Commoners pay the penalty

Steve Mote battles for the ball during Little Common's 2-0 at home to AFC Uckfield Town on Saturday. Picture by Steve Hunnisett (SUS-141129-170800002)

A missed second half penalty after the opposition had a player sent-off proved costly for Common in just their second home league loss of the season on Saturday.

Common went into the Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two match without both of their usual central defenders. Zack McEniry was suspended and Jerome Smith was a late withdrawal through injury.

The hosts, nonetheless, played fairly well for the majority of the first half. Common kept the ball quite well and fashioned a few half chances, but it was Uckfield who led at the break. Elliott Wood scored the goal with a long range strike which he took early.

Common got on top in the second half and you sensed a goal was coming when the game’s major talking point occurred. Dan Hill put the ball in the net immediately after Uckfield handled on the goal-line, but the referee awarded a penalty rather than a goal and sent-off David Harris. Steve Morris then hit the crossbar with the spot-kick.

Common’s fourth missed penalty of the season took the wind out of their sails and they conceded a second goal, again to a shot from outside the area. Common goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell might have been a little unsighted, but will feel he could have done better with Howard Davey’s effort.

Common: Cruttwell; R. Mote, S. Mote, Eldridge, Sherwood; Bristow (MacDonald), Hill (Gould), Brown, Denny (McTear); Morris, Hole.

See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for the reaction of Little Common player-manager Russell Eldridge and all the latest news from the club.