A right battlefield

[Mike May]

Monday 03 May 2015
Hooper Holt Mid Sussex - Premier League
Smallfield ( 0 ) 3 Rotherfield ( 0 ) 1
( Tennent 47, Pearson 70pen, Sparks 85.) ( og 75.)

A RIGHT BATTLEFIELD

Fresh from their Montgomery Cup Final triumph on Saturday it was back to the bread and butter of the league when entertaining 6th place Rotherfield on a pleasantly warm Monday morning at the Plough.

Fielding a slightly changed side from last Saturdays success, the homesters in the early stages had their work cut out in holding a determined Rotherfield outfit eager to lower the homesters colours, kicking off first toward the Plough Road end they subjected the Smallfield defence to a fair bit of pressure, but the Field were not for turning as the half ended with both sides unable to assert their authority. HT 0 - 0

Come the second half and the homesters got off to a flyer inside the first couple of minutes when Tom Tennent out left found space to fire home Smallfields opener ( details of the goal a bit sketchy as i was a bit late emerging from the clubhouse after admiring the Montgomery Cup standing proudly behind the bar ) this goal gave the homesters the impetus to push on further, and on 70 were rewarded when Ryan Pearson ( the scourge of all centrebacks ) was hauled down in the box, getting up and after dusting himself down, he then drove the ball home wide of the keepers lefthand for the second goal. 2-0 Smallfield.

Rotherfield far from out of the game continued to push forward, and on 75 were rewarded when a rightwing cross caused uncertainty in the Smallfield ranks with the ball finding the back of the net, apparently off a homesters head to narrow the gap to a single goal. 2-1 Smallfield.

The aptly named Paul Sparks operating on the left then sparked off scenes of delight when with 85 on the clock he then cut inside from the left to fire home an absolute purler past the visitors keeper, to give the home side game set and match and comfirmation that the runners up spot is theirs irrespective of the final game of the season at home to East Grinstead United next Saturday. FT 3-1 Smallfield. Gate :- 30' ish.