Sussex County Football League
Division Three

29th September 2001
 

Forest 3-3 Upper Beeding
(H-T: 2-0)

Forest Manager Steve Brindley was furious with referee Chris Porter after
the official had played six minutes of stoppage time. Gary Salters' header,
from Steve Barbers' long through ball after 49 minutes of the second half
was the final straw for Brindley who had watched his side build a two goal
lead on two occasions and squander it both times.

But in truth, if Forest had shown more ambition and less negativity there
would not have been as much stoppage time and the outcome may have been
different.

Forest flooded the mid field from the start with their 4-5-1 formation. This
stifled Beeding whose quality of the passing was again poor as demonstrated
after 13 minutes when Terry Grettons' misdirected ball was intercepted and
Ali Russell netted at Scott Redferns near post.

Lee Strange had two efforts saved by Simon Lockwood as Beeding had plenty of
possession but lacked the quality of delivery or invention to unlock the
packed Forest defence.

On the break Christian Menniss combined well with Steve Tasker to give
Russell another chance but the big striker could not control the direction
of a fierce drive.

Both Steve Barber and Mark Friend-James headed reasonable opportunities over
for Beeding before the home side took a two goal advantage.

Not for the first time this year Beeding conceded from a corner, a corner to
them. Smiths' corner was headed clear by the forest defence to Ian Cullen
who took the ball fully sixty five yards unchallenged before slipping the
ball to Russell who made easy work of the finish.

At half time it was Beedings' manager, Mick Barrys' turn to show his anger
and frustration at his sides' performance.

But they did respond and pulled a goal back five minutes into the new half
when Stuart Barry converted Stranges' near post flick.

Three minutes later Barry was unlucky not to equalise when his angled shot
came back off the inside of Loockwoods' far post and somehow avoided the on
rushing Ian Barber.

At the other end it was more gloom for the visitors as Redferns' rash
challenge allowed Marc Tulley to restore Forests' two goal advantage from
the spot, with twenty five minutes remaining.

Forest seemed content to sit on their lead and slow the game down to a
pedestrian level.

Ian Barber was guilty of the miss of the day, heading wide of an unguarded
goal from five yards. A miss which was to be his last contribution as Mick
Barry sacrificed him and Paul Barker for Joe Bennett and Mat Doo as he
switched to a 3-4-3 formation.

Strange had a chance half saved by Lockwood and then cleared, and Gary
Salter headed over before pulling a goal back with just seven minutes left.
David Smith found Friend-James in a wide position and his cross eluded Carl
Beard for Gary Salter to beat Lockwood with a crisp header.

Bennett put wide from a difficult angle and Gary Salter was close to
finishing brother Marks' good work as the clock ticked faster in the Beeding
dug out.

Gary Salters free kick was turned over by Lockwood as the game slipped into
stoppage time. Five minutes in and Friend-James played a neat one, two with
Barber and crossed for Gary Salters' looping header to secure Beeding a much
needed point.
 

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; T. Gretton, S. Barber (Capt), G. Salter,
M. Salter; S. Barry, P. Barker, D. Smith, M. Friend - James, I. Barber, L.
Strange.

Subs: M. Doo (Barber 70") J. Bennett (Barker 70")

WEST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Division 3 (Central) 30th September 2001
 

P. W. D. L. Fr. Ag. Pts

West Chiltington 2 2 0 0 11 2 6
Pulborough 2 2 0 0 10 2 6
Upper Beeding II 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
Graffham 3 0 0 2 13 11 3
Slinfold 1 1 0 0 5 3 3
Rogate II 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
Rudgwick 3 1 0 2 4 10 3
Billingshurst 2 0 0 2 1 11 0
Lodsworth 1 0 0 1 0 3 0
Fernhurst Sports 1 0 0 1 1 6 0
 

Result 29:09:2001
League

Fernhurst P:P Lodsworth
Graffham 8:0 Billingshurst

Sussex Junior Cup

Upper Beeding 5:0 Youngmans

Leading Goalscorers up to and including 29th September 2001

I. Jackson 02 01 03
J. Toombes 00 03 03
J. Bennett 02 00 02
M. Gray 01 00 01
J. Toombes 01 00 01
M. Trigwell 00 01 01

Own Goals 01 00 01
 

4 Matches 07 05 12