Steyning Sweep Aside Shoreham in Dominant 4–0 Derby Victory
Report by Lauren Hawker
Graphics by Patrick Lang (Match Social Media)
Here for incredible MatchDay photos by Max Spanner.
Steyning Town returned to league action on Saturday as they hosted local rivals Shoreham, looking to put their Tuesday RUR Cup disappointment behind them after the 1–2 loss to Worthing United in the quarterfinals. With another derby on their hands and captain Dion Jarvis leading the side out, the Barrowmen aimed to make a statement against a Shoreham team sitting second from bottom. Steyning, firmly placed in second, knew this was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to waste as the first half got underway.
The opening ten minutes saw Steyning control most of the ball, but Shoreham earned the first corner of the match after finally breaking through the home defence. It came to nothing, and Steyning quickly re-established their rhythm.
On 15 minutes, a long throw into the box from Harry Heath caused real trouble for the visitors. The ball dropped perfectly to in-form striker Stan Bridgman, who calmly tapped home to give Steyning a deserved 1–0 lead.
Five minutes later Bridgman tried his luck again, striking from distance, but visiting goalkeeper Elliot Dailly was equal to it. Steyning continued to push, and on 25 minutes a superb through ball from Jared Rance sent Heath racing in behind. His effort skimmed just wide of the top-right corner, and a minute later another chance fell to him, this time safely gathered by Dailly.
On 29 minutes Steyning doubled their advantage. Another dangerous cross from Rance caused panic in the Shoreham box, and in the scramble the ball was turned into the net for an own goal, making it 2–0.
The remainder of the half saw both sides struggle to break each other down, with defensive lines holding firm. Steyning’s captain Dion Jarvis tried a long-range effort on 40 minutes, but his strike sailed over the bar.
The half-closed with Steyning firmly in control, leading 2–0 at the break.
Steyning wasted no time strengthening their grip on the match. Just five minutes after the restart, Max Blencowe delivered a superb cross into the box, where Evan Hoarty arrived to guide the ball into the top-left corner, extending the lead to 3–0.
Shoreham responded instantly with a rare opportunity of their own, Tykhon Berlioz firing a shot on target, but Mitch Bromage was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
On 59 minutes, Steyning struck again. After the initial effort cannoned off the bottom-right post, Stan Bridgman reacted fastest, smashing home the rebound to make it 4–0.
Two minutes later he came inches away from another, meeting a cross from Heath but sending his effort just wide of the upright.
Bridgman continued his hunt for a hat-trick, and on 64 minutes rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike, Steyning pressing relentlessly for more.
The pressure continued into the 70th minute, captain Dion Jarvis rising highest from a corner only for his header to be cleared off the line. Three minutes later, Conrad Honore whipped in a dangerous ball that found Jared Rance, but his finish drifted wide of the right post.
Steyning stayed firmly on the front foot, and in the 83rd minute Rance again went close, this time shooting wide of the left post as the hosts maintained complete control.
Shoreham’s rare late chance came on 86 minutes, Wilbur Griffiths forcing Bromage into a smart save to concede a corner.
As the game moved into added time, Shoreham remained pinned in their own half, unable to escape Steyning’s pressure. In the 90+4th minute Bridgman had one final opportunity, his low strike gathered by Dailly.
Moments later the whistle blew full time, a dominant second-half display sealing a comfortable 4-0 derby victory for the Barrowmen.
PotM: Finn Daniels-Yeoman – again – this will with MatchDay MC Piers.
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