As the Ringmer lads arrived at the Pease Pottage (PP) ground their conversation was regarding their absent team mate Jordan Lee. Jordan had picked up a dead leg the previous Saturday and then a broken leg in the Sunday Youth game. Jordan, everyone wishes you a complete and speedy recovery.
Despite the result of this game concluding in yet another defeat for Pease Pottage they should be commended for their spirit and grit as they had opportunities and were unlucky to finish the day goalless. Pease Pottage also have one of the finest home linesman of any club, his decisions were honourable and decisive, many congratulations.
Ringmer were once again a reshuffled pack with six changes from the previous week’s line up, some enforced as described above and others unknown, this allowed the opportunity for the appearance of two defensive stalwarts from the promotion season of 2007-08 of Aaron Last (Lasty) and Elliot Finney (Elmo).
Ringmer had the kick off and started the match playing away from the club house on a PP pitch which had been rolled immediately before start. The effort by PP to produce a reasonable playing surface was rewarded as both teams tried to play attacking football with quick passing across the ground. Ringmer started well and dominated the first period, this was soon rewarded after 9 minutes when a strong cross supplied by Louis Munnery from the right was met by Elmo who struck it through the forest of PP legs into the PP net. As he turned to meet his congratulating team mates his face was a mixture of surprise and joy on his impact, welcome back Elmo (0-1).
For the next 25 minutes, Ringmer created a series of opportunities for Rob Frost, Jesse Stonell, Louis Munnery, Louis Brown and one effort which Ben has asked me to mention when his 20 or was it 25 yard strike ended rebounding off the PP crossbar. The impasse was eventually undone when on 38 mins, Louis Munnery supplied a longer cross from the right which was met by Louis Brown whose first time return cross was met by Rob Frost to stroke into the PP net, a well worked team goal (0-2).
Half time came with Ringmer deserving the lead but determined to find ways of unlocking the solid PP defence further.
For the restart, Ben was replaced by Ryan Betsworth, Ben had picked up a dead leg in the first half. Five minutes after the restart Kiefer twisted his ankle and was suffering at the centre of defence. Notwithstanding this, Ringmer started the second half in a similar fashion to the first with numerous attacks on the PP end, this early pressure was rewarded on 55mins when Louis Brown supplied a ball down the left which Rob took to the touch line and cut back to the centre for Ryan Betsworth to score (0-3).
On 60 minutes with the score 3-0 in favour of Ringmer, David decided to take Keifer off to prevent further damage to his ankle and hopefully see him fit and available for Monday night’s cup game with Eastbourne Town. Graham Bannantyne, Mr Universal, was called into action moving into the role of centre back alongside Aaron.
For the next 25 minutes PP started to create some opportunities, two particular and separate efforts by PP required Ringmer keeper Matt Cruttwell to produce multiple blinding instinctive saves to keep the Ringmer sheet clean.
On 70 minutes, following a series of blocked shots from Frost and Munnery, the ball fell to Ryan Betsworth for a tap in however it was disallowed for offside.
The game continued with both sides alternating attacks on each other’s defence however the final nail was driven into PP when on 85 minutes, Louis Munnery on the left delivered a through ball to Louis Brown whose cross found Rob who duly dispatched the ball in the PP net (0-4).
Prepare for Monday, Eastbourne Town, leaders of the Reserve Premier are coming to the Caburn, this is your opportunity to meet a footballing side who don’t take prisoners.