Broadbridge Heath vs PaghamBroadbridge Heath Leisure Centre
SCFL Premier
February 24
Attendance 40
The test of a good football player is not a bulging trophy cabinet, nor is it about how much money they get paid. The true test of a football player is whether they can perform on a wet, windy, freezing night at Stoke.
Travelling around various grounds in the Combi, I’ve been to some real challenging locations with some very hostile weather conditions and some very debatable pitches. But I think in the combi, for Stoke we should read Broadbridge Heath.
I’ve nothing against Broadbridge Heath, I’ve got in- laws who live within a stones throw of the ground. It’s just one of those places which hardly screams “nice day out” when looking through the fixtures.
The good thing for Nomad is that late February was not the first time he had been to the club. The first attempt was back in October for an evening game. That was postponed just as Nomad had parked up outside the ground. Not that there was an official to tell me as much, I just gathered it from the fact no floodlights were on. Three other attempts to visit had also fallen foul of the weather, with Nomad in various stages of making his way up to the Bear’s Den – not least the day in which 
It sounds weird but parking up Nomad got the feeling of deja vu big time. All of the people parking up on this cold chilly evening seemed to be heading in the opposite direction towards Tesco. Only one person was with me in fighting against the crowd – but then they headed off into the leisure centre. So it was with great trepidation that I poked my head into where the admission shack was and asked “Is it on?”. “Yes Sir”, was the reply. I hurriedly paid my £6 entrance fee in the hope that would prevent the game being called off. After five attempts I’d made it. I was on the other side of the wall at last.
But what now? I have to admit I was left a little disappointed. The entrance went straight into a long covered stand with plenty of seats, primarily so people could watch the athletics. And beyond the track directly in front was a grassy area where the football would take place. I tried to get closer but the large signs strictly forbade it. The only sanctuary was the leisure centre cafe which could be accessed through some double doors. I grabbed a cup of tea, trying not to squirm when I handed over a couple of quid and got one coin in change, and then sat down to watch Sky News trying to keep warm ahead of kick off.
The opponents for the night were the Lions of Pagham, a side transformed under new manager Mark Bennett. Heath themselves though were on a good run, staging a remarkable come back against Arundel the match previous to win 4-3. Perching on one of the many empty seats about the half way line Nomad mused on what was to come: a clash of two hard-working teams who placed defence above offence.
Half time came and with Nomad’s hands frozen it was back to the cafe to hand over another couple of quid for a hot drink. “One goal will win it”, I thought to myself. And so it proved to be.
Broadbridge Heath FC
Clubhouse
Expensive but decent quality. A cup of tea will set you back close to £2, a hot chocolate or coffee similar. The quality is good but on a cold night it was quantity of hot rinks not quality that Nomad was more interested in. There was food available but there was no more cash in the pocket to pay for it.
Broadbridge Heath 0
6. Piers McDermott
Subs
As for the visitors and they look like a side transformed under new manager Mark Bennett. Totally solid wit their two banks of four, they are a hard but fair team who seem to have mastered the bend but do not break philosophy. With pace on the wings they are always a danger on the break. And as seen on the night, the Lions have plenty of people who can pop up with a goal when it matters.
St Francis Rangers 0
That is of course, unless you support St Francis Rangers.
Nomad had the pleasure of seeing the black and white stripped Rangers on the opening day of the season. A very youthful outtfit took on Horsham YMCA and were well and truly outclassed losing 7-0. Back then though, Nomad had no idea how bad things would turn out for St Francis.
Nomad had been looking forward to visiting St Francis’ ground for a while. And a rearranged game on a Wednesday evening gave the perfect chance to see the new look Rangers. There was a slight problem though in that their home, the Colwell Ground, was not the easiest to find. Driving in to Haywards Heath from the south, the floodlights could be seen miles away. The only problem was trying to navigate in through the new homes and the old hospital to get close to the action.
After three failed attempts, Nomad eventually found his way around the town’s ring road onto the main road which leads into the hospital. Then it was through the gates, onto the one-way system and over a few speed bumps towards the leisure complex at the bottom of the Princess Royal. Rangers are based down a little track where half way down you’ll be met by a committee member asking for your six pounds entry fee.
