Misfiring Eastbourne Lose Out At Home - Eastbourne United Association vs. Loxwood

Clouds gather over The Oval

My parents were visiting London this weekend and we had a day out at Eastbourne which conveniently coincided with Eastbourne United Association's home game against Loxwood in the Sussex County League Division Two. At Dorking Wanderers earlier in the season, I saw an impressive Eastbourne side claim a four nil win at Westhumble. Any remote chance Eastbourne had of catching Dorking in the third and final promotion place seemed extinguished following a draw at Littlehampton the previous weekend. Loxwood were two positions and four points behind Eastbourne but had two games in hand. In the reverse fixture at Plaistow Road, Loxwood came back from conceding an early goal to claim a one nil win.

First half action with the dugouts in the background.

There is a flurry of chances in the opening five minutes. Firstly Eastbourne miss the goal from a couple of yards out and then Loxwood go on the attack straight away and almost score themselves. Eastbourne create another chance and a few minutes later the Loxwood keeper makes a great save after the Eastbourne winger is allowed to cut inside and shoot. Loxwood create another chance on the break but the ball goes just wide. Eastbourne continue to be wasteful in front of goal and are made to pay a minute before half time. A long ball forward reaches the Loxwood forward and he strikes the ball over the keepers head in to the net.  

The new stand at The Oval

Eastbourne look to dominate after the half time break and they seem keen to turn their possession in to goals. However, it is the same story as the first half as they continue to be wasteful in front of goal. Loxwood are now attacking the hosts on the break and they themselves create a few half chances. Eastbourne get a lot of balls in to the box but the Loxwood keeper manages to claim of the crosses that come in to the area. Once again, towards the end of the half Eastbourne are punished. The Eastbourne keeper makes a mess of a dealing with a bouncing ball in the box and the Loxwood player takes advantage to make it two nil.   

An Eastbourne corner in the first half.

One of the things that always attracted me to The Oval was the interesting main (pictures on Sussex Non League Club Directory) but this was unfortunately demolished in the summer. There is a neat stand in it's place but it isn't quite the same. The closest station is Eastbourne and from close to the station we took the 99 bus which travels along the seafront and stops at Channel View Road. Trains to Eastbourne depart from Victoria and take just over ninety minutes. We didn't see any pubs near the ground but afterwards we went to the The Earl Of Burlington which is a standard Weatherspoons affair. The welcome at the ground is amongst the friendliest I've ever revived at the ground and the clubhouse is a decent size and the food looked quite good when I was purchasing a bovril at half time.

Eastbourne push for the equaliser in the second half.