SOUTH COAST STALEMATE FOR THE 1's

A Saturday afternoon trip to the South Coast greeted the 1st XI as they looked to shrug off their 4-3 opening day defeat.

The game started at pace with chances created by both sides in what was shaping up to be an end-to-end encounter. Some nice link up between the back three and two screens created space on both flanks for Blackheath's wingers to enjoy which soon led to the first short corner of the day. Will Nurse stepped up, firing to keeper's right, deadlock broken after 15 minutes. A trend would then be established which saw the away side dominate, score and then conceded somewhat out of the blue. This began with an innocuous interception an Eastbourne counter. 1-1. Nurse responded again within a matter of minutes to restore the lead only for a fortunate home short corner to loop in over Nathan Bullens off a defenders stick. Before the whistle blew, there was just enough time for a third routine to see Dave Lawrence slide in on the back post.

It remained 3-2 for the majority of the second half with neither side able to find as much space as had been afforded for the first 35. This would all come to a sudden head with 10 minutes to go as Eastbourne were awarded a p flick and then a expertly trapped (if you were Lionel Messi) ball before a reverse finish from close range and subsequent yellow card for Nurse turned the game on its head. The 10 man Blackheath rose to the challenge immediately responding as Laxman Karan rounded the keeper after a midfield interception to make it 4-4. Eastbourne's reaction to the goal landing them with 10 men too.

Neither side could find the winner and Blackheath were disappointed to walk away with a point having been ahead for so long but another encouraging performance is a good sign for a team that will only get stronger every week.