chance for Town as this time Vickers plays in Nathan Crabb who is 1 on 1 but he as well hits his shot straight at the keeper.
38, BIG CHANCE
Chances coming thick and fast now and this time its Alfold who attack down the left with Chilsworth and he delivers a low ball in which sees Dan Hull slice the ball towards his own net and it just goes wide of the post.
43, Wilford has a go from distance but it goes high and wide of the Town net.
Half Time
A lively first half but neither team could find a breakthrough with some poor finishing and some good goalkeeping on display.
Second Half
46, Eastbourne Town get the game back underway
51, The ball is slid through for Sam Leaton but it’s brilliantly dealt with by Dan Hull who puts in a perfectly timed slide tackle.
55, Wilford with a free kick which is lobbed towards the Town net but it’s safe hands from the keeper.
59, CHANCE
The wind gets hold of a Jordan Mase corner and it dirfts towards goal, the Alfold keeper reacts well and pushes it away.
65, This time a cross from Nathan Crabb loops towards goal but its more comfortable for the keeper who holds on to it well.
68, BIG CHANCE
Eastbourne can’t clear their lines and the ball falls to Leaton in the box and his shot is goal bound but Cole does brilliantly to clear off the line.
71, Town subs, Vickers and Crabb are replaced by Rodrigues-Barbosa and Mcdonald
73, CHANCE
Ball over the top falls to Lucas for Alford who has his low driven shot is well saved by the keeper.
79, The game has turned into a scrappy affair going into the last 10 minutes.
80, BIG CHANCE
Zac Attwood knocks the ball down from a long throw for George Taggart who sees his fierce effort saved excellently by the Alfold keeper.
85, Sam Cole breaks down the left for Town and whips a ball in powerfully and it deflects off his own ban and goes high over the bar.
89, GOALLLLL TOWN!
Finally a breakthrough, Rodrigues-Barbosa sends a lovely ball through for Mcdonald who cuts in onto his left foot and squares the ball back to Attwood, He takes a touch and drills the ball into the bottom left corner!
EASTBOURNE TOWN 1-0 ALFOLD
90+2, The Alfold keeper is up for a late free kick but it’s cleared away and it’s full time.
FULL TIME
A poor, scrappy second half comes to an exciting end with Zac Attwood’s late strike being the winner and moves Eastbourne Town up to 3rd in the Southern Combination Premier Division.
Alfold will be frustrated after having some good chances in the first half and will be left rueing them after conceding the late winner, they drop down to 13th in the league.
