Eastbourne Dynamos had the short trip to Little Common this week looking to continue their recent good form. Manager Gary Taylor was able to keep the same starting line up for a third week in a row. Dynamos were under pressure from the start but were defending well and tried to catch Common on the break. For all of the Host's possession in the first half, they failed to really test Martin Bell in goal who was looking as solid as ever. Dynamos did catch Little Common on the break, and Neil Taylor's ball over the top to Lloyd Taylor was controlled well before blasting it past the keeper from inside the area into the top left hand corner to give Eastbourne the lead. Dynamos continued to defend well but needed a second goal. Christian Courtier had a couple of chances from outside the area, but they both went just over the bar. The Home team were awarded a penalty when Mark Likeman was judged to have handled the ball inside the area when chesting the ball down. Bell saved the resulting penalty, diving to his left before reclaiming the ball and setting Dynamos off on another attack. The referee then decided that when the Little Common player caught the ball with both hands in the area that he was just 'stopping the ball and it was harmless', much to the dismay of the Eastbourne players who thought otherwise. The half finished with the scores at 1-0, although Little Common were level soon after the break. Dynamos claimed for a free kick just inside their own half, but the referee didn't award anything and Common played to the whistle and caught Dynamos standing still, the ball broke free in the area and the Little Common midfielder was first to react and knocked the ball past Bell who had no chance. Eastbourne were rocked and looked like they were still in the changing rooms. They soon found themselves behind when a low cross from the right was harmless enough until confusion between Martin Bell and Dayle Courtier lead to Courtier diverting the ball into his own net. Dynamos did eventually wake up and started to put more pressure on Little Common, but the Home Team looked comfortable now that they were in the lead, and it was Eastbourne who was chasing the game. The Home side went further ahead when a high ball was headed in over Bell with Dynamo players still standing still after claiming for a free kick in the build up to the goal. The rest of the game reversed with Dynamos having most of the play and Little Common reverting to counter attacks. Dynamos did get back in the game when Neil Taylor found Dean Pugh, whose shot was saved by the keeper but he couldn't hold onto it and Taylor knock in the rebound to make the score 3-2. Dynamos had a few half chances, but couldn't find the equaliser. In the end time ran out for Eastbourne and they fell to another defeat when they played well enough to feel they should have had a point out of the game they were leading. This young team need to learn to play to the whistle, and not stop in their tracks just because they feel they should have been awarded a free kick. On a few occasion's Dynamos have been punished because of this and it's costing us points. |
