On 12th December Town were scheduled to take on Lingfield in the R.U.R.Cup, but due to the heavy rain, snow and frost it was not until Saturday the game finally went ahead, and then only after it was switched from Lingfield’s Godstone Road ground to the Crouch.

Yet more snow and a heavy frost had again rendered their pitch unplayable, and with sufficient time available to prepare things at the Crouch everyone came down to Seaford, but even then referee Peter Lindsey waited until the last possible minute before passing the Crouch fit and the game actually kicked off late.

Bob Laundon was forced once again to change his line-up through injury, with Darren Moore and Dan pollard both limping out of the Rye game not recovering in time, so Adam Kneller dropped into the centre alongside Sean Brownell and Martin Eldridge came in for Moore. Up front Dean Paston was introduced in place of Drew Greenall and he was quickly involved in the action, firing narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area after just 2 minutes. It only briefly delayed him getting on the scoresheet though as a minute later he was on hand to guide the ball home following good work by Tom Callaghan and Chris Logan on the left.

Town dominated their Division 1 opponents for most of the first half without really threatening to add to their tally, that was until the 45th minute.

Logan was fouled on the left and Kneller curled his free kick straight into the far corner, with the Lingfield ‘keeper Dan Burnett floundering.

The same player almost added a 3rd moments later when he steered another free kick into the bottom corner, but Burnett atoned for his earlier mistake to save well.

Town were comfortably repelling all Lingfield’s threats in the second half, without creating much for themselves, but 14 minutes from time the visitors struck with a well taken goal. Andy Dalhouse broke down the left and pulled the ball back for Baker Nytram to score from close range and set up a tense finish.

The goal kicked Town into life and Burnett saved well from Callaghan, tipping the ball over the bar. He was in action again moments later after the Dartnall brothers combined down the left to set up a chance for Logan, but his first time volley was again turned away by Burnett.

The impressive Kazemi, playing only his second full game in a year fired inches over and Lingfield had no more to offer and it was the home side that earned a tough away tie at Wick in the quarter-final.

Team: McDonnell, Jones, Eldridge, Brownell, Kazemi, Logan, B.Dartnall, Breach, Kneller, Paston (S.Dartnall), Callaghan (Greenall).
Man of the Match: Sean Brownell (Dominant at the heart of Town’s defence)

Next Week

Fixture congestion caused by the recent poor weather means that Town could be playing twice a week, with 22 league games and 2 cup ties still outstanding.

On Wednesday evening Little Common visit the Crouch, kick off 7.45 and Seaford will be looking for revenge for the 7-0 trouncing they received when they visited Pear Tree Lane at the end of October.

Since then Town have only played 3 league games which is the reason they have such a serious back-log of fixtures.

On Saturday Wick are the visitors to the Crouch in the 4th round of the John O’Hara League Cup and they will present a difficult task for Bob Laundon’s team.

League action continues next Tuesday when they Westfield at the Crouch, kick off 7.45pm.