Eastbourne Town
Football Club
First Team News
The Eastbourne Town fixture against Crawley Town was posponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Eastbourne Town 1 Whyteleafe 0
Ryman League South Division One
Friday 30th December 2011
Eastbourne Town 2 Whitehawk 3
Ryman League South Division One
Monday 26th December 2011
Corinthian Casuals 1 Eastbourne Town 1
Ryman League South Division One
Saturday 17th December 2011
Report by Kieran Poole
Nathan Crabb got his festive wish with a goal to officially end his
drought and earn his side a late 1-1 draw at Corinthian Casuals.
Crabb, who a fortnight ago netted twice at The Saffrons before
floodlight failure meant the match was abandoned, scored on Saturday
with 12 minutes remaining in South-West London. He outpaced two
defenders to latch onto strike-partner Kai Bichard’s neatly threaded
through-ball and calmly finished right-footed past the onrushing
Adam Peck. Crabb had earlier had Town’s only chance to take the
lead in a dismal first-half with a swivel shot which struck the post
in the 25th minute after Peck parried a Ryan Storrie cross from the
right. But Town were made to pay for this when in the 53rd minute,
Casuals took the lead from a set-piece. Paul Honey’s inswinger from
the left was headed towards Kieron Thorp’s goal by Joe Hicks and
turned in by the crafty Saheed Sawkoh who was a constant threat.
Before Crabb’s late finish, Town’s chances to equalise were few and
far between - the clearest opening was a Steve Elliot’s header wide
from a Scott Kirkwood cross in the 67th minute. Casuals could have
re-snatched the lead in injury time from close-range, but Wayne
Finnie’s outstretched leg failed to make contact at the back-post
from an in-swinging corner. This would have been harsh on Town
whose makeshift defence gave Casuals very little throughout.
Stand-in skipper Steve Elliot was backed by makeshift centre-half
Steve May as well as recent acquisitions, Storrie and Dan Bolwell,
who proved their worth in defence and on the wings in attack. Boss
Danny Bloor believed his side was on the end of a “peculiar
refereering display” which saw four Eastbourne Town penalty appeals
turned down. He said, “On another day, we could have had all four.”
He added, “It was peculiar. Certainly with the first. Why would
your centre-forward [Kai Bichard] dive when he’s through and got a
shot on goal?” But Bloor was happy with the character and grit
Town displayed. He said, “We battled very hard. The minimum we
deserved was the draw.”
Eastbourne Town: Thorp 7, Elliot 7, May 7, Storrie 7, Bolwell 7,
Davidson 6, Kirkwood 7, Freeman 5 (Kessack 69’), Bichard 6, Crabb N.
7, Greenfield 6 Subs not used: Godfrey, Simmonds, Geard, Lang
Corinthian Casuals: Peck, Hassell, Ellis, Hicks, Finnie, Honey (Quintyne
69’), Carr, Green, Boosey (Barilli 62’), Sawkoh, Hodges
Bookings: ET: Bichard, Kirkwood CC: None Referee: Maurice Taylor
Goals: ET: Crabb 78’ CC: Sawkoh 53’ Attendance: 92
Mom: Nathan Crabb – alive and kicking again in the box after his
late finish and acrobatic celebration
Merstham 3 Eastbourne Town 0
Ryman League South Division One
Saturday 10th December 2011
Report by Kieran Poole
Eastbourne Town boss Danny Bloor admitted his side were not good
enough on Saturday after being thumped 3-0 by near-table rivals
Merstham. Bloor said, “I thought it was an odd game really because
we had the first opportunity to score. Then they scored a wonder
goal and our players fell apart. “We weren’t good enough
basically. We got exactly what we deserved. Absolutely nothing.”
Merstham’s Sam Tucknott produced a stunning strike from outside the
area to take the lead in the 28th minute. He ran onto a loose ball
on the right and rifled an effort across Kieron Thorp and in after
clipping the underside of the bar. However Town in only the second
minute had created a gilt-edged chance of their own when a long
clearance from captain Nick Fogden was flicked on by Kai Bichard for
strike-partner Nathan Crabb. Crabb’s pace took him away from the
defenders but his shot was straight at the oncoming Merstham
‘keeper, David Wilkinson. Then one minute before half-time, Town
were further made to rue their early possession. Merstham’s
top-scorer Roscoe D'sane struck a volley on the rise from the edge
of the area that nestled into the bottom-left to make it 2-0.