The ground itself was very tidy. At the entrance end was a clubhouse /changing rooms. Then a walkway led round to a covered area, the dugouts and a long stand on one side. From here you could see the Princess Royal lit up in full view – a reminder of Rangers’ history as St Francis Hospital, then St Francis until the amalgamation with Ansty Rangers in 2002.
Despite the early goal from United, Rangers’ held out for the rest of the half, sitting deep and trying to use the hill to aide some counter attacks. United on the other hand were content to dominate possession. But breaking down the blanket defence proved difficult. Both sides had a few chance but neither side could stick the ball away meaning that it remained 1-0 at the break.
It was like Rangers’ remembered these various newspaper headlines as after the break they lost some of their resolve. Perhaps it was tiredness, perhaps it was because United had the hill advantage, perhaps it’s because the Eastbourne side were a little more direct, perhaps it was because the Rangers’ goalkeeper had trouble kicking and clearing the lines. But most of the second 45 was played in the home side’s half. And United capitalised, Peter Cooper scoring twice.
It could have been more but for Jake Rudwick in the Rangers’ goal. A missed penalty caused the United manager to shout “where’s our killer instinct?” Well they found it in the last 20 minutes with the impressive Baitup getting a hat trick as the Rangers defence got tired from the constant pressure.
St Francis Rangers
Nearest Station: Haywards Heath (20 min walk)
Programme
St Francis Rangers 0
7. Raphael Tepe
Subs
As for their opponents and it was the first time I have seen Eastbourne United all season. They were solid at the back and their pace going forward was impressive. But it was hard to judge them against a side so intent at sitting back and standing firm. Liam Baitup is the obvious stand out player.Every attack went through him, whether it was passes into his feet or long balls for him to run on to. I’m sure better sides would think stop him and you stop the whole side.
Westfield vs Upper Beeding
One such club that suffered greatly was Westfield FC. Many of you won’t be aware of the club nor know where it is. But this village team that play in a hedged off field six miles outside of Hastings as a fine non-league footballing tradition. This is even more remarkable given that the village has just under 3,000 residents.
One thing did survive and that was the number six shirt which had been retired a few years earlier in memory of Graeme Kempster, a Westfield defender who died in a car crash close to his home. It may have been crumpled and still tarred by ash. But it gave those involved with the club something to rally around.
Having done a bit of research before the long drive out east, Nomad had all sorts of images implanted in his mind as to what the ground would look like. There was more time than expected to dwell on this after the sat nav took me to a caravan park a mile away and then my nose took me right past the narrow entrance.
It was a surprise that the home side remembered how to play football. Westfield, dressed in yellow and green, were last in league action on December 28. Their opponents, Upper Beeding, had played twice in that time, continuing an unbeaten run going back to the start of December.
After that it was all Beeding. Adopting the tactic of getting the ball forward early, the visitors’ frontmen beat the offside trap time and time again – much to the frustration of the home defence. Alex Townley and Sam Witherden both took advantage scoring one each in the space of five minutes. Beeding continued to dominate possession and play for the rest of the half so it was no surprise when James Rowland smashed in from 20 yards out as half time neared to make it 3-1.
That was surely that, Nomad mused as he chomped his way through a very satisfactory cheese burger from the tea shack. But that would do down a team that’s used to coming back from the brink.
The only thing that looked like stopping them was a lack of balls – literally – as the match balls kept on being kicked off into the bushes lining one side of the pitch. But they were not to be deterred and they got the equaliser as the clocked ticked towards 90, Ellis again getting on the scoresheet.
Westfield FC
Clubhouse
A good effort. Thanks to a very friendly man behind the bar Nomad was handed one of the last ones available. It looked good and had a nice feel to it. It also had a decent amount of editorial to it and a nice team sheet graphic. If there was a criticism it was that in places it did look a little ramshackled with lots of different sized typeprints but that’s being picky…
Very good. The bar was well stocked but the star of the show was the tea shack. It did a roaring trade of well-priced burgers and chips. So much so that by the time Nomad got round to ordering one a trip round the back to the big freezer was required. It took a little while to come, but when it did the £2.20 cheese burger hit the spot.
Westfield 3
6. Liam Ward
5. Danny Geard
Westfield though have made one major addition since I last saw them: striker Asher Grindle and his presence alone saw the side transformed. He made the opening goal for himself. But his aggression and attitude helped the team enormously, allowing others like Zak Ward and Sam Ellis to offer decent cameos.
Carry on up the Combi 