Hospital Players Put On Five Star Show - St Francis Rangers vs. Oakwood

Match action with the hospital in the background

This weekend I saw two teams play who I'd seen several times before meet in the FA Vase. The two sides in question were St Francis Rangers and Oakwood, both of the Sussex League with the hosts playing in the higher division. I first saw St Francis Rangers in my first ever FA Vase game against Mosley quite a few seasons ago. I visited Oakwood's Tinsley Lane Ground for a Sussex League Division Two game against Shoreham in the same season I saw St Francis in the FA Vase. I have since seen them at Littlehampton Town in the same division. The home side were looking to bounce back after being knocked out of the FA Cup the previous weekend by Southern Counties East side Greenwich Borough.  Both sides had made decent starts to their league campaigns and were in the top half of the fledging league tables.

Kick off at The Cowell Ground

St Francis Rangers should take the lead in the opening seconds of the game as a free kick in to the box is allowed to bounce and find the forward free at the back post but he somehow wastes the chance. The St Francis midfielder then goes on a mazy run but his effort comes to nothing. Oakwood's first clear cut chance comes as a ball to the back post falls to the winger and he puts his shot well over. Shortly afterwards, the home side take the lead. Following a quick break the forward is able to angle a shot across the keeper in to the opposite corner of the net. The lead doesn't last long however. The home side fail to clear the ball out the box and the ball is put in to the net from close range. A third goal soon follows. The Oakwood defence allows a free header from a corner which re-establishes the home sides advantage. St Francis have a half shout for a penalty when the forward goes down in the box but the referee is unmoved. Towards the end of the half, Oakwood have a couple of corners which ultimately come to nothing.   

Oakwood attack the clubhouse end in the first half.

Oakwood come close to equalising early in the second half with a dipping effort which goes just over. St Francis then have two chances in quick succession. Firstly a shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide. From the following corner there is a scramble in the area but the Oakwood defence eventually get it away. Oakwood cause the home defence problems with a great cross in to the box which requires an equally good header to clear the danger. St Francis extend the lead with another free header from a delivery in to the box.Oakwood go on the attack to try and save the game and a long ball forward catches the home defence out but the ball is poked just wide. The home side make sure of victory when the midfielder powers through and lashes in a powerful fourth goal. They add some gloss to the scoreline with a fifth following a passing move.  

The St Francis midfielder watches his corner

The closest station to The Cowell Ground is Haywards Heath which is a good forty minute, up and down hill walk away. Trains to Haywards Heath depart from Victoria on a regular basis and the journey takes about an hour. Before the game I revisited The Star which is about half way between the station and the ground. A bit closer to the ground is The Heath which is a good sports pub with a few ales on. There are two clubhouses which is a first. The one at the ground is quite basic and served cans. There is an actual social club which you pass on your way through the hospital grounds. On the way back I stopped off at The Burrell Arms which is ideal if you have a wait for your train.

Vital first half tackle