Common beaten despite Eldridge free kick double

Russell Eldridge scored a pair of free kicks in Little Common's 3-2 defeat away to Southwick

A brace of free kick goals from player-manager Russell Eldridge couldn’t prevent a 3-2 loss at the hands of Southwick in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One.

The strong wind and bobbly pitch did not make conditions ideal for either team, but it was the hosts who adapted the better in the opening quarter and duly took the lead after just eight minutes.

A long ball into the box was only partially cleared by the Common defence and Ross Myers struck the ball past the unsighted Matt Cruttwell from the edge of the area.

The same player almost doubled Southwick’s advantage with an identical effort, but the ball rebounded off the post to safety.

Common slowly began to find their way into the match and Martin Denny saw an effort beaten away by the home goalkeeper before Lewis Hole was agonisingly close to connecting with a Denny cross into the area.

The Wickers continued to make the most of the wind and saw a long range effort tipped over by Cruttwell before being denied a second goal by the linesman’s flag.

Common equalised on the stroke of half time when Eldridge curled a free kick in off the post to send the teams in level at the interval.

Common started the second half the brighter of the two teams and Steve Morris saw a header cleared off the line before Eldridge cleared the crossbar from range.

However, it was the hosts who regained the lead following a quick break which allowed the lively Myers to once again rifle home from just inside the area.

Hole saw a header flash past the near post as Common looked for a second equaliser and a Jamie Crone shot was saved at point blank range following a neat turn in the area.

Once again the Commoners were hit on the break as, following Crone’s effort, the hosts raced down the other end to add their third with a low finish from Munday.

Common made a double change to try and find a way back into the the match, but chances were few and far between until Eldridge caught the home goalkeeper unaware with a quick free kick a minute from time.

The Wickers saw out the final minutes relatively comfortably, however, to record a 3-2 win.

Common: Cruttwell, Bristow, Mote, Eldridge, Morris (Crathern), Ammoun, Burgon, Brown (Foster), Hole, Crone (Richardson), Denny.

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