Some wet and windy weather brought down by Storm Amy had thankfully begun to pass a little, as I made a first ever visit to the Crouch ground in Seaford, to watch a Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) Premier Division fixture between Seaford Town and AFC Varndeanians.

The Crouch ground has experienced recent floodlight issues, causing Seaford Town’s home games to be switched for midweek games, to Newhaven. Today the floodlights weren’t really needed and the Crouch showed itself as a bit run down but welcoming, with a decent clubhouse, a covered grandstand with seating for 90 as well as a small area for covered standing.

Seaford Town have struggled in their opening seven league games, winning one and losing five of them. The defence has leaked 19 goals already at a rate of almost three a game. Manager Paul Wise has seen Joshua Wright (4 goals) and Tyler Capon (3 goals) lead the front line but his side needed a win against fellow strugglers Varndeanians to lift themselves out of the relegation spots.

Varndeanians themselves have made a slow start, with two wins and six defeats from nine games. Varndeanians have only conceded two goals a game on average so far but they have not been prolific going forwards either, with just eight goals from the opening nine matches. Julian Finn Durand and Jack Langford have both scored two goals already to lead the way. Manager Bradley Brant, like his counter part today also wanted to secure the three points on offer today as a kick start for the season.

The first half was played out in fierce winds, which while in theory benefitting AFC Varndeanians, clearly affected the passing play and judgement of both teams. For Seaford Town Hayden Beaconsfield looked dangerous with his jinking runs on the left hand side, however it was the visitors who came closest in the first half, to breaking the deadlock, with a well struck free kick pulling a fine save from Webster Young in the Seaford goal.

At the half-time break the teams went in dead locked, with the game still goalless, as the remnants of Storm Amy blew their way across the ground.

After twelve minutes of the second half, a stream of Seaford Town pressure brought a deserved opening goal when Callum Connor neatly slotted home to put the home side 1-0 ahead.

In the 62nd minute Seaford Town’s lead was extended to 2-0, when centre half Ryan Knight half vollied a shot home as he performed a half turn.

A poorly timed challenge in the 70th minute saw the dismissal of AFC Varndeanians’ Aaron Loftus. The resulting free kick was neatly curled into the net by Hayden Beaconsfield to make it 3-0 to Seaford Town.

With 75 minutes gone, a fine finish by Max Vardy made it 4-0 when he drilled the ball into the AFC Varndeanians’ net, from the left hand side of the area.

In the 87th minute Seaford’s substitute, Kieron Mayele fed a neat assist, for Josh Wright to make it 5-0.

There was still time on 90 minutes to see Josh Wright pulled down in the box, leading to a penalty. Wright stepped up to finish, skilfully making it 6-0.

At full time the 106 fans had seen Seaford Town play more cleverly in the windy conditions, securing a much needed three points and lowering their goal difference by six.