Shoreham and Oakwood played out a 2-2 draw which officially relegates the home side to division 2. However, Oakwood will probably survive as Rustington who finished third in Division 2 do not have the facilities to come up. Oakwood had to beat the Mussels by a three goal margin and, from the outset, this scoreline never looked a possibility.

It was difficult to tell if Oakwood were overcome by the importance of the game for them or whether they are simply a poor side who did not have much quality to threaten the John O'Hara cup winners. The Mussels always looked to be in control of this game and played as though they had another gear if they needed to assert their dominance. That said, the defence did not not have a good day and stand-in keeper, Luke Green made a series of terrific saves in the first half to deny the eager Oakwook forwards.

After a period where play was almost totally centred in the Oakwood half, Shoreham took the lead when a Taylor free kick was pushed on by Kane and Annis applied the usual cool efficient finish in the 26th minute. Shoreham continued to threaten the home goal and only a number of good saves by their keeper prevented Shoreham from adding to their goal tally. Half time 0-1.

Oakwood started the second half looking to take the game to Shoreham and missed a good chance to equalise early on when Lyons headed over the bar fom six yards.  Shoreham soon took charge again and were much more creative than their opponents. Against the run of play, Oakwood levelled the scores in the 53rd minute when their well known Italian, Castrechino, scored from close range. Almost immediately, Shoreham went upfield and scored only for Annis see his effort ruled offside. 'Shoreham did regain the lead in the 72nd minute when Kane reacted quickest in the box to score from six yards. Shoreham almost went 3-1 ahead ten minutes later when Annis' cross in the box was met by Denyer but he failed to convert.

Oakwood then went upfield and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Green managed to push the resulting shot onto the bar but the ball fell loose for the inrushing Lyons to knock into an empty net and again level the scores. Against the run of play, Oakwood could have stolen the points in the dying minutes but a great last ditch tackle by the impressive Jordan managed to clear the danger.

Shoreham were easily worth a share of the points and can now look forward to a well earned rest in the close season after defying those critics who marked us down as relegation candidates. A comfortable position in the league and John O'Hara cup winners has certainly put the cynics in their place. MOM award (Nominated by Shorehams pin up, Juliet Dunning) goes to keeper Luke Green whose outstanding saves in the first half contributed hugely to a share of the points.

Mussels Joint-Manager Fred Proto will be in charge of Mussels for the last time on Saturday at Oakwood.

He is taking a break from the game and next season, his co-boss Darren Donnelly, will be in joint charge with Mark Burt, who has previously managed Southwick.

Proto said: "After 14 years in management, I´ve decided to take a bit of a step back next season. It´s hard work being involved at this level, and nowadays it´s a 12 month job. I´ve had a great time being involved with Shoreham, and I´ll be back to watch as often as possible. This isn´t a retirement and I´m hoping to come back at some point in the future."

Mussels Vice-Chairman Sammy Donnelly confirmed: "It´s a blow to lose Fred, but we fully respect his decision and wich him all the best. I can´t thank him enough for all his years of hard work. He´s an absolute diamond, and you simply couldn´t wish to meet a nicer fella."

Donnelly added: "Darren will continue his role as Joint-manager, with Mark Burt replacing Fred in his previous role. A welcome addition to our backroom team is Paul Dollner. Paul is UEFA qualified, and will be the first team coach." I myself wil take on the role of General Manager next season, which will take pressure off the coaching team."

Our Academy (Under 18s) played there last league game of the season against Forest on Sunday and ran out 3-1 winners. The victory means that they finish 3rd in the table in their first season. Congratulations to Academy Manager Tony Brown and all the players on a fantastic season!!!

It was also the last match for the Under 15s who also ended the season with a 3-1 win against Melford. Well to both Neils and Clive for all their hard work this season and congratulations to the players on a positive second year together.

Badgers Ales Sussex County League Division 1 
SHOREHAM 0 - 0 Three Bridges

After last weeks pasting by Pagham, it was a question of what Shoreham team would turn up!!. We needn't have worried, The Mussels contributed hugely to a high octane, high tempo game which only lacked goals to satisfy the sun basked spectators. This was Shorehams last game of the season and the pitch was playing hard making it difficult to control the ball. The game was also Fred Protos last home game in charge and, as Matthew Major noted in his tribute, the club as a whole will seriously miss his influence on and off the pitch.

Three Bridges started brightly and were probably the more creative in the early stages- they possessed good players and their movement was difficult for Shoreham to match. However Shorehams solid work ethic gradually brought them back into the game and the midfield prompting of Taylor and Keehan started to create openings for Shoreham. Callaghan, playing on the right side of midfield, was seeing the ball a lot and could have contributed to a number of chances for his colleagues. Shorehams first real chance was created by Darren Annis when he crossed only for the inrushing Philpott and Smith fail to apply the finishing touch.

