Westfield count cost of mistakes

WESTFIELD, seemingly like just about every other club in a staggeringly unpredictable Sussex Division Two, continue to suffer from inconsistency.

From the highs of the 4-3 win over St Francis Rangers, the 1-0 defeat of Shoreham and the 3-0 cup dismissal of higher rank Hailsham Town, to the lows of a 5-1 loss at Crowborough Athletic and a 2-1 setback in their latest match against visiting Crawley Down.

The home side played better football than their second-placed opponents but defensive mistakes brought about the termination of their three game long 100 per cent home record.

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"It was our most disappointing result of the season," said manager Steve Johnson. "On paper they have won five out of six but on performance it was definitely three points dropped for us. The performance was pretty good but we've only got ourselves to blame for not winning it. We certainly dominated possession but we didn't hit the target too many times and there were a few lapses."

And these lapses consigned them to defeat because both of Down's "sloppy" goals could have been avoided. The 15th minute opener, which ended with debutant Craig Vincent teeing up Graeme White to rifle home, stemmed from Westfield squandering possession and the 29th minute second - also finished off by White following Darren Fryer's pass - was the result of two Westfield defenders contesting the single ball on the half way line.

White would have had a hat-trick but for a marvellous tip over the top from Peter Newstead as Down, despite being without six regulars, troubled Westfield aerially.

"We have been a little bit concerned about set-pieces I must admit," Johnson continued. "There were a couple of other instances where we looked a bit vulnerable as well. But we spoke about it at half time and second half it was much better. Just a bit of concentration (made the difference) really."

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Westfield dictated the second half as Down sought to guard the cushion they had already manufactured but it wasn't until the 85th minute that they actually made their possession tell, Dominic Clarke nodding home his fifth goal in four games at the back post from Lawrence Brand's swiftly taken free kick.

The allocation of no less than six minutes of stoppage time aided Westfield's strive for salvation and they almost pinched a point but Terry Paine's lob struck the crossbar.

Westfield entertain bottom-of-the-table Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday September 18, kick-off 3pm.