Eastbourne Dynamos started 2009 with a visit to Ninfield United as they faced they seconds in the league.

The referee's inspection of the pitch didn't look promising as the ground was still pretty frozen. Both teams had already ventured out to warm up the fact that both teams wanted to play the game helped persuade the referee to start the game.

Lucky for Dynamos, as they took an early lead with one of their first attacks on goal. Dean Pugh's cross from the left was a too far behind Neil Taylor, but Stephen Fletcher was arriving at the back post to and had time to pick his spot and claim his second goal in as many games.

Eastbourne had a few chances to increase their lead, with Lloyd Taylor and Mark Goodwin going close.

The visitors didn't have it all their own way, and had Martin Bell to thank after saving the wingers shot and tipping it round the post for a corner. Ninfield had some pacey forwards, which caused a few problems for Eastbourne.

United drew level when a through ball was picked up by their midfielder, and raced forward. Some of the Dynamos defenders stopped because of the linesman's flag being raised for offside, but the player with the ball wasn't offside, but his team mate running next to him was, but the referee played on as per the rules and without much pressure, fired low past Bell. Dynamos had been punished again for not playing to the referee's whistle.

Both teams were still finding their feet on a difficult surface and having to deal with the low sun in their eyes, but both sides had chances to increase the lead.

Towards the end of the first half, Dynamos were keeping Ninfield in their own half, with the midfield and defence starting to work really well. The pressure paid off when Stephen Fletcher got his second of the game to give Dynamos the lead going into half time. A corner from left wasn't really dealt with by anyone, so Fletcher got their first and his left foot shot went through the keepers legs.

The second half was much better from a Eastbourne point of view, although Ninfield will feel their keep should have done better with a couple of the goals.

Not long after the restart, Fletcher completed his hat trick. It followed a nice flowing move from the visitors down the right hand side, finishing with Goodwin teeing up Fletcher from 20 yards. The shot was straight at the keeper, who let the ball go straight through his hands and into the back of the net.

Dean Pugh added a fourth after collecting the ball just outside the area, avoiding three defenders and firing a swerving shot past the keeper.

Ninfield were still using their pace as a threat, and almost closed the gap, with the keeper beaten, but the ball rolled wide of the goal.

Ben Curwood went close to getting his first goal for the club, as he met a good cross from the right, but his header was tipped wide by the keeper.

Goodwin then had a glorious chance to score his first of the year, after being put through down the left, he raced past the last defender, but his shot, cannoned off the post and out of play.

Fletcher put himself into the Dynamos record books, as he notched his fourth of the game. A series of corners by Goodwin, eventually found its way through to Fletcher who wasted no time in firing past the keeper for the visitors fifth.

Ninfield did score a second, but by now it was just a consolation goal. Some sloppy defending by Dynamos allowed the Ninfield forward to race through on goal and managed to fire past Bell.

N Taylor went close to getting on the score sheet, after Goodwin's cross from the right, Taylor's first time volley was on target, but some how the keeper managed to keep it out.

The win moves Dynamos up to second in the table on goal difference, but there is currently only 7 points separating second to eleventh, and teams having played anywhere between 8 and 13 games. Eastbourne have a tough couple of weeks coming up, with visits to leader Cinque Ports, then Hurst the following week.

Eastbourne have now completed half of their league games, with eleven more remaining.