Seaford Town increased their winning streak to 7 after defeating Hailsham Town 3-1 at Beaconsfield. Goals from Callum Edwards and a third brace in as many games from Callum Connor were enough to see off a battling Hailsham side.

The first effort of the game fell to the visitors, with Simon Piper turning the ball over the bar from close range following a whipped cross from winger Callum Edwards, who did well to beat his man before fashioning a delivery. Seaford pressure slowly began to increase, and after creating a handful of opportunities through the opening minutes, they soon went on to take the lead.

Seaford were awarded a penalty just under the 10 minute mark, after Callum Connor was brought down just inside the area having managed to spin away from his marker. Up stepped Connor, who confidently slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

It did not take long for Hailsham to hit back, after a lapse in communication at the back for Seaford led to Rhys Taylor finding space in behind on the right flank. With ‘keeper Mike Platt off of his line, the forward’s resulting effort was latched onto by striking partner Jacob Feasey, who was able to finish into an empty net from close range.

The remainder of the first half brought about a significant raise in intensity, with Seaford looking to regain stability upon seeing their lead taken away. Hailsham began to enjoy a spell of their own moving forward after the equaliser, and when Seaford began to make advances at the other end, the home defence did well to break up a number of moves in and around the area.

The opening to the second half saw both sides take time to click into gear, with Seaford manager Paul Wise acknowledging after the game how the state of the pitch had become progressively more challenging as the match went on. Seaford, despite having a series of half chances and well-positioned set-pieces to work with, continued to be shut out by the Hailsham defence, whose impressive first half display seemed to have carried over after the break.

However, the Seaford’s search for a second lead of the game would be given a major boost, as Hailsham were reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute after a rash challenge from Ben Thomsett on Seaford’s Simon Piper. The decision received little opposition from the home contingent, with the referee not hesitating to produce the red. The game immediately started to open up for Seaford, with Hailsham’s defensive effort facing an even steeper uphill battle for the remainder of the second half.

Having been the bright spark for Seaford for much of the game, it was Callum Edwards who managed to restore Seaford’s advantage with 20 minutes to play. Receiving the ball out wide with options ahead of him, the left winger opted to check infield before firing across goal and into the back of the net.

Despite being both a man down and a goal down, the final quarter of an hour saw Hailsham look to get bodies forward whenever possible, and having failed to conjure up any miracles in the final third, the last few minutes saw Seaford put the game beyond doubt.

Once again, it was Callum Connor who was on hand to round off the victory for the visitors in the 92nd minute. With Hailsham leaving men forward in a last ditch salvation attempt, Seaford were eventually able to find Matt Holland on the break through the centre of the pitch, with the substitute playing in Connor, who rounded the ‘keeper before tapping home.

3-1 the final score in the end, with the scoreline painting an inaccurate picture of what was a highly competitive affair between two sides fighting for their own respective cause at both ends of the table.

Seaford Town:
Mike Platt
Shaun Skipper
Jayson Sowter
Jack Potten
Matt Simpson
Simon Piper (off 71')
George Olulode
Ben Dartnall (off 76')
Callum Edwards (off 71')
Alex Saunders
Callum Connor

Subs: Matt Ford (on 76') , Matt Holland (on 71'), Reece Edwards (on 71'), George Maybury