25th August 2001
 

Upper Beeding 3-2 Lingfield
(H-T: 1-1)

"This was, without doubt, the poorest performance of the season so far. In
fact it was the shakiest display I have seen for over two years. " was the
damning verdict of manager Mick Barry after his Beeding team pulled victory
from the jaws of defeat with more than a little help from the ageless Gary
Salter.

But it was Barrys' triple substitution after 65 minutes which transformed
the afternoon for the County league new boys replacing Mark Friend - James,
Joe Bennett and Darren Jordan with Steve and Ian Barber and Mark Salter.

It had all started so well for Beeding when, after eight minutes, David
Smith was tripped in the box by Scot Baptie and Gary Salter stepped up to
blast his second penalty in as many games past John Hardy.

Beeding could have gone further ahead after 12 minutes when Glyn Edmonds'
free kick clipped the top of the bar and then Stuart Barrys' header from
Paul Barkers' cross was crisply taken by Hardy.

Beedings' tendency towards suicide took a hand two minutes later. Scott
Redferns' poor clearance caught Terry Gretton the wrong side and, despite
hapless appeals for a linesmans' intervention, Paul Roberts was on hand to
give Redfern little chance.

Beeding had certainly lost their way and had no invention or penetration to
their play. Passing was poor and Ian Smith and Jason Day, at the heart of
Lingfields' defence, remained largely untroubled.

Chances were few and far between as the blistering heat took its' toll on
both sides, although Joe Bennett squandered a good chance on 38 minutes with
just Hardy to beat and Redfern saved sharply from Roberts five minute from
the interval.

Three minutes into the second period and Beeding were behind. Darren Jordan
failed to clear a harmless looking bouncing ball and Mike Toussant was on
hand to drill the ball in, past the startled Redferns' near post.

Things were not improving. Even when Edmonds found Bennett on the left, the
diminutive strikers' shot was parried by Hardy, and Barry could not beat the
keeper to tap in the rebound from 4 yards.

Then, after 65 minutes, came Mick Barrys' gamble bringing on Steve Barber at
the back Mark Salter at left wing back and Ian Barber, for his debut, up
front.

Suddenly, there was a spring in Beedings' step. The introduction of Steve
Barber released Gary Salter from his defensive shackles and his combination
with brother Mark began to give the visitor a new and very different set of
problems.

Barry ran onto a beautiful reverse ball from Smith, only to be defied by a
superb flying save by Hardy.

Beeding were level on seventy five minutes. Smith was fed on the left by
Mark Salter and his low driven cross evaded everyone except Ian Barber who
marked an impressive Beeding debut with a far post tap in.

Lingfield skipper Smith was fortunate not to put through his own goal trying
to clear Edmonds' free kick and, in a rare break away, Adam Dales'
speculative overhead kick bounced on the top of Redferns' cross bar.

After 82 minutes Ian Barbers' bullet Header, from Mark Salters' corner, beat
everyone, but the underside of the cross bar denied Beeding the lead as Day
cleared for another corner. This time Salters' delivery was deeper and met
by his dominant brother Gary who powered his header past the flailing Hardy
to give Beeding three points which for over an hour they looked incapable of
getting.
 

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; D. Jordan, T. Gretton, G. Salter; G. Edmonds,
D. Smith, J. Burgess (Capt.), P. Barker, M. Friend - James; J. Bennett, S.
Barry.

Subs: M. Salter (Friend- James 65")
I. Barber (Bennett 65")
S. Barber (Jordan 67")
 
 

SUSSEX COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Division 3 25th August 2001

              P W D L Fr Ag Pts
Pease Pottage 3 3 0 0 10 3 9
Upper Beeding 3 3 0 0 11 5 9
Franklins Vil 3 2 1 0 10 4 7
Steyning Town 3 2 0 1 9 4 6
Crowborough   3 2 0 1 7 7 6
Haywards Heath3 2 0 1 4 4 6
Uckfield      3 1 2 0 4 0 5
Ansty         3 1 1 1 6 2 4
Ifield        3 0 3 0 2 2 3
TSC           3 0 2 1 6 8 2
Newhaven      3 0 2 1 1 3 2
Hurstpierpoint3 0 1 2 3 7 1
Forest        3 0 1 2 0 5 1
St Francis    3 0 1 2 2 8 1
Bexhill       3 0 1 2 2 11 1
 
 

Result 25:08:2001
 

Ansty 0:1 Haywards Heath
Crowborough 3:1 Hurstpierpoint
Franklins Villag 3:3 TSC
Pease Pottage 4:1 St Francis
Steyning Town 5:1 Bexhill Town
Uckfield 4:0 Forest
Upper Beeding 3:2 Lingfield
 

Leading Goalscorers up to and including 25th August 2001

G. Salter             03 00 03
J. Bennett           02 00 02
M. Friend James 02 00 02
D. Smith             01 00 01
G. Edmonds       01 00 01
I. Barber             01 00 01

Own Goals          01 00 01
 

3 Matches 11 00 11