After the break, Town’s efforts on goal were few and far between.
Nathan Crabb went through again on 70 minutes after anticipating a
bouncing ball from a Thorp punt, but saw his lobbed effort rise
straight into Wilkinson’s thankful grasp. After this, Merstham
dominated and wasted numerous opportunities in-front of goal. Town’s
Thorp and his defence did well to keep them out, with notable key
interventions from Steve Elliot and Ryan Storrie amid goalmouth
scrambles. Thorp’s best save was a flick over from a Harry Ottaway
header that looked destined for the top-left on 79 minutes. However
Merstham got their third goal when the busy Tucknott hit his second
pile-driver across Thorp in second-half injury time.
Eastbourne Town: Thorp, Denton, Storrie, Elliot, Fogden (Freeman
85’), Davidson (Greenfield 59’), Kirkwood, May, Bichard, Crabb N.,
Kessack (Crabb S. 53’) Subs not used: Boswell, Lang
Merstham: Wilkinson, Hamlin, Simpson, Moriarty, Broomfield, Thomas,
Tucknott, Hartburn (Ottaway 38’), Wright, Dsane, Savaria
Bookings: ET: Elliot M: Broomfield, Thomas, Simpson Referee: Kyle
Kirkbride
Goals: Merstham: Tucknott 28, 90+2; Dsane 44
Attendance: 113
Man of the match: Kieron Thorp – remained strong under an onslaught
of counter-attacks
Man of the Match Nathan Crabb takes on a Godalming defender
Eastbourne Town 2 Godalming Town
1 (match abandoned after 88 minutes)
The Saffrons Saturday 3rd December
Report by Kieran Poole
Floodlight failure at The Saffrons on Saturday means the sides may
have to meet again in a replay. Eastbourne Town boss Danny Bloor
said, “We had two plus one and a half more injury-time minutes to
play when the lights went. It will go to the FA to decide what
happens.”
After Tuesday’s home victory over Chipstead, Town were buoyed and
took their improving form into the game. Nathan Crabb produced a
superb brace, ending his goal-drought, with two instinctive
striker’s finishes. His first came in the fifth minute when he
calmly finished from 25 yards into an empty net after Godalming
‘keeper, Jamie Norris, came out to challenge his strike partner Kai
Bichard. Bloor was pleased with the pair’s performance. He said,
“Their partnership showed signs it will be very effective.” He
added, “It was fantastic to see Nathan score a couple and it’s good
that Kai is with us full-time now.” Crabb’s second came on 18
minutes when his strong burst into the box was finished well as he
slid past Norris. Godalming were slow to get into the first-half and
were reduced to 10 in the 37th minute when centre-back Damien Smith
was shown a straight red for a professional foul on the pacey Nathan
Crabb. Crabb had earlier nearly grabbed a hat-trick when through
again but his finish went wide.
After the break, the two sides cancelled eachother out. Eastbourne’s
one-man advantage meant they were able to spring several
counter-attacks, but each lacked a killer-finish. Most notably in
the 61st minute, after Bichard won the ball and laid it off to Sam
Crabb on the right whose cross eventually found the run of Owen
Kessack who blasted over. Eastbourne were made to pay for these
misses when Godalming’s late pressure was rewarded when Luke Denton
put past his own ‘keeper in the 83rd minute, meaning for an exciting
finish. However in the 88th minute, the floodlights failed and after
the obligatory 30 minutes, referee Jason Richardson had no choice
but to abandon the game. Bloor added, “In the first-half we were
outstanding. But we should have been leading by more than two by
half-time.”
Eastbourne Town: Thorp 7, Denton 6 (Freeman 87), Storrie 7, Elliot
7, Fogden 7, Davidson 6, Kirkwood 6, Crabb S. 6, Bichard 7, Crabb N.
