Hailsham Town vs Wick and Barnham United
The Beaconsfield
SCFL Premier
March 8
Sometimes you get the feeling there’s someone up above looking down and having a laugh at all of us. SO when Nomad decided to take a trip to Hailsham on a cold Tuesday evening, the weather had to be hailing didn’t it?
The irony was that two planned trips to the town just north of Eastbourne had been put to one side by the weather. The game which I did catch was one of the few surviving another bout of wet weather sent by aforementioned by man in the sky to test the patience of groundsmen across Sussex.
I arrived at The Beaconsfield a little late (no change there then) after taking a little while to find the ground. It was part of a large sports complex in the centre of the town.
Parking was a little tight – but after squeezing in to a space on a nearby residential street, it was time to hop along the concrete path to the entrance way and be greeted by a happy turnstile attendant who took my six quid and handed over three programmes – one for the game against Wick and Barnham United, one from last month and one from the cancelled match against the opponents from back in October.
The generosity was not expected, neither either was the excellent quality of the set up at Hailsham. The whole set up was clearly a labour of love. Given the number of postponements due to bad weather the pitch was in excellent condition. Likewise for everything else around the pitch.
The only bad thing for those running a tight ship (sorry to keep things on the wet weather theme) is that on the pitch the Stringers as they are nicknamed had a poor season. This game against Wick and Barnham was a rare chance for the green and yellows to pick up three points in what has been a disappointing season so far. They were left looking potential relegation in the face sitting third bottom.
The bad news for the home side was that Wick – in one place above Hailsham at fourth bottom – had recently picked up in form. This had coincided with the return to the club of quick-footed and quick-thinking front man Dan Simmonds. The top scorer in the league showed his credentials and ran the home side’s back four ragged. He had a hand in all six of the Wick goals and should have had more.
The home side did manage a late consolation, a nice chip into the roof of the net which warmed the souls of the hardy bunch that stood through the wet weather till the bitter end.
When the full time came it was with a sense of relief but also a little bit of sadness. The hail may have hit Hailsham but it did not dampen Nomad’s spirits one bit.
THE ESSENTIALS
Hailsham Town FC
The Beaconsfield,
Western Road,
Hailsham,
East Sussex
BN27 3DN
http://www.hailshamtownfc.org.uk/
@hailshamtownfc
Getting there and away
Follow signs to Hailsham town centre off the A27 / A22. Turn off A22 at Diplocks Way roundabout. Ground is on the left (alleyway signposted
opposite SETYRES WEALDEN) just before end of Diplocks Way.
Nearest station: Polegate (five miles)
Clubhouse
Pretty good, nice and spacious with good view of the pitch.Nomad didn’t venture inside as he was too busy enjoying the famous Hailsham hail and three programmes….
Food and drink
Excellent offering. Plenty of staff and separate food and drink windows meant very little waiting time.
Programme
Good effort all round. Nice and informative with excellent layout. Being handed three for the price of one was a bonus too.
Toilets
No visit required but heard they did the job
MATCH FACTS
Hailsham Town 1
Wick and Barnham United 5
Attendance TBC
Hailsham Town
1. Sheldon Levett
2. Jack O’Sullivan
3. Marcus Goldsmith
4. Ashley Jarvis
5. Chris McFarlane
6. Steve Stracey
7. Tristan Jarvis
8. Harry Mills
9. Emmanuel Okinja
10.Danny Leach
11. Adebola Sotoyimbo
Subs
12. Joey Pout
14. Simon Stevens
15. Sam Collins
16. Oliver Nicholls
Wick and Barnham United
1. Billy Nash
2. Rob Dunlop
3. Chris Eyers
4. Darren Pearce
5. Kieron Playle-Howard
6. Rob Madden
7. Danny Tuners
8. Matthew Noble
9. Gary Norgate
10. Dan Simmonds
11. Andre Chick
Subs
12. Jacob Ebling
14. Jonathan Tucker
15. Joseph Nash
Carry on up the Combi 