Sussex County League Division One

Eastbourne United Ass 2

Redhill 0

HEADS will roll if Redhill put in another performance like their defeat to Eastbourne according to manager Marcus Alcindor.

After a good first half if looked just a matter of time before Redhill found the breakthrough, but after a second 45 collapse, the Lobsters slumped to a defeat. The loss puts a big dent in the Red's promotion hopes, as they are now 13 points off leaders Whitehawk.

Alcindor was extremely disappointed with the Lobsters' second half display and admitted he will not hesitate to act should it happen again.

"There will be a few players in the changing room who won't be speaking to me for a while," he said.

"If I ever see players play like that again, play like they did in the second half, then players will be released without question. The frustrating thing is I want these players to play at a higher level, which I know they can do, but with performances like that they are doing themselves an injustice."

Redhill fell apart in the second half and Alcindor blames the half-time talk.

"After the first half we told the players they did well, their work-rate was excellent and it was only a matter of time. But in the second half we didn't do it. Eastbourne wanted it more and were the better team. They deserved the win," he said.

"I hate those half-time talks If they played well in the first half and there is very little to tinker with, if you can't embellish on the performance they've given, then there isn't a lot to say. But today in the second half they came out and did nothing.

"The loss makes life difficult but we've just got to take every game as it comes because that is the old adage. It's Peacehaven this weekend and we have key players out; [Jon] Hogg, Josh Bonnet and Tashan Nicholas. There are 11 games left, so we'll see."

Redhill dominated the first half, as Eastbourne struggled to leave their own penalty area. Lee Radford was a bundle of energy on the wing, as the Reds continued to attack.

On 14 minutes Redhill got their first chance when a Chris Hubbard free-kick was put in by Nicholas, but the Eastbourne defence cleared.

Minutes later Eastbourne got an opportunity when a Brad Manton corner was headed narrowly over the crossbar.

A pillar in defence, John Difford had two headed chances, both from corners, but was unable to find the target.

Just before the half-hour mark, Bonnet's determined run enabled Radford a shot from distance, but the nervously looking young keeper proved appearances can be deceptive by pulling off a fantastic diving save.

Redhill looked scruffy from the start of the second half, and after 55 minutes, a scuffle in the box saw Chris May saving from Steve Dallway, but the keeper was unable to recover in time and could only look on as Brad Manton put the home side ahead.

Despite a double substitution, that saw wingers Radford and Hubbard replaced by strikers Tyron Sealey and Marcus Elliott, Redhill conceded again with seven minutes to go when Shane Saunders was allowed time to hit a stunning strike that pinged into May's top right corner.

The Lobsters' second half was summed up when, deep in added time. May attempted to boot a free-kick from inside his own half, only to scuff the ball straight to an Eastbourne midfielder. Luckily the midfielder was so surprised he put it wide despite an open net.

Redhill: May, Nicholas, Radford (Sealey), Hogg (Stagg), Difford, Hudson, Hubbard (Elliot), Ofusuhene, Morris, Bonnet, Dussard.