10-man Common clinch splendid victory

Common also did it the hard way by coming from behind to beat top six hopefuls Oakwood 2-1 after having their goalkeeper sent-off in the first half.

Goals from Lewis Hole and Steve Morris gave Common their second successive Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two victory.

Common player-manager Russell Eldridge said: “It was an excellent win and considering the circumstances, probably one of our best performances of the season.

“When you take into account the way the game went, the group were fantastic the way they responded and a lot of people commented on how well we played.”

The first half was a fairly even affair which Common might just have edged, but their chances appeared to be dealt a major blow when goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell was dismissed for a foul well outside his penalty area.

“He was a long way out of his goal and we felt maybe Jerome (Smith) would’ve got back to make a tackle,” added Eldridge. “It could’ve been a yellow card, but unfortunately for us he gave a red card.”

It was Common’s second red card of the season and both of them have come against Oakwood. Eldridge took over the gloves.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Common kept two up-front and carved out a couple of chances towards the end of the first half yet failed to make the goalkeeper work.

Common also started the second period quite brightly only to fall behind to a quick break. Oakwood worked the ball across the box and Thomas Frankland fired across Eldridge into the corner.

The way Common reacted, however, was fantastic. They got back on level terms when a great flick from Morris found strike partner Hole and he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper.

Common were now on the front foot and duly grabbed a winner. A Morris cross from out wide deflected off an Oakwood defender and looped into the net.

Oakwood didn’t really come back at Common after that and the hosts almost added a third goal when Dom Bristow, who had an excellent game in midfield, was millimetres away from converting Jared Lusted’s ball across the penalty box.

Common: Cruttwell; Feakins (Crathern), McEniry, Smith, Sherwood; Eldridge, Bristow; Denny, Lusted (Wills); Morris (Buckley), Hole.