Match Report
Newhaven 4-0 Shoreham (HT 1-0)
Callum Connor 26, Lee Robinson PEN 47, Daniel Skett OG 64, Ryan Walton 87
Newhaven completed an excellent Easter weekend as they comfortably beat Shoreham 4-0 at the Trafalgar Ground on bank holiday Monday.
Callum Connor, Lee Robinson and Ryan Walton were all on target for the third game running, and an own goal completed the scoring for the Dockers who have now opened up a five-point gap in third place.
Joint-manager Sean Breach was pleased with the win against a Shoreham team that had become a bit of a bogey side for the Dockers.
“We knew Shoreham have had a bit of a change in personnel recently, with the manager and a few players leaving, but that only makes it a bit of an unknown for us,” said Breach.
“Also Shoreham have always been a bit of a bogey side for us so we knew not to take them lightly. Fortunately, the lads were on it from the off and we dominated pretty much the whole game with Bussy in goal rarely troubled.”
Dockers left back Scott Dartnall was first to try his luck in the match when his firm drive from outside the box flew just wide.
Robinson then saw a chance kept out by goalkeeper Dan Hutchins, in what would turn out to be a string of saves he would make against the 54-goal striker.
The visitors’ Ieuan Strong saw a long range strike comfortably held by Jake Buss, before the home side broke the deadlock.
Olly Davies played Robinson in behind the Shoreham defence and, just like at East Preston on Saturday, he squared for Connor to poke his side in front.
Hutchins stopped Robinson doubling the advantage when he was quickly out to close down the striker’s chance, and five minutes before the break Ryan Knight glanced an Adam Kneller free-kick just wide of goal.
But the second goal did come for Newhaven just over a minute in to the second half. Robinson was knocked off balance in the area by Hutchins, after being rounded, and referee Lloyd Higgins pointed to the spot. Robinson took the kick himself and sent Hutchins the wrong way for 2-0.
Addlight Magwidi had a chance to halve the deficit for Shoreham but he fired wide when one-on-one with Buss.
It was a similar story at the other end as Robinson found himself in on goal but Hutchins again denied him with a strong arm.
There was, however, nothing he could do about goal number three as he saw defender Dan Skett fire Olly Davies’ excellent cross in to the top corner of his own net.
Magwidi saw a goal ruled out for offside, a decision that looked marginal, and Newhaven substitute Walton had a firm header pushed away by Hutchins.
Davies couldn’t quite turn and keep his shot low enough as he struck the corner of post and bar but the hosts did find a fourth with three minutes left to play.
Robinson was played through by Walton, but, for the fourth time in the match, the striker was denied by Hutchins. This time, however, the rebound fell for Walton who made no mistake scoring his third in three games.
There was still time for a couple more Robinson chances, one which was squared for Walton, who saw his effort blocked, and the other he dragged wide right on the final whistle.
“In the first half we struggled with our final ball a lot and just needed that little bit of quality at the vital moment, but the wind was playing a big part in that,” added Breach.
“The second half we started quickly and got the important second goal and it was pretty much plain sailing after that. It was a solid performance which capped off a very busy March and an even busier last couple of weeks for us where we have had five games in 14 days.
“We have struggled a lot with injuries and suspensions but have got through it and to win all five of those games, score 23 goals and keep two clean sheets is a fantastic effort from the players.
“In fact, we’ve only conceded two goals in the last four games and both of those were from very debatable penalties. Very debatable is being polite too!”
Newhaven: Jake Buss, Daniel Murray, Scott Dartnall, Jayson Sowter, Ryan Knight (Brent Stonard), Adam Kneller (c), Olly Davies, Wes Millis, Lee Robinson, Ebou Jallow (Ryan Walton), Callum Connor (Kyle Woolven). Unused subs: Conor Sidwell, Sean Breach.
Booked: Millis
Attendance: 64
Officials: Lloyd Higgins, Alan Green, Katie Wilde