7, Kessack 7 Subs not used: Greenfield, Bolwell, Lang, Simmonds
Godalming Town: Norris, Cooper, Palmer, Smith, Simeone, Edwards
(Laing 80), Harris, McClurg, Read (Smith 67), Wheeler, Edwards
Bookings: ET: Kessack G: Norris, sub Red cards: ET: - G: Smith
Referee: Jason Richardson
Goals: ET: Crabb 5, 18 G: Denton og 83 Attendance: 157
Man of the match: Nathan Crabb – showed his real striking
credentials
Kai Bichard - two goal hero & man of the match against Chipstead
Eastbourne Town 3 Chipstead 1
Ryman League Division 1 South
Tuesday 29th November at The Saffrons
Report by Kieran Poole
Eastbourne Town secured their first league win since late September
on Tuesday at The Saffrons, with 10 first-team members missing.
Three second-half goals, including a brace from striker Kai Bichard,
saw Town overcome sixth-place Chipstead in cold blustery conditions.
Town had the best chances in the first-half but were unable to
find an end product. Several Luke Denton long-throws caused havoc in
the Chipstead box, with one producing a fine save by keeper Steve
Northwood from a Steve Elliot header in the ninth minute. Striker
Nathan Crabb came close to ending his goal-draught when he outpaced
the Chipstead defence on the left, after being played in by Owen
Kessack, but rattled the bar in the 36th minute. But Town only had
to wait four minutes after the break when in the 49th, Bichard
grabbed his first from an upfield punt by Kieron Thorp. Chipstead’s
defenders and keeper left it for each other and so Bichard was left
with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.
Bichard’s second was a powerful header across the keeper in the 74th
minute after a whipped in-swinging free-kick from the right by Owen
Kessack. Then, five minutes later, Bichard was able to control a
pass into the box and lay off to midfielder Stacey Freeman, whose
calm side-footed finish took a deflection past the wrong-footed
Northwood. Chipstead, however, continued to look for a way back into
the game but were unable to regularly test Thorp in goal, who had
earlier dealt with a long-range effort from Jordon Brown on 70
minutes. But their persistence was rewarded when a Matt York header
found its way in amid a congested penalty area on 82 minutes. This
meant for a tight finish, with Town recently relinquishing an
identical winning position two weeks earlier to Burgess Hill.
However, Towns’ forwards were able to relieve the pressure away from
their defence when the ball came up the pitch, and so Town finished
with all three points.
Boss Danny Bloor was delighted with the hard-earned victory. He said
“Credit to the boys. I thought they were outstanding. We didn’t need
to make a substitution as all 11 gave 110%.”
Bloor was praiseworthy of match winner Bichard. “Kai is a goal
scorer. It was nice to see somebody in the number nine shirt finally
score some goals.”
Eastbourne Town: Thorp, Denton, Storrie, Elliot, Fogden, Freeman,
Davidson, Crabb S., Bichard, Crabb N., Kessack
Subs not used: Greenfield, Bolwell, Lang, Simmonds, Godfrey
Chipstead: Northwood, Davies, Hogg, York, Watkins, O’Shea, Goodchild,
Dolby (Thompson 54), Dalehurst (Wilkins 45), Elliot, Brown
Bookings: Eastbourne Town: Freeman, Davidson
Referee: Graham Kane
Goals: Eastbourne Town: Bichard 49, 74; Freeman 79
Chipstead: York 82.
Mom: Kai Bichard – a strong performance from the striker with a
match-winning brace.
Attendance: 92
Eastbourne Town 0 Walton Casuals 0
Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 26th November at The Saffrons
Report by Jack Gracie
On Saturday, Eastbourne Town were held to a frustrating nil nil draw
at home by Walton Casuals, despite a good second half display. The
game saw the start of a three match run of home games for Town who
are looking to get their season back on track. In his programme
notes Eastbourne manager, Danny Bloor, said he was happy to be back
at home after a tough run of away games against the likes of Bognor
and Worthing but he is likely to be disappointed that his team were
unable to take full advantage on their return.
