Midhurst and Easebourne had moved heaven and earth to get the game on as both clubs were starting to face a bit of a fixture pile up. Despite the slight relenting of the rain, the surface was very heavy and not at all conducive to United’s fast paced and intense football; this was going to be more attritional and old school. Midhurst sacked their manager a fortnight ago, and subsequently the manager and most of the players from Petersfield Town moved across the county to try to rescue the club from relegation.

like most recent games, it started very fast, with Wilson darting down the wing (he obviously did not care about the surface!) and pulling a cross in for Joe Overy, who came agonisingly close to making it 1-0. Charlie Ball also fed Overy who again saw the giant Midhurst keeper foil his attempt. Withjust eight minutes on the clock, Overy settled the argument with the keeper, making it 1-0 to United, and a deserved lead. The rest of the half became the midfield battle that everyone was expecting, United coming out on top, Ovenden in particular was excellent and Patton and Ray both were sure footed on the treacherous surface. On the half hour there was a warning, as Midhurst got a corner that evaded everyone in the box. On the stroke of half time, the ball went loose in the box, and Midhurst pounced first, to make it 1-1 at the interval.

In the second half, it became apparent that the surface had taken its toll on Tyano Wilson, who was withdrawn and replaced by Mason Creese. Creese continued where Wilson had left off, a fast cross finding Overy, who was unable to convert. Just past the hour mark, Creese again broke free, and his rocket cross was found by the ever reliable CharlieBall to make it 2-1.

everyone was packing to make the long journey back to Eastbourne when a rare mistake led to a free kick on the edge of the box, in the seventh minute of added time. Those of you who follow football will know the outcome without being told. 2-2 with almost the last kick of the game, and in the protests that followed a controversial decision from a linesman, Ollie Hull received a second yellow and was off.

2-2 was probably fair, to be honest, United had the lion’s share of a match that both teams put 150% in to.

On Saturday United travel to Newhaven as they look to chase down that elusive playoff berth for a second year running.