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more this season. Very much a
squad player in the past, he has taken the
opportunity of a regular run in the side to become a
key player, and has now started to add a regular
return of goals.
With Craig Bunch and Scott
Marshall suspended Peacehaven were down to the bare
bones for this match. Shoreham have failed to live
up to their early season promise after a rapid
turnover of players, and were in somewhat erratic
form going into the match.
Both sides were weighted towards
attack and the contest was open from the start.
Shoreham had the first clear opportunity when Grant
Philpott fizzed a free kick just over the bar. They
had the majority of the ball in the early exchanges,
but against the run of play it was the Peacehaven
who took an early lead.
Clive Snell's free-kick was met by
a well directed header from O'Toole which flew past
Jack Adams. How he was allowed so much space was a
question that was clearly alarming the Mussels
manager Mark Burt.
Shoreham controversially drew
level shortly afterwards. Referee Colin Mallows was
still talking to Adam Kneller as Phillpott took a
quick free kick, releasing Gareth Green, who cut
inside and scored. Peacehaven were furious, as the
signal to continue had been ambiguous at best.
Shoreham went close to going ahead
when Graham Martin strode through a rather lax
defence, only to be denied by a fine save from Joe
Adams. At the other end Clive Snell's deep corner
found Rob O'Toole on the back post, but his close
range header cannoned against the upright.
The second half started badly for
Peacehaven as a misjudgement at the back allowed
Dominic Shepherd to put Shoreham into the lead, and
then things got a whole lot worse for the visitors.
The inexperienced Conner Saunders
was struggling to cope with the hugely experienced
Green and Shepherd, and he made an abrupt exit after
collecting two yellow cards in quick succession. Mr
Mallows was rather lively with his notebook all
afternoon, but Peacehaven could have no real argument with the
decision.
Peacehaven responded well and
started to create chances of their own. Kneller put
a header just wide, and Tom Levitt probably should
have done better after being played in by Snell.
Shoreham hadn't taken advantage of their extra man,
and seemed to be confused as to whether they should
press on or defend their lead.
The match became increasingly
scrappy and struggled to cope with some increasingly
erratic officiating. With minutes to go, Peacehaven
thought they had found a way back into the game
after Rob O'Toole was hauled down in front of goal
as he about to shoot - but the resultant whistle
was, somewhat alarmingly, to award a corner.
It was an entertaining contest
however, and there was to be a twist in the tale.
With time running out Ryan Bradley broke clear on
the left wing and drove into the box before firing
across to the onrushing O'Toole, who finished
decisively to claim a much needed point for his
side.
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Report by
Alex Panton |
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Peacehaven:- Adams,
Saunders 63
, Hill, Kneller, J.Cullinane (Hall 45),
Gunn, O'Toole, Snell, Bradley, Levitt, Lang (Barker
61).
Unused Subs:- Lago,
H.Cullinane Scorer:-
O'Toole 14, 89.
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Peacehaven Man Of The Match |
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Rob O'Toole |
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