Steyning Town hold off Crawley Down Gatwick to maintain SCFL title bid

They came into the fixture looking to build on the momentum of their previous outing, where two late goals from Alex Brewer secured a dramatic three points against Forest Row.

Sitting second in the table and just three points behind the leaders Haywards Heath, Steyning knew another victory would be crucial in maintaining pressure at the top.

Crawley Down Gatwick had recently managed to climb clear of the bottom of the table.

Steyning started brightly and almost took the lead in the opening minutes when a corner created an early opportunity that was fired wide. That also resulted in a clash of heads that left Crawley Down keeper Will Davis requiring treatment for a head injury, though he was able to continue.

Steyning gradually began to assert themselves, showing greater attacking intent while finding it difficult to break through Crawley’s disciplined defensive line. In the 17th minute, Harry Heath came close to opening the scoring, narrowly placing his effort wide.

Heath was involved again five minutes later when a well-delivered ball from captain Dion Jarvis found him in space, but his effort again drifted wide.

In the 24th minute Heath forced two saves in quick succession from Davis before the ball eventually ran out for a goal kick. The breakthrough finally arrived two minutes later when a Steyning corner caused problems in the Crawley box, allowing Marcus Allen to finish.

Heath saw another attempt sail over the bar in the 29th minute, while Jarvis thought he had doubled the advantage in the 34th minute only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Finn Daniel-Yeomans had one final opportunity for Steyning, but his effort went out for a goal kick. The half ended with Steyning holding a narrow 1–0 advantage.

Steyning began the second half with the same attacking intent. Within two minutes of the restart, both Harry Heath and Callum Dowdell tested the Crawley defence with efforts on goal. Moments later, Marcus Allen came close to doubling the lead when his shot struck the post and bounced away.

The hosts did not have to wait long for a second. In the 50th minute, Alex Brewer found the net to extend Steyning’s advantage to 2-0.

Steyning continued to press forward, with Allen sending another effort wide from a corner in the 55th minute before Dion Jarvis played Brewer through three minutes later, only for keeper Davis to make the save.

Brewer had his second in the 61st minute to put Steyning firmly in control at 3-0. Despite the scoreline, the match remained competitive.

Gatwick pulled a goal back in the 74th minute when Tariq Vincent was played through on goal and calmly slotted the ball past Mitch Bromage to the left. Steyning looked to restore their three-goal cushion soon after, with Evan Hoarty delivering a dangerous ball into the box that was cleared.

Further chances followed, with Jared Rance going close in the 83rd minute as Steyning searched for a fourth. However, the visitors set up a tense finish in the closing moments when a cross in the 89th minute was turned home to make it 3–2.

Steyning captain Dion Jarvis was shown a red card for something he said in the 93rd minute..

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WEST SUSSEX LEAGUE

Yapton Reserves lost 5-2 at home to Stedham Reserves in West Sussex League Division 3C.

Yapton played well in the latter stages, but early on seemed to suffer after a lay-off dating back to last year because of waterlogged pitches.

Stedham were 3-0 up after 25 minutes and, after Eddie Manwill pulled one back, scored their fourth in the final minute of the first half.

Thry got a fifth in the 62nd minute before Jake Dean made a tremendous save for Yapton – and eventually they began to dominate. But, of all the openings they made, only one was successful, Manwill again the scorer.