Little Common enjoy positive week – Bexhill beaten – Westies win at Wood

Common reached the second qualifying round of the Vase with a 1-0 win at Steyning on Saturday. On Monday they battled to a 2-2 draw at Eastbourne Town.

Upbeat Eldridge said: “Saturday’s win at Steyning was well deserved and the group applied themselves extremely well.

"We worked extremely hard on and off the ball and was disciplined in our approach. We got our reward from a good finish from Sam Ellis which sets up a home time in the next round in a competition we would like to progress in.

"With such a short turn-around and Eastbourne Town not playing on Saturday it was going to be tough on the group on Monday.

"Despite falling behind early I felt we responded well and had plenty of the ball and despite the penalty miss we got a well-deserved equaliser from Lewis Hole at the end of the half.

"Second half I felt we looked a bit fatigued and was disappointed with the goal we conceded.

"But we persevered and kept going and equalised through a fantastic free kick from Sam Cruttwell, who was playing again affter a year out.

"We know there is a fine line between results and know that we need to find that win in league to boost our points total.

"We’ll keep persevering and working towards that three points we want and deserve.”

The Commoners are playing Hassocks tonight (Fri Sept 2) at Little Common Rec (7.30pm).

Little Common progressed into the second qualifying round of the FA Vase with a 1-0 win against Steyning Town on Saturday. Louis Walker and Jamie Bunn both came into the starting line-up as Common went in search of their first win of the season.

It was the hosts who began the stronger and an early delivery into the box saw the ball flash across the goal line. Matt Cruttwell was called upon to make a smart save with his feet whilst at the other end JJ Walker saw a free kick clip the crossbar.

A neat move from Steyning saw them hit the post from a tight angle when perhaps the ball should have been pulled back. Bunn saw an overhead kick clear the crossbar for Common and James Miriam-Batchelor was unable to make a full connection as his shot at the far post was gathered by the home keeper.

Common began the second period in the ascendancy and Freddie Warren drew a save from the keeper when played through on goal and a Sam Ellis effort was blocked. With ten minutes remaining, Common made the breakthrough when substitute Lewis Hole rounded the keeper and pulled the ball back to Ellis to drill an effort into the far corner of the net.

The hosts went in search of an equaliser and saw a header drift wide before Harry Bachellier was on hand to clear an effort off the goal line. Common held on to clinch a home tie against Molesey in the next round.

A Sam Cruttwell free-kick deep into added time saw Little Common salvage a much-deserved 2-2 draw against Eastbourne Town on Monday. Manager Russell Eldridge once again shuffled his pack with Lewis Hole and Sammy Bunn both coming into the starting line-up. Common got off to the worst possible start when an uncharacteristic error from keeper Matt Cruttwell saw the hosts take an early lead.

Common enjoyed long periods of possession and Sam Ellis had a long range effort comfortably saved by the home keeper. The hosts should have extended their lead when Fletcher Holman raced through on goal but his effort drifted the wrong side of the post. Common were given an opportunity to equalise from the spot when Ollie Weeks was upended in the area but JJ Walker saw his penalty saved.

The equaliser did arrive on the stroke of half time when Bunn clipped a ball into Lewis Hole whose turn and shot nestled into the bottom corner of the net. Common had an early chance to take the lead in the second half but Freddie Warren blasted wide after neat footwork in the area created an opening.