Fives Finish Fifth

With the sun shining on the glorious Southdowns pitch the Mens 5s welcomed the young and talented Chichester Chipmunks side to play the final League game of the season last Saturday. With the Lions in the final stages of their semi-final win over Eastbourne the Chipmunks took to the tennis courts for a warm-up worthy of a National League side………and the 5s? Well quite obviously…….we stood and watched, rubbed in Deep Heat and assumed our lack of warm up might intimidate the opposition.

Hmmmm, thing is it worked!! Two minutes in and Josh Pewter made a long reverse stick pass (had to be) from the centre out to the right corner where it was struck first time by James Copelstone across the D and smashed in first time on the volley by the Skipper. Pewt's pass had taken all of the Chipmunks out of the game bar the keeper and a finer team goal had not been scored all season by any team, anywhere, and I'm sticking with that.

Chichester immediately woke up and rallied with pace and skill winning a plethora of penalty corners that drew out numerous fine saves from James Moorey. Despite solid defending from New, Forster, Pendered and Chewy, Chichester's young forward (Pendle) suddenly moved swiftly across the Lewes D juggling with the ball at waist height before picking his moment and slotting the ball past Moorey with a superb baseball type shot.

The game then turned in to a real end to end affair with both teams unable to convert. Sorry, got it wrong again, Lewes WERE able to convert again, or rather Josh Pewter converted, managing to put a fine reverse stick goal in to the top corner just before the break BUT it glanced the Skipper's elbow on the way in and such was the general fine spirit of the game…….the Skipper owned up, with the Umpire pointing to the centre spot. Sorry Josh!! Should've hit it on the strong side you Glory Boy. 1-1 at the break.

The second half carried on in the same vain with both sides coming soooo close to scoring a winner. As Chi pressed high, the ever solid Mansell stepped in to bolster the Lewes Defence and Peter Colebourne was finding acres of space at the front. Eventually, picked out by a classy pass from deep midfield, (hmmmmm who could that have come from?) Peter found himself 1 on 1 with with no options, an advancing keeper and the crowd went wild, doing just enough to upset Peter's shot, that was parried wide.

To the other end, young Pendle once again showed his circus skills for the Visitors and the crowd, acknowledging it was the only way to get past the 'sticks-down' Lewes defence, but this time the ball went over. The Lewes Midfield worked tirelessly throughout against a young opposition who were now starting to tire. It was that warm up you know!! The final 10 minutes were Lewes all the way, with Pewts using his left handed dribble down the wing, frustrating the Chi defenders……..and also the Skipper, cos it's obviously no good for slipping across the final ball for a sweaty!!

Anyway, 1-1 it remained, deservedly so, played fairly in a fine spirit by both sides (no cards on this pitch Mr Chairman). A great match to end the season with one final point to raise the 5s to fifth place in Division 3 (which was nice) and Chipmunks finishing 3rd.

Thanks to the all of the many different players of varying age (14 to 70+), experience and ability that have stepped in to play 5s this Season.

Malcolm