Results

East Preston 0-5 Newhaven (HT 0-5)
Lee Robinson 12, Callum Connor 26, 44, 45, Ryan Walton 28

Callum Connor hit his first senior hat-trick as Newhaven scored five first half goals in a 5-0 win at East Preston on Saturday afternoon.

Lee Robinson and Ryan Walton were also on target in a rampant opening 45 minutes for the Dockers, who consolidated third place in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division with the victory.

Joint-manager Andy Cook had mixed emotions after the game, claiming his side could have pushed on for more in the second half.

“To win any game away from home 5-0 is pleasing,” said Cook. “However, we were actually a little disappointed as we should have doubled that.

“But, on reflection, it was another three points, a clean sheet and when some other teams around us slipped up we have to be happy.”

Robinson, the league’s top scorer, broke the deadlock for a third consecutive match as he pounced on a misplaced pass and finished well past home goalkeeper Ben Purkis in the 12th minute.

Connor, who notched twice on his return to the team at AFC Uckfield Town, was on the score sheet again after 26 minutes when he received a pass from Robinson, turned right back Louis Coulson and slotted past Purkis for 2-0.

The third goal came for the visitors just two minutes later when Robinson this time picked out Walton, 12 yards out, and he made no mistake side footing in to the back of the net.

Newhaven stopper Jake Buss wasn’t a spectator for the whole half, having to be at his best to keep out the hosts’ Dan Huet when through one-on-one.

Robinson completed a hat-trick of assists for the Dockers’ fourth just before half time. The striker was released in the channel by Olly Davies and unselfishly squared for Connor to double his tally for the afternoon.

And Connor completed his hat-trick – a perfect hat-trick no less – a minute later when Davies’ corner was headed in to his direction by Ryan Knight and his flicked back-header looped over the defender on the line for his third and his side’s fifth.

The second half failed to live up to the first’s heights and a combination of player injuries and the fact there was another fixture less than 48 hours later meant the game filtered out.

One particular high note of the second half was the debut of substitute Brent Stonard, who is just 16 years old.

“We set our sights very high now,” added Cook. “Which is why we wanted more goals, especially as we scored five in the first half.

“However, it didn’t happen, but it continues our winning run and it was good to see Cal Connor get his hat-trick, Lee Robinson gets yet another goal and Ryan Walton also scores again which was pleasing.

“Injuries to James Rhodes and Scott Edwards took the gloss off it and we have got to say the pitch was in a terrible condition, which didn’t help matters. But we consolidated third place and our aim is to finish there come the end of the season.”

Newhaven: Jake Buss, Jason Goddard, Scott Dartnall, Jayson Sowter, Ryan Knight, Scott Edwards (Brent Stonard), Olly Davies, James Rhodes (Ebou Jallow), Lee Robinson, Ryan Walton (Ian Robinson), Callum Connor. Unused subs: Kyle Woolven, Sean Breach.
Booked: Sowter

Attendance: 40
Officials: Jamie Wells, Gerald Miles, Nigel Robinson (Kieran Ridley)