Sat 29th Aug: Anvils keep 100% record with win over Steyning 3-2

The Anvils were made to work hard against a good Steyning side to keep their 100% league record. Anvils started brightly but allowed Steyning back into the game. 1-1at HT was about right. Steyning were on top at the start of the 2nd half and went 1-2 up before the Anvils stepped up their game and scored twice more before the end to win 3-2. Overall a cracking game could have gone either way.

Before punters had taken their seats the Anvils were in front when from their first attack Ben Brooker took advantage of a defence splitting pass to slot home past Ben Rose in the Steyning goal to open the Anvil account, this coming with just 2 mins showing on the clock. 1-0 Anvils.

At this stage the Anvils were well in control and further chances could of increased their lead. But suddenly the Anvils seemed to switch off, choosing to sit back and allow Steyning to come onto them and they duly obliged as they took up the running with first Mike Waller heading over a George McMahon corner and Lewis Levoi's free kick just over. The Anvils then had a Harry Lowe corner headed wide by Dave Houlders, and a James Day free kick was comfortably taken by the Steyning keeper. The visitors at this stage looked the more likely to score with a Waller cross that begged to be put away, on 35 a McMahon corner was headed clear by James Day. For the Anvils it was becoming a struggle to get a foothold, with the midfield running into heavy traffic and Brooker and Lee Thomas having rare chances up front, wide man Lowe had a couple of chances, whilst a combination of Josh Alcock and Houlders brought out a good save from Rose in goal.

Steyning continued to press forward with a Jason Webb free kick finding Levoi who in turn could only find Anvil keeper Andy Greaves, but it was no surprise when they finally equalised on 42 with McMahon glancing home from inside the box to restore parity as halftime approached. HT 1-1.

The first 15 mins of the second half passed without much incident, but it was noticeable that the opposition had started to give away corners and free kicks as the Anvils started to up the tempo, but come the hour mark the homesters were to be rocked when Steyning’s wide man Waller was able to skip thro the Anvil defence to put the visitors back into the driving seat. 1-2 Steyning.

Anvils Manager Paul Cooper then added Sam Cane and newcomer Luke Trotter to add fresh legs to the fray and it certainly seemed to pay dividends with the visitors now on the back foot, with the burley Houlders testing Rose, then Hass Shurmahi joined the party by feeding Alcock who shot straight at the keeper.

With 80 on the clock the break through came when from more Anvil pressure striker Brooker was then upended in the box, penalty then taken with aplomb by the man himself to register his 6th goal of the season and top the list of goal scorers at this early stage. 2-2.

Expectancy levels now rose as the Anvils went for the jugular adding Sonny Barton late on and come 87 all paid off when Day coming from deep rose perfectly to send an unstoppable header past the despairing keeper from a Shurmahi corner. 3-2 Anvils.

The Anvils were well on top at this stage and could easily have increased the score line before the end. FT 3-2 Anvils.

Terrific game for the neutrals in the crowd, for supporters of both sides, an increase in heart rate plus shredded fingernails to boot in a fluctuating game of mixed fortunes.

Team: Andy Greaves, Blair Cooney, Hass Shurmahi, Mike Spence (Sonny Barton), Steve Dixon, James Day, Dave Houlders, Josh Alcock, Ben Brooker, Lee Thomas (Sam Cane), Harry Lowe (Luke Trotter).

MOM: Ben Brooker Attn: 47