AFC VARNDEANIANS PROVIDING FOOTBALL TO THE BRIGHTON COMMUNITY SINCE 1929
News…
A sad day for the V’s with the passing of Ricky Hart
A classy forward who scored some beautiful goals for the V’s
It is with real sadness that I write these words about a close friend not only to me but also to so many people at the club.
Ricky played in the late 90’s V’s team in the days when forwards were kicked for fun while the ref happily played on. He was a class act on the pitch and I would say the complete striker. Brave, technically excellent, quick and certainly an eye for goal.
Every year since 1988 we have played an old boys match with loads of ex V’s, and Ex Brighton Poly students where we first met Ricky. The nights out were even better than the games and Ricky was always at the centre of the fun with his quick witted quips and infectious laughter
Ricky played most of his football for VCD Athletic in Kent, where he grew up, but we were lucky to have him for a couple of seasons. We most notably won the Vernon and Wentworth Cup 2-0 v Mile Oak with Ricky scoring the decisive 2nd goal that sealed the match with a trademark finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. He’s centre stage clutching a pint in the photo.
A quality player and a quality man!
A clean sheet, one goal and 3 points
Seaford Town FC have had an up and down season winning 3 and losing 3 in the league so we weren’t sure what to expect. A few of their regulars were absent so fair to say we got them on a good night… for us but we still had a job to do and Seaford never make life easy for you.
We started much the better team and after Belal and a goal disallowed we created another couple of chances and then James Le Monk with work to do dropped his shoulder and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
This proved to be the winner as the match seemed to wander quite aimlessly until the last 15 minutes when we nearly let Seaford back into the game one chance blazed over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Overall we were the better team and more in control so we take the 3 points and move to 4th in the league and need to keep on maintaining our levels of intensity because if they drop we come unstuck. A satisfying night’s work.
MOM Owen Benfell
An FA Vase away day and a 2-1 win over Beckenham Town
We had both centre halves away and a few absentees so Brad’s hands were tied with a squad of 14 players but nevertheless Brad was confident we could get a result as he trusts the players in the squad.
Sam Rogers and Oscar Bailey formed a new centre half partnership and looked like they had paired up many times before. The starting eleven put in a hard shift against a good side with speedy wingers but Owen Benfell at right back and Marley Bigg at left back were a match for them.
Both sides at some half chances without scoring and we went in 0-0 at half time.
Beckenham came out firing and scored an early goal but rather than capitulate the team rallied and the game ebbed and flowed. Our bench was strong and this proved decisive as Fraisier, Kian and Juppy came on and their energy and forward thinking made a difference. Kian Nandhra scored a bundled in effort from good work from Frasier and a quality cross from James Le Monk and then Frasier won a penalty which Jupp converted. 2-1 for a good coach journey home.
Eastbourne United knock the V’s out of the Sussex Senior Cup
Despite the 4-2 away loss to Eastbourne United in the Sussex Senior Cup manager Bradley Bant was up beat “It may sound odd but that was the best attacking football we played this season, against a quality team, so although we are disappointed to lose there are positives. Now we have to put our good defence displays with this attacking promise.
Eastbourne United were 4-0 up after 25 mins from 2 very well taken goals and 2 goals from basic errors. That gave us a mountain to climb. Despite going behind during this period we looked increasingly dangerous going forward and so it proved as we deservedly scored 2 goals in the second half, as Fred Midadje tapped in after a good cross from James Le Monk on 60 mins and an Alfie Loversidge scored a penalty after Aiden Eckworth-Jones was brought down in the penalty area on 85mins.
V’s brought down to earth by Wick FC in a 2-0 away loss
After such a good start to the season with 11 points from 6 games you may have thought we were favourites to beat Wick FC who were 2nd from bottom but manager Brad was under no illusion this would be a difficult match.
And so it proved as a young and talented Wick side, many who come from Worthing academy, with a few wise old heads were too much for the V’s and outclassed us in the first half to go in 2-0 up.
We improved in the 2nd half and had a couple of one-on one chances which we failed to convert but we got what we deserved on the day.
A good bank holiday for the V’s with 4 points
Following our disappointing performance last Tuesay, in the Peter Bentley Cup where we lost 4-1 to Newhaven, Brad and Haig wanted a reaction from the squad and they got it.
On Saturday we won 1-0 away at Crawley Down Gatwick with a well taken goal from MOM Omar Bukleb, from a superb free kick delivered by Owen Benfell.
And so onto Bank Holiday Monday where Brad kept the same starting eleven and the boys got into the groove immediately with a disciplined hard working performance which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Hassocks had a player sent off in the 30th minute which helped matters Marley Bigg was our MOM as he put in a tidy display at left back. 2 clean sheets, 4 points… Happy Bank Holday weekend.
