Results

A first half Mark Probert hat-trick inspired Newhaven to an excellent 5-1 win at Oakwood, on Saturday afternoon.

This comfortable victory for the Dockers, at Tinsley Lane, sees them open up a six point gap at the top of Division Two, and they have now won 10 of their first 13 league games back in senior football.

Probert was at his instinctive best as his first two goals came from rebounds. His third was a well taken shot across the home goalkeeper before half-time.

Richie Watton missed a penalty but Ebou Jallow scored with his first touch to make it four. Dave Neathey scored from the spot for an Oakwood consolation but Lee Robinson found a Newhaven fifth with the last kick of the game.

Newhaven made two changes from the side that started the 5-2 win against Midhurst the week before. Freddie Beale returned to the starting line-up, in place of Daniel Murray, and Probert started ahead of Jallow. Murray, Jallow, Jason Edwards and Tom Stevenson were on the bench.

The opening exchanges of the game were even and both teams were trying to pass it around on an excellent surface. You certainly wouldn’t of known it had rained for a lot of the week.

However, Newhaven, just as they have in the past two weeks, got an early goal to take the lead. It was 13 minutes in when a Naim Rouane cross was met by Watton. His effort was going wide but Dave Altendorff turned it towards goal with a header. The ball was cleared off the line but Probert was on hand to steer it in to the net.

Oakwood weren’t without chances but they were mainly from long range.

Probert miscued a Robinson cutback but found his, and the team’s, second after 25 minutes. Robinson drove in from the right and his ball across the box was palmed away by the home goalkeeper. The ball again fell to the feet of Probert and he turned it in for 0-2.

Rouane felt he should of had a penalty when he had his leg clipped by a defender, but he managed to get a shot away, which was saved, and the referee gave a corner.

A couple of teasing crosses in to the Newhaven box were just about dealt with as Oakwood looked for a way back in to the game.

That task became harder just before the break as Probert completed his hat-trick. Beale, playing at left back, advanced forward with the ball and sent a pass through for Probert. The midfielder didn’t have to break stride as he took one touch to set, before striking left footed, across the keeper, and in to the far corner.

The start of the second half again saw Oakwood push forward in search of a goal. The Dockers defence were standing firm and reducing the hosts to shots from outside the area.

Newhaven had a chance to extend their lead when Watton was fouled inside the area. He picked himself up and took the spot kick but saw his effort saved by the legs of the Oakwood goalkeeper.

Jallow came off the bench, replacing Rouane, and it paid immediate dividends as he scored with his first touch. Robinson worked his way in to the box and found the run of Jallow. His first contribution of the game was to calmly place the ball in to the corner from 12 yards out.

Oakwood had a penalty of their own, with 12 minutes to go, as Ryan Knight was adjudged to of fouled the Oakwood attacker. Neathey took the penalty and found the bottom right corner of the goal, out of the reach of Graham Leach.

With the game nearing an end Robinson scored a fifth for Newhaven. Oakwood had pushed numbers forward and were high up the pitch. Probert picked up the ball in the middle of the park and sent a long pass over the defence for Robinson to run on to. Robinson cut on to his left foot and found the corner of the goal with his slightly scuffed shot.

That turned out to be virtually the last kick of the game as Newhaven picked up three points away from home.

Team:
Graham Leach, Jason Goddard, Scott Edwards, Ryan Knight, Freddie Beale, Sean Breach, Dave Altendorff, Mark Probert, Lee Robinson, Richie Watton (Tom Stevenson), Naim Rouane (Ebou Jallow).