In the early stages both sides struggled to get hold of the ball
with the blustery conditions causing havoc. It was Eastbourne who
adjusted first and had their first sight of goal, with fifteen
minutes gone. A well weighted pass from debutant, Matt Percival,
released Sam Crabb in behind the Walton Casuals' defence but his
shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper. Just five minutes later and
Town nearly had the wind to thank, when Stag’s keeper Gareth
Williams kicked a back pass straight up in the air, leaving striker
Nathan Crabb clean through but his resulting shot was straight at
the fortunate Williams who parried the ball away to safety. The
best chance of the half fell to the away side on thirty one minutes
and Town had the in form Thorp to thank after a wonderful double
save. First he did well to parry a stinging half volley from the
edge of the area and then somehow recovered to block Danny
Fernandez’ follow up from point blank range onto the post and away
to safety. The away side were growing in confidence and thought they
had won a penalty ten minutes before half time. Referee Daniel
Robathan gave handball but after consulting with his linesmen a free
kick was awarded to the home side and the two teams went in at half
time all square.
In recent weeks the Town squad has been depleted by injury and at
half time there was more cause for concern as Steve May limped off
to be replaced by Richard Greenfield. The first effort of any real
note in the second half came on the hour mark when Scott Kirkwood
tried his luck from long range but his shot drifted agonisingly wide
of the top right hand corner. Shortly after Sam Crabb, was played in
by Nathan Crabb but he could only chip the ball tamely into the
keeper's arms from a tight angle. Town again went close with fifteen
minutes left. With Nathan Crabb bearing down on a loose ball, the
keeper fumbled the ball allowing the Eastbourne striker to nip in
and turn it goalwards but his shot trickled against the post and,
agonisingly rolled wide. It was now all Eastbourne as they went in
search of a first win in five league matches. Once again a mistake
by Stags’ keeper Williams presented half a chance. His scuffed
clearance fell straight to the feet of substitute, Owen Kessack, who
returned it first time but Williams redeemed himself, back pedalling
frantically to tip the ball over the bar. The home side’s
afternoon was summed up late on when a superb cross from a Kessack
corner somehow missed everyone in a crowded penalty area. The wait
for that long awaited victory goes on but after conceding four last
weekend at Bognor, a clean sheet will be a welcome sign. The lack of
a cutting edge up front however, is something that will no doubt
concern manager Danny Bloor.
ETFC: Thorpe, Denton, Storrie, Elliott, Fogden (c), May, Kirkwood,
S.Crabb, Freeman, N.Crabb, Percival Subs: Greenfield (for May),
Kessack (for Percival) unused: Dixon-Baker, Simmonds, Christie
MoM: Nathan Crabb.....worked his socks off for the team
Attendance: ...... 141
Video of the Eastbourne Town vs Maidstone match taken by Maidstone supporters at the match
EASTBOURNE TOWN 1 v MAIDSTONE UNITED 3
Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 5th November at The Saffrons
Report by Keiran Poole
High-flying Maidstone United finished 3-1 winners at The Saffrons on
Saturday against a determined Town side. The Kent side made it 10
wins in 11 games leaving Town without a win in five. However
the contest was never simply a one-sided affair. Maidstone took
the lead in the sixth minute when right-winger Baff Addal’s infield
pass was met sweetly by Michael Philips who sent a right-foot
curling effort into the left-corner of Town ‘keeper Kieron Thorpe’s
net. Thorpe responded with a series of fine saves in a commanding
performance - his best from a Baff Addal shot from inside the box in
the 14th minute. Boss Danny Bloor said, “Kieron knows he
wasn’t playing to the high standards he sets himself in the early
part of the season but he’s turning a corner.”
Town nearly responded immediately when defender Dean Brook’s punt
upfield was flicked on in the air by captain Nick Fogden and chased
by Nathan Crabb whose dink over the advancing ‘keeper went narrowly
wide. Spurred on by Thorp’s heroics Town did draw level in the 30th
minute when loanee Sonny Cobbs scored his second in three
appearances. Sam Crabb controlled a chest-high pass in the box and
deftly flicked the ball over a defender to then calmly square it to
Cobbs who volleyed home from close-range. Town were buoyed by this
but Maidstone turned the screw 10 minutes later and struck back
through striker Shaun Welford who found space behind the Town
defence and superbly lobbed Thorp.
After the break Maidstone’s Danny Lye dominated the midfield as his
side looked to counter while Town sent men forward. Again Thorp was
equal to anything that came his way and had his woodwork to thank
after a simmering Gavin Greenfield volley flew past him only to clip
the bar on its way over. Towards the climax Town’s Richard
Greenfield and Sam Crabb looked the most likely to create an
opening. But Maidstone grabbed a third in second-half
injury-time when Alex Waugh fed Welford who made it 3-1.
