Once again Alfold delivered the goods and showed the character/potential this team can have by winning 1-0 away against 1st place Holbrook who have more or less booked their spot in Division 1 next season.

In a repeat of the same scoreline back in February, Alfold have become a real bogey side for Holbrook. Team news wise the injury table was quite full with Simon Poore out with ankle problems, Graham Martin (thigh), Dan Hallett (suspended), Paul Childs (holiday) all players who would have started.  Added to this Nick Morrison who has become a good squad player was in Scotland and dual signed Robbie Brininger had a cup quarter final match for Afc Gomshall so it was looking a little short on the ground.  Manager Cooper managed to make a few calls and in came 19yr old Lewis Stevens from the reserves, all 6"4 of him, Lee Trussler who now has committed himself to the final run in for the Fold which is great news, Chris Seymour was back from his hectic work schedule, Rob Jones though still struggling with his ankle agreed to help out and go on the bench and Tom Snook another previous reserve player helped out by coming into the 14 - so a real club effort.

The rain had been coming down quite heavy the previous day and all morning drizzling - so the warm up became more a good soaking down before the action started. A change in the system again this week to compliment Holbrook this time was used and worked very well. The 3 central midfielders Stevens, Thorne and Smith went head to head with Shaun Findlay, Paul White and 1 other. Anyone who knows there West Sussex football would have been aware the above 2 are two of the best around and both should be playing County football so to keep them quiet was testament to us. The Holbrook front 2 of Matty Warren and Mark Green who had previously helped notch 65 odd goals for the home side this season were kept quiet by captain Taylor and Langlands with Jason Bailey sweeping up anything that came his way.

Keeper Sam Smith was back to his usual best...brave, agile, great communicator and he came out to claim some excellent crosses that were whipped in during the course of the afternoon to frustrate the yellow and blues and keep a second clean sheet against them. The conditions for a keeper on Saturday were atrocious, slippy/wet/muddy but time and again Sam claimed everything that came his way whether under pressure or not and his kicking was good.

Wide men Cooper and Trussler ran all day and provided good support in both defence and attack when needed. 

Up front Seymour and Southgate played well and made a nuisance of themselves and it was Seymour who hit the winner on around the hour mark. Trusslers throw came into the box and was half cleared only to reach Seymour outside the area with a great first touch he brought the ball under control before hitting a powerful shot - the keeper got his gloves on it but was unable to keep it out and it hit the back of the net. 1-0

Russ Thorne could have made it 2 when his surging run brought him into the Holbrook area 1 on 1 with the keeper but his dink was saved with the keepers finger tips and then cleared. Substitute and another emerging local lad Jack Mills hit a stinging shot from all off 25 yds towards the end but the keeper got down well to his right and kept it out.

In spells Holbrook occasionally put some real pressure on the Alfold defence but for the full 90mins the team kept a great shape with every player doing the job asked of them and defensively were very organised.

Alfold played out the 1-0 and came away with an important 3 points.

Manager Paul Cooper said afterwards " It just goes to show once more what we can do as a team and the potential is there. We just beat what is essentially a Division 1 side. We dug in deep but showed how well organised we can be if we want. The defeat to Trinity the previous week was disappointing in that the energy/desire didnt seem to be there - where as today it was the complete opposite and our work rate/commitment was 100%. If we can put in a bottle what we did today and the previous meeting with Holbrook in February and take it to the rest of our matches, this season could have been a different story.

Its frustrating for me as a manager to see it - but also hopefully is making the the team think now the talent and potential we have. This season has been so inconsistent for us and thats been our main problem - but we are all learning from the mistakes that we make and putting them right. Are we underachieving this season? possibly but end of the day we dont deserve to be in the top 3 on other results this season eg Fittleworth away, Trinity home etc - so i would rather we continue building and become stronger as a team and we look towards the season's ahead.

FOLD!

Match Reporter: Sid the Scribbler

MOM: Hard to single out just one person as all 14 did so well. James Langlands perhaps nicks it as his positional play was superb.

Next Up:

Saturday 3rd April

Pulborough v Alfold

3pm Kick Off

WSFL Div 2 North

COME AND SUPPORT THE FOLD!!