Annis, again involved in one of our best moves, almost scored as the half drew to a close when the keeper made a great save from his firmly struck shot. One of the highlights of the half was a absolutely brilliant recovery tackle by Matt Hurley. The Three Bridges forward had a clear run on goal and was yards clear - Hurley make up the ground and prduced a perfectly timed tackle in the box to clear the ball. Half time 0 - 0

The second half was again played at a high tempo, both teams were committed to winning the game and to their credit were playing as though it was a cup tie. Philpott had a chance for Shoreham early on but narrowly shot over the bar. Three Bridges responded by rattling the bar after another good move by their mobile forwards.

Mid way through the second half, Kane came on and Shoreham resorted to a more orthadox 4-4-2 formation in a bid to claim the winner,  it was a good end of season spectacle as both teams were sharp on the counter attack. Try as they might, Shoreham could not break the deadlock and the game finished 0 - 0.

Special praise today goes to a very solid defensive performance by Groves, Jordan, Hurley and Rajan who did really well to protect keeper Alfrey. The MOM award goes to Matt Hurley for the complete performance at the centre of the defence. His timing and reading of the game was perfect, he didn't lose a tackle and his distribution was very solid.

Match Report by Pat Callaghan

It is with much regret that I have to confirm that our First Team Manager, Andy Proto, known to us all affectionately as 'Fred', has decided to stand down at the end of this season. This news is particularly hard for Sammy and I, as well as Darren to hear, as we have all known each other for many years and are in many ways, footballing family. However, it is clear that Fred would like a break from football and we must respect his wishes.

As you can imagine, we would like to take a short while to reflect on this news and see no reason why we should rush into making any quick appointments. In the meantime, both Fred and Darren will continue until the season ends.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Fred, the quiet man of Sussex football, and hope like me, you will join me in thanking him for all he has done for Shoreham Football Club over the years. Without Fred, many players would not have made the progression from Junior to senior football, and from reserve player to first team regular. Behind his cool exterior, Fred is an organised and constructive coach, and his steady hand has steered this club and the team to cup
success in many a season, not least this one, when we saw the John O'Hara League Cup, return to Middle Road for another season.

Fred, on behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for us and I hope that one day you might return to us once again.

With all good wishes
Mathew

Mathew Major
Chairman
Shoreham FC

Badgers Ales Sussex County League Division 1 
Pagham 5 - 1 SHOREHAM

The scoreline suggests a rout but to the watching spectators, the 5-1 score does not begin to reflect the general pattern of play throughout. That said, Shoreham will not be happy with this performance, in particular, the defence which had an uncharacteristic poor day at the office.

Shoreham started poorly and were forced to defend from the start-this has not been a problem for the team this season and they contained the Pagham attacks quite easily. Against the run of play, Shoreham took the lead in the 14th minute when leading scorer, Darren Annis, returning from injury, latched onto a loose ball in the penalty box and deftly chipped the onrushing keeper.

Shoreham were invigorated by this goal and outplayed their opponents with consummate ease. Several half chances were created but once again there was noone to apply the finishing touch. Pagham were very lucky to get themselves back into the game when an extremely dubious penalty was converted by Fordon in the 25th minute. Shoreham continued to play the better football and it was obvious that we had the better quality players on display.

Denyer went close shortly before half time when his powerful shot was parried away by a relieved Pagham keeper. Pagham went ahead a minute before the break when an unfortunate slip by Jordan allowed Frangou a clear path on goal and he easily beat Mussels keeper, Allfrey. Half time 2-1 to Pagham.

The second half began with Shoreham pressing forward for an equaliser. At times it was a bit gung-ho and we left ourselves exposed to the counter attack. Pagham went 3-1 ahead when a shot which appeared to be going wide, surprised Allfrey by finishing in the back of the net. At times the game was not helped by some inconsistent decisions by the ref which bemused players and spectators alike.  At 3-1, Shoreham tried to up the tempo with Taylor and Keehan at the heart of most attacks.

Several good chances went begging but it was Pagham who went further ahead when Frangou again latched onto a long ball and scored with relative ease. Just to rub salt into a very sore wound another long ball out of the Pagham defence found Haga-Hammond through one on one and he rounded off the days scoring by planting the ball firmly in the back of the net. Shortly before the end both teams had a player sent off for an unsavoury fracas.

