Mens 1st XI v Eastbourne

Details	Players
Season: Season 2008-2009 Date: 14.03.2009 Time: 14:30 Team: Mens 1st XI Competition: League Location: Home Opponent: Eastbourne Our Score: 3 Opponent Score: 1 Result: Won	Chris Sciandro - 0 Goal(s) Matt Ansell - 0 Goal(s) Andy Williams - 0 Goal(s) James Godber - 0 Goal(s) Joel Shepherd - 0 Goal(s) Chris Binns - 0 Goal(s) Dan Ginnaw - 0 Goal(s) John Massie - 0 Goal(s) David Beales - 0 Goal(s) Craig Paterson - 0 Goal(s) Ben Burriss - 0 Goal(s) Grant Sawyer - 0 Goal(s) Cirdec Atkinson - 0 Goal(s) Chris Marr - 1 Goal(s) Alex Warner - 2 Goal(s)

Match Report(s)

WORTHING 3 EASTBOURNE 1

SCORERS - WARNER (2), MOORE

YELLOW CARDS - SAWYER

With Worthing's recent travels behind them and the defeat to Guernsey put down to bad management!!, Worthing prepared for the big league encounter with local rivals and title contenders Eastbourne. Having learnt from the Guernsey experience a managerial decision was forged in Tedmo's car late on Sunday night, with captain Ansell, club captain Johnny Massie and a slighlty drunk aussie..Joel!! After various discussions about positions and penetration...(Joel) we decided to get down to talking about the hockey... This meeting of great minds realised that we needed to tighten the midfield and make the Worthing goal a tight and difficult place to get to. Come Saturday everyone was looking ready and up for the match, Massie started and lasted the distance in the heart of the Worthing midfield playing a crucial role in this performance and 3pts. With Grant and Dan Ginnaw leading the line, Worthing started brightly and in the opening exchanges seemd the brighter of the two sides. Williams impressed down the right and the impressive Shepherd sprayed the ball from defence into attack. Excellent play from Sciandro fed Dan Ginnaw, his pace and skill took him past defenders and then a cool head (and a financial incentive) won him a short corner. Alex Warner stepped up and buried the ball past a desperate diving keeper. An unstoppable shot and a perfect start. Eastbourne showed why they were top of the league with an immediate response. The young athletic side attacked at pace and for a 10 minute period Worthing had to turn their attentions to defending. Eventually Eastbourne got their reward when Beales was judged to have tripped the forward and they were awarded a penalty. This was calmly put away. 1-1 and the game was in the balance. With Williams taking a rest due to a reaction to a vegetarian snack before the game, Andy Moore stepped into right half and played his part in good attacking moves involving Ben Burriss and Alex Warner. Having Massie as a cover behind him allowed Warner the freedom to press forward. Worthing's pressure eventually resulted in another short corner. The initial shot was saved however the ever sharp Moore pounced and from a tight angle found the far corner. 2-1 and time for half time. In the second half Eastbourne pressed, however the Wortihng side held firm as a team and as agreed at half time sat back and hit Eastbourne on the counter. Eastbourne were awarded short corners, but a combination of saves from the keeper, poor shots and good defence kept them at bay. With the front two of Atkinson and Humphries providing Worthing with an attacking threat Worthing always looked dangerous on the break. After a fantastic pass from Warner, Humphries collected the ball wide, powering into the 'D' he got what was required, a short corner. Warner stepped up and fired another missile into the top corner, 3-1 and in the driving seat. Eastbourne continued to come at Worthing but the team were determined to resist, an inspired save from Binns kept the score at 3-1 and good play from Sawyer and Burriss won another short corner for Worthing. A slick slipped move and Burriss tucked home, however this was disallowed due to movement in the 'D' before the push came out. Worthing saw the final moments of the game out well, and sealed a fital 3 pts to put themselves back on top of the league. Impressive performances from Massie, Sciandro, Beales and Warner was at the heart of the win, however every player did their bit and this was a real team effort. Worthing now have 3 away matches left. They are going to need to win all 3 if they are to stay top. This starts next week with another top of the table clash with Blackheath. TEAM: Binns, Shepherd, Godber, Beales, Williams, Warner, Massie, Humphries, Sciandro, Ginnaw, Saywer. Bench: Burriss, Atkinson, Moore...Ansell (ill and sick!!)

The Sun Dreamteam Ratings (from roving reporter Teddy 'Warwick' Turdville)

Binns 7 - Miracle save at crucial time in the game.

Godber 8 - A vintage Jimmy BN's performance, soaked up the Eastbourne pressure like a sponge.

Shepherd 7 - A rock at the back, a couple of loose passes though early on.

Williams 7 - Outsanding first 10, but keeps wanting to come off?

Massie 8 - Rolled back the years with a quality performance, controlled the game, protected the defence throughout.

Beales 7 - Always a 7 or 8, ever reliable down the left, must be an outside chance for player of the season?

Warner 8 - Commanding display, much more positive attitude and his 2 short corner strikes were just too hot to handle.

SCIANDRO 8 - SUN STAR MAN, His tackling, positional sense and distribution helped to gel the whole side together.

Humphries 7 - Won the short corner that brought the vital 3rd goal with some typically strong direct running.

Ginnaw 7 - Great movement and energy in opening period caused Eastbourne's defence problems, but also showed intelligence to buy the first short corner, from which the team and him personally profited.

Sawyer 6 - Not his day, was unlucky with the yellow, for which the umpired did apologise after the game. Has been a real inspiration in 2nd half of the season and will need his goals in last 3 games.

Moore 7 - Great attitude, great work rate and some silky skills as well. Deserved his goal.

Atkinson 7 - Looks more threatening with another attacker alongside him, as has the skills to go past that first man with ease and open things up for his strike partner.

Burriss 7 - Full of endeavour, always available and has a great eye for a pass in that final third.

Ansell 6 - Inspirational skipper made the important change of tactics work, full of positive chat before the game, but unfortunately not well enough to play, except for 5 mins where he quite literally looked like he was going to poo himself.