Dockers on the up at last

Not since the days of Glen Burvill have the Fort Roaders reached such giddy heights as the Dockers slid down the County League into the murky depths of the basement division.

The current campaign started none too brightly either as Allan Winton's men won just one of their first eight games after yet another miserable pre-season.

Winton resigned, handed over the reins to Dave Clark, and the transformation has been startling. Under Clark Newhaven have risen from the bottom spot to seventh after picking up 33 points from 18 games, and expectancy is growing on the shore as the long-suffering Dockers fans lick their lips at the prospect of a promotion challenge next season.

'I can't wait for next season to start,' said Dave.

'I expect the current squad to stay and I'm also hoping to make a couple of additions to really help us make that step up.

'Pre-season has been poor down here for a while but I've got ideas of what I want to do and the staff I want to employ, and I'm quietly confident that we'll mount a challenge next year.

'We always start poorly here, probably because our pre-seasons haven't been up to scratch, but if we get off to a flyer then we'll take some catching. We usually have to play catch up so points in the bag early may prove crucial.'

On Saturday Newhaven were celebrating yet another victory, this time at former promotion hopefuls, St. Francis Rangers.

After soaking up early pressure the Dockers took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring twice in the 23rd minute. A deep free kick from dead-ball specialist Mark Mayo was met by 17-year old Dave McNeil and his looping header drifted into the net. Then, moments later, Pete Botting cut inside from the right and delivered a ball to Gary Holmes on the left whose pinpoint cross was met by Paul Cheal at the far post and he slotted home from all of two yards.

A fortuitous reply from Wilson on 34 minutes failed to dampen Dockers' spirits and Cheal's second, on 43 minutes, from yet another Mayo delivery, sealed a terrific win.

But, while the outlook appears rosy at Fort Road, the prospects of Piddinghoe Avenue staging top flight football next season all but disappeared on Saturday as the Tye were smashed 5-0 at home to Chichester City United. See page 46 for Dave Robinson's match report.