Boars set Sussex groundhop R-off and running
Roffey – 3
C Chedzey 21’ J Mase 40’ S Findlay 51’
AFC Varndeanians – 1
E Roeg (p) 19’
25th October 2024
Roffey had to come from a goal down to take all three points as the Southern Combination Football League Groundhop kicked off on the Friday night, a mild evening on the north-eastern edge of Horsham saw a good crowd enjoying a fantastic welcome at the Theatre of Tree’s.
To be fair the hosts were only behind for a couple of minutes after Ezra Roeg put AFC Varndeanians ahead from twelve yards, the home side went in front just before the break & an early second half strike enabling them to play out the remainder despite some late pressure from those in red & black.
Both keepers were busy in the opening stages, AFC’s Sonni Nealgrove pushing away a point-blank effort whilst at the opposite end Monty Watson-Price had to produce a flying save to palm a Tom Boyle drive over his crossbar.
But on eighteen minutes Ricardo Fernandes brought Damien Theodore down inside the area and Roeg despatched the penalty to give the visitor’s the lead, but parity was restored moments later when Cavan Chedzey converted a Shaun Findlay delivery.
The scorer almost doubled his tally for those adorned in blue on the half hour, escaping down the right he unleashed a thumping drive over the reach of Nealgrove only for the ball to crash back off the bar, closely followed by a looping header that landed on top of the net.
But just before the interval the hosts did get their noses in front, Jordan Mase connecting with another cross from the flank, the keeper making the initial block but the ricochet came back off the front man and over the unguarded goal line.
Roffey made it three early in the second period when another Chedzey effort was saved but Findlay was on hand to stab home, within moments Tom Tolfrey almost added a fourth but his shot from the right side of the box was wide of the back post.
The remaining stages saw Varndeanians up the pressure looking for a way back into the contest, however a strong blue backline held firm for all three points. F/T: 3-1
Competition: Southern Combination Football League Premier Division
Venue: Bartholomew Way
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Surface: Grass
Programme: £2
Attendance: 307
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