2pm 30 December 2023
Southern Combination League, Division Two
Capel 1 Storrington 4 (att 45)
Capel wasn't my planned destination when I left home, but news that Wimborne Town had a late morning pitch inspection ahead of their game made me nervous about heading to Dorset.
The pitch inspection was passed, and the match was played, but the relative lack of fixtures over the festive period meant a late postponement would have left me without an alternative.
Capel's pitch had also been subject to a morning inspection but being further east, and starting earlier, meant less chance of the incoming storm causing problems. And, had there been a late call off, I'd have had a chance of getting somewhere else.
Beare Green Playing Field, where Capel stage their first team home games, was muddy but playable. It's a roped off pitch with a pair of temporary dugouts. A small wooden pavilion provides changing rooms, and cover for a few spectators.
Visitors Storrington are going well in the league and look likely to win the division. The final score suggests this was a comfortable win, but they had to work hard to see off Capel.
The home side took an early lead, and with a little more luck might have extended it. Storrington were level before half time, and came out on the front foot after the break, going ahead just six minutes after the restart.
The game remained in the balance until two goals in quick succession, the second a penalty for handball, put Storrington out of Capel's reach.
In an untidy end to the action a Capel player received a second booking, and so a red card, in the 90th minute. The home side were further reduced to nine for the final moments, although whether it was another sending off, a sin-binning or an injury I'm unsure.
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