Last Minute Goal Wins It For Blues - Rustington vs. Westfield

Winter sun at The Recreation Ground

This Saturday I was most of the way to Arundel for their home game against Lancing when I saw on Twitter that the game had been postponed. Fortunately I had a couple of back up games in The Sussex League and the easiest one to get to was Rustington's home match against Westfield in Division Two of The Sussex County League. I had been to Angmering before when I saw East Preston play Ringmer in an all Sussex League FA Cup tie several seasons ago. More recently, I visited Westfield's Parish Field for the final of The Hastings FA Senior Cup Final versus Sidley United. Back to today's game and both sides were in the bottom half of the table and looking for three points to pull away from the bottom of the table.   

Kick off at The Recreation Ground

Rustington monopolise possession at the start of the game but they fail to create anything of note. The first half chance of the game comes when the Westfield forward almost battles through but he is tackled at the last moment. The two defences then try to gift the other side the lead. Firstly, the Westfield keeper spills a shot in the area and after that a poor back pass by the Rustington defender almost plays the Westfield forward in but the keeper is quick off his line to save the defender's blushes. It is then the Rustington keeper's turn to spill the ball in his area and luckily for him, the Westfield forward isn't looking at the play. Rustington then begin to get on top and a brilliant cross in to the area eludes everyone. The Westfield centre back puts his body on the line to block a vicious drive in the area. Mid way through the half, the hosts take the lead. The Rustington forward finds the ball at his feet in the area and he glides past a couple of challenges before slotting the ball home. Both sides then have free kicks from just outside of the area, both of which are wasted. In the closing stages of the half, Westfield should equalise. The ball is headed back across goal and the free header is put well wide. 

High Westfield ball in with the clubhouse in the background

Right at the start of the second half, Westfield do equalise. A free kick from out wide finds it's way to the back post where it is headed home by the Westfield centre back. Rustington then go on the offensive to retake the lead. A cross field ball from the left side plays the forward in and it takes a brilliant low, one handed save from the Westfield keeper to keep his side level. Rustington then have another chance but the forward doesn't connect after turning his marker. The Westfield midfielder goes on a mazy run into the Rustington area and after doing all the hard work, he blazes the effort high and wide. Rustington again get in following a cross field pass but after beating the keeper to the ball, the forward takes too long and the eventual cross is a poor one. Rustington then have another good spell of attacking play, the highlight being a header from a corner which draws a fantastic low save. Westfield manage to break the spell of Rustington attacks and win a free kick on the edge of the area which requires a fantastic save from the keeper to keep it level. Rustington then get the last minute winner. Westfield are again caught out by the diagonal ball and the forward again beats the goalie to the ball and this time he is able to but the ball in to the back of the net to seal the win. 

Westfield defending in the first half

As I alluded to earlier, the nearest station to the ground is Angmering. Trains to Angmering depart from Victoria and the journey takes an hour and a half. The ground is then a twenty five minute walk around the houses away from the station. If I had been in less of a rush, I would have gone in to East Preston as there is an excellent chip shop by the beach. Five minutes away from the ground is The Windmill Inn which had BT Sports and a couple of ales on. The clubhouse was great and very friendly. The programme was great. The club produce one every month covering all the month's home games. As this was the only game of the month, it was Decembers issue with a paper insert but it was still full of great reading.

The car park side of the ground