Perhaps this game reflects the beauty of football- it is not always the best team that wins on the day. A team can be full of gifted players but if they don't roll up their sleeves and win the battles around the park they will not necessarily win the football match. Our players this season have played with a magnificant spirit and togetherness. They have won games with a touch of class and often because they have had the greater will to win.

Since the John O'Hara success the team 's performance has dropped and this has been reflected in the results since then. Once they find that extra 5-10 % in performance, the results will return but it is every players responsibility to examine their own performance and once again be committed to the team cause which has worked so well for them.

Badgers Ales Sussex County League Division 1 
SHOREHAM 0 - 1 Crowborough Athletic

The John O'Hara cup winners, Shoreham, warmly appaulded the newly crowned league champions, Crowborough, at the start of this league fixture. The game was played in a good spirit and both sides entertained the watching spectators on another chilly night at Middle Road.

Shoreham started the more brightly of the two sides but, as was to be the pattern of the game, they struggled to seriously trouble the Crowborough keeper in the last third. Crowborough were little better as defences were on top in the first half and both set of forwards lacked a cutting edge. However, as becoming cup winners and league champions, the midfield battle was entertaining to watch and both sides played good passing football.

The best chance of the first half fell to Owen Callaghan who found himself clear on goal after a clever, quickly taken free kick by Dan Taylor. The keeper reacted quickly to Callaghans shot and made a good save. Half time came with neither side really deserving to be ahead and once again the watching faithful were concerned to their teams recent goal drought. Half time 0-0.

Crowborough began the second half looking the more dangerous of the two sides and started to make inroads to threaten the home goal. They opened the scoring in the 48th minute when the prolific Fogden ran through a static home defence to rifle a low shot past Allfrey. Shoreham reacted in the best way possible by attacking the Crowborough goal in numbers which the champions defence did well to contain. Taylor had his free kick well saved by the away keeper and in a quick breakaway Crowborough almost increased their lead when Fogden put in a good cross which needed the merest touch.

Shortly after Taylor went on an angled run and shot when crossing might have been a better option. On 75 minutes Boddy burst through only for his shot to be well blocked. Hurley then shot narrowly wide after good build play by Taylor and Callaghan. Five minutes later, substitute Elliott Brown did well in the corner to get in a cross but there was no one on hand to apply the finishing touch. As befitting worthy champions Crowborough saw the game out and held on to their slender lead. Shoreham have another tough game on Saturday when they go away to second placed Whitehawk.
MOM award goes to Dan Taylor for an industrious midfield display.

Match Report by Pat Callaghan

Badgers Ales Sussex County League Division 1 
Sidley United  2 - 0 SHOREHAM

Shoreham can count themselves very unlucky to have lost this league fixture against a Sidley side who were desperate for the points to dispel any fears of relegation. This was a much changed Shoreham side from recent weeks, mainly due to suspensions and injuries. Lee Denyer deputised in goal for Allfrey whose absence was unexplained.

Shoreham dominated the first half, at times their passing and movement was really pleasing to the eye but their inability to create and convert clear cut chances was to cost them dearly. At times the Sidley defence were chasing shadows but they somehow managed to contain the Shoreham forwards who unfortunately lacked a cutting edge to seriously trouble the home keeper. Sidley did not register their first shot on goal until the 30th minute but it was one which should have been converted.

Williard found himself one on one with Denyer but the stand in keeper did brilliantly to block the shot. Shortly after, Luke Mighall saw his shot sail over the bar to leave the first half goalless. Half time :Sidley 0 Shoreham 0.

The second half continued in much the same vein, Shoreham using the width of the pitch to good effect but coming unstuck when it came to providing the killer pass to carve an opening. The suspicion was that one goal might decide this game, Spragg had a chance in the 55th minute but shot wide after good build up play. Five minutes later, Jordan saw his header from a corner well saved by the keeper.

Sidley, against the run of play, went ahead when Denyer, under severe pressure by Morris, was unable to hold the ball and the striker dutifully picked up the loose ball to rifle home. Shoreham became more desperate for an equaliser and at times left themselves exposed at the back. Sidley went 2-0 ahead in the 80th minute when they broke from a corner and Williard saw his fierce shot from 20 yards beat the unlucky Denyer.

Two minutes later Denyer made a great save from a well taken free kick. Owen Callaghan almost reduced the arrears when he turned his defender in the box but saw his shot go wide. All in all, Shoreham should have won this league fixture against a poor Sidley side. It has been a difficult few weeks for the lads and a reaction from the recent cup success was always likely. Next game coming up on Tuesday is against the newly crowned Champions, Crowborough, and it gives the team the perfect opportunity to get back on track. There was several good performances today but the MOM award goes to Luke Mighall who was solid defensively and looked to support his forwards at every opportunity.