Bloor said, “We were thinking if we got in level at half-time it
could have been different. But they got a second where Brooks was a
bit naive but he’s held his hand up.” He added, “There are
positives. Particularly with Sonny Cobbs on the score sheet again.”
Eastbourne Town: Thorp, Kessack (Greenfield R. 79), Cobbs, Davidson,
Brooks, Dixon-Baker, Fogden, Elliot, Kirkwood, Crabb S., Crabb N.
Subs not used: Freeman, Curd, Lang, Christie
Maidstone United: Mitten, Berwick, Mills, Greenfield G., Andrews,
Lye, Green (Osbourne 88), Philips, Welford, Addal (Waugh 70),
Pinnock (Saunders 70)
Goals: ET: Cobbs 30 MU: Philips 6; Welford 40, 90+2
Bookings: ET: Kirkwood MU: Waugh Referee: David Spain
Attendance: 291
Mom: Kieron Thorp – a string of fine saves kept a strong Maidstone
side at bay
Keiron Thorpe receives the man of the match award for his fine performance against Maidstone
Worthing 1 – 1
Eastbourne Town
Ryman League South Division One
29 October 2011
Eastbourne Town boss Danny Bloor was happy with his two recent loan
acquisitions after a dramatic draw away at The Worthing Football
Stadium. Bloor admitted it was a gamble but one that duly paid off
after left-back Sonny Cobbs, on loan from Eastbourne Borough, swept
home from three yards in the last minute of second-half injury time
to earn his side a point. “We had eight men missing through injury
and suspension. But I know a lot about Sonny Cobbs. We go along way
back as you see with his reaction after he scored coming screaming
over to me. He’s a top player.” His other loanee, Nytram
Dixon-Baker, battled against Worthing top-scorer Ryan McBride
throughout. “I took a big gamble playing him. I’ve seen McBride play
a lot and he’s one of the best centre-forwards in the league and
Nytram marshalled him well."
Worthing, who still are only to lose once this season, went ahead on
25 minutes when Tom Manton’s left-footed effort deflected its way
past Town keeper Kieron Thorp. This, however, came after Town
forward Jordan Lang was sent off for a late challenge in the 12th
minute. Bloor wasn’t happy with the decision. “I thought it was
awful from where I was. But I was a long way away. At best it was a
caution. “It made a huge impact on the game. To play 78 minutes
with 10 is always going to be difficult. “Fortunately we changed
things around at half-time. I felt in the second half you wouldn’t
have known we only had 10.” Town, indeed, came out stronger in the
second-half and immediately created an opportunity when Nathan Crabb
pounced onto a weak header back by Matt Hurley to his keeper, only
for the defender to recover and hook away Crabb’s lob. As Town
ventured higher up the pitch, however, Worthing looked to counter
and went closest to doubling their lead on 58 minutes. Tom Lawley
found space in the box but Thorp reacted quickly and deflected his
effort onto the far-post. And so it was stand-in captain Scott
Kirkwood, who with seconds remaining, unleashed a 25 yard piledriver
which keeper Dean Ruddy did well to prevent finding the bottom left
corner, but in doing so, presented it to debutant Cobbs who
dispatched it into the roof of the net.
Bloor was full of praise for his men. “Credit to my players. To have
eight missing and give a spirited performance like we did was
magnificent.”
Eastbourne Town: Thorp 8, Davidson 8, Cobbs 8, Elliot 8, Dixon-Baker
8, May 8, Kirkwood 8, Crabb S. 8 (Lusted 76), Crabb N. 8, Freeman 7
(Greenfield 43), Lang 5 Subs not used: Kessack, Simmonds, Godfrey
Worthing: Ruddy, Piper, Metcalf, Budd, Hurley, Woodburn (Franks 59),
Brotherton (Lansdale 74), Gedling (Kennett 74), Manton, Lawley
Goals: ET: Cobbs 90+3 W: O.G. Dixon-Baker 25
Mom: Scott Kirkwood – tireless display in a superb team performance
Yellow Cards: ET: Elliot, Cobbs Red Cards: ET: Lang
Referee: David Richardson Attendance: 312
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