7th April 2001
 

UPPER BEEDING 8:1 THE SHIP (ALDWICK)

As second placed Rustington were winning comfortably at Alfold, league
leaders Upper Beeding survived an early scare to run out handsome winners
against The Ship Aldwick.

Manager Mick Barry reverted to his favoured 3-5-2 line up, leaving the
talented Wayne Potbury out of his starting line up in favour of his seasoned
middle three of Paul Barker, David Smith and John Burgess.

Beedings' wake up call came after just 12 minutes when Scott Redfern was
well beaten by a crisp strike at his near post to give the visitors the
lead.

Wake up is certainly what Beeding did as their flowing football belied the
heavy conditions and within two minutes Lee Strange had finished what Paul
Barker started and Beeding were level.

Three Minutes later David Smith's corner was laid back to Mark Salter whose
30 yard drive left The Ship stunned and the net bulging.

Smiths' next corner, barely a minute later, was flicked on by Mark Salter
and brother Gary met the ball with both power and accuracy to give Beeding a
3-1 lead.

It could have been far worse for The Ship, as time and again skipper Burgess
won the ball and allowed Smith, Barker Mark Salter and the sparkling Glyn
Edmonds to continually feed the ever hungry Strange and strike partner Matt
Doo.

Smith had a rasping drive turned over and Steve Barber was disappointed to
see his stooping header ruled out as the ball had earlier gone out of play.

Barry and Vic Gretton took stock at half time while their opponents seemed
more interested in the result of the Grand National.

Ten minutes into the second half Jamie Iresons' through ball found Doo on
the right thirty five yards out. Strange pulled the defence away and Doo cut
in to rifle a twenty yard drive across the 'keeper and into the bottom
corner.

The fifth came a minute later. This time Gary Salters' precision pass split
the static Ship back line and Doo rounded the 'keeper to slot his second of
the afternoon.

Barry replaced Doo with Stuart Barry and Barker with Potbury, ahead of
Monday's Derby with Henfield, on 60 minutes.

The arrival of Potbury in mid field was, for the Ship, the thing nightmares
are made of. Thirty minutes left, 5-1 down, heavy conditions and the arrival
of one of the most precocious, if enigmatic, talents to be seen in the West
Sussex League.

Within eight minutes Potbury was on the end of Mark Salters' deep cross,
picking out Strange who headed in his second of the afternoon.

Barry replaced Burgess with Lewis Partridge, pushing Edmonds into a new
central three of Potbury, Edmonds and Smith.

Potbury and Smith were running riot as Edmonds sat and held. How referee
Phil Surlis pulled play back to give Beeding a free kick when Potbury had
ridden three scything swipes to be one on one with the 'keeper will forever
remain one of life's mysteries. But in fairness it was one of his few
mistakes during the ninety minutes.

Four minutes from time and again Potbury left a wake of trailing defenders
as he jinked his way into the box, crossing low for Strange to complete a
well deserved hat trick.

The eighth and final Beeding strike came in injury time as Mark Salter was
chopped down in the area and sibling Gary appeared to wait for the keeper to
dive to his right before rolling the ball into the opposite corner.
 

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; J. Ireson, S. Barber, G. Salter; G. Edmonds;
D. Smith, J. Burgess (capt), P. Barker, M. Salter;
M. Doo,L. Strange.

Subs: S. Barry (Doo 60")
W. Potbury (Barker 60")
L. Partridge (Burgess 68")