Roffey win seven goal thriller: Eastbourne United 3 – 4 Roffey

Naim Rouane’s young Boars made the windswept journey to early pacesetters Eastbourne United for a game that even at this early stage of the season, could be called a six pointer. They were without Dan Pearse, Bailey Moyo, Stan Berry, James Pearse and Jamie Smith but welcomed back Pat Gibbs after an extended injury break, Charlie Gibson after international 6 aside duty, and included new signing Callum Kilkenny for his debut.

The first half an hour of this match will live long in the memory, as it produced an amazing six goals in the gale force winds and driving rain. Three minutes in and United keeper Alieu Secka was deceived by the wind and left stranded outside his area leaving Evan Hoarty with an empty net but he unselfishly passed to Callum Chesworth to tap in his first goal after return from injury. The lead lasted 2 minutes as a return pass from Tom Caplin to keeper Charlie Burton went wide of him and into the net for the home team’s equaliser. Two defensive mistakes in the first five minutes maybe hinted at what was to follow.

The wind was making defending tricky with the flight of the ball unpredictable and even ground passes being affected. Nine minutes and the hosts took the lead when Callum Barlow turned his man in the box and found the bottom corner. Four minutes later Jordan Mase’s free kick forced a good save from Secka and the ball came back off him too quickly for Hoarty to keep his effort under the bar. The Boars didn’t have to wait long for a goal as two minutes later, Chesworth jinked his way into the box and crossed for Hoarty to hook the ball home.

Spectators were considering what the final score might be and on twenty-nine minutes they got the next goal as Burton made a close range block from a corner, but Daniel Hull scrambled the ball across the line. Back came Roffey and straight from the restart Charlie Gibson was released down the left and he cut it back for Callum Kilkenny to smash home a debut goal. Just before half time, United gained a free kick in a dangerous position but tried to play it short and were forced wide as the shot went into the side netting. After six goals in thirty minutes, the game finally calmed down as we reached half time.

The second half was less like a basketball match as Roffey gradually began to control much of the possession. But not before Burton had to tip a header over the bar. Mase’s cross was miskicked by a defender ten yards out but the ball rolled to Secka rather than Hoarty. Chesworth had a shot on the turn saved by Secka and Kilkenny shot wide after Mase had been knocked off the ball on the edge of the box. Charlie Gibson had a shot that grazed the post with Secka at full length as Roffey put their hosts under pressure. Fifty-five minutes and Roffey must have thought they had scored when Secka somehow blocked Mase’s effort and the follow ups from Kilkenny, Chesworth and Hoarty were all saved or blocked on the line.  Substitute Max Mesquita was next to be foiled by Secka and Rouane brought on Luca Allen, Hayden Skerry and the returning Pat Gibbs as Roffey sought a winner.

It finally came as we entered stoppage time and marks Roffey’s positive approach as despite a draw at second placed United being a good return, the winner was scored by their right back. Allen got round the back on the left and his cross evaded everyone in front of goal but Luke Harrison coming in at the far post drove it home through a crowd of players. Cue massive celebrations with just two minutes of stoppage time to go. United piled forward in search of an equaliser and the last action came when a high ball into the Boars area was not cleared and Burton had to make double close range save to keep the three points.

It was to the credit of both sided that such a good game had been served up in horrendous conditions but after an even first half, the possession and chances that Roffey had in the second justified their victory and was another sign that this young side is growing in stature and showing the resilience needed to mount a promotion challenge.

Roffey: Burton, Harrison, Gibson, Napper, Meeres, Caplin(Gibbs), Wood, Mase, Chesworth(Mesquita), Kilkenny(Skerry), Hoarty(Allen). Sub:Watson-Price