Peacehaven held up the Crawley Down express on Saturday, in the first of three matches against title chasing sides. With Rye and Three Bridges to face in the next three weeks they are set to have a huge say on the outcome of the race, and they made their first point on Saturday.

In a resolute performance they shut out Darren Guirey's high scoring side, who had won all their previous home games, and denied the ex Peacehaven manager a long awaited win against his old side. He is still to win in six attempts, although his disappointment will have been eased by the news that Rye were also held up at Pagham.

Pete Edwards and Terry Hall took a huge gamble with their starting line up, continuing with Conner Saunders at the back. Few managers put their faith in 17 year olds in this sort of match - still less 17 year old centre backs against Ryan McBride who had smashed four past Redhill in the RUR Cup semi final three days earlier. There was no Ashley Rees, who recently turned down an approach

Crawley Down included all five of their signings from Piddinghoe Avenue, and you could sense the tension in the air before kick off.  With both sides playing with only one forward the match quickly became congested in midfield, where the tackling was frantic from the start.

The early breaks fell to the home side, with Tom Burton blocked out by Matt Hill after a trademark break from midfield. At the other end Clive Snell played in Tom Levitt, but he dragged his shot wide.

The most dangerous player on the pitch was 'Down's Aaron Watson. Though he has a tendency to go down blind alleys he was a constant threat, and he almost created an opening goal midway through the half. Ghosting past Craig Hall he crossed for McBride, whose well placed header was superbly saved by Joe Adams.

McBride was playing well, holding up the ball for runners from midfield, but Peacehaven were coping well, with Aaron Gunn screening the defence, and denying Burton and Millis the space to break forward.

At the other end Craig Bunch was re-aquainting himself with ex team mates Ashely Jones and Ben Swetman in a rather robust fashion. His clattering challenge on Jones produced the first flash point of the match, and he almost produced the first goal with a fierce shot which was tipped over the bar by Michael Hunter. With half time approaching Watson escaped in the box, but blasted over.

Peacehaven had another lucky escape just after the break when McBride's shot was scrambled off the line, but they then enjoyed their best spell of the match. With Kneller and the outstanding Saunders having by now got to grips with McBride he was unable to play in the runners from midfield, and Peacehaven were starting to have spells of possession.

Peacehaven are vulnerable to pace, but despite having George Hillier and Sam Cane on the bench Guirey chose not to change things, and the visitors became increasingly confident. So confident in fact that they introduced Bradley in an attempt to claim all three points. The gamble almost paid off as he played in Bunch, but his shot was tipped wide.

In a frought end to the match Wes Millis should have claimed the winner when presented with a free header, but he directed it straight at Adams. By then the home side had run out of ideas, and were left frustrated by a result which Peacehaven will see as a point well earned - and a point proved !!

Report by
Alex Panton

Saturday 12th March 2011.   Sussex County League, Division 1. Crawley Down 0 - 0 Peacehaven & Telscombe Mike Hunter 1 Joe Adams Noel Etherington 2 Craig Hall Roy Pook  82 3 Matt Hill Ashley Jones 4 Adam Kneller  Ben Swetman 5 Connor Saunders Tom Burton 6 Aaron Gunn  Lee Wood 7 Clive Snell Wes Millis 8 Scott Marshall   Ryan McBride 9 Craig Bunch  66 Matt Beeston 10 Tom Levitt  69 Aaron Watson 11 Rob O'Toole Substitutes Sam Cane 12 Ryan Bradley  69 Joe Ranson 14 James MacKenzie George Hillier 15 Freddie Barker   16 Josh Heyburn         Peacehaven Man Of The Match Connor Saunders