In driving wind and rain down on the south coast Sevenoaks got off to a very slow start, pondering on the ball and conceding possession to an energetic Brighton forward line. Conversely, the umpires made a very fast start to the game awarding two penalty strokes to Brighton in the opening FIVE minutes of the game. There were relatively few arguments with the initial award as a seemingly goal bound effort struck an Oaks foot in the D. Richard Potton got a good stick on the penalty but it squirmed into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the hosts. Only three minutes later Brighton were awarded another penalty stroke - somewhat more controversially with the offending tackle appearing to be outside of the D and with Oaks having another three defenders and goalkeeper between the attacker and the goal. Oaks were also reduced to ten men with Lewis Wilcher penalised with a green card for his sins. The stroke was converted with more aplomb on this occasion putting Brighton into a 2-0 lead after only five minutes. Oaks finally strung a few passes together and earned a penalty corner after ten minutes but the effort was saved by the Brighton keeper. The remainder of the first quarter saw Oaks dominate possession and territory but despite numerous D penetrations they couldn’t trouble the scorers.
Early into the second quarter Oaks were denied an opening goal by a superb reflex save from the Brighton keeper, after a ball fired into the D was deflected towards the top corner by Oaks debutant Nick Cooper. Eventually the constant Oaks pressure did see them rewarded when a slick attack down the right hand side involving Tim Warrington, James Thomas and Ali Taylor ended with Warrington delicately lifting the ball over the keeper at the near post to make the score 2-1. Oaks were then reduced to ten men again as Ben Allberry was penalised for an off the ball tussle with a Brighton defender. Brighton now solely playing on the counter attack enjoyed a few forays into the Oaks defensive quarter but were unable to create anything or give the umpire a reason to notch his hat-trick of penalty strokes. Oaks earned their second penalty corner of the game after a Warrington reverse stick shot was saved up into the air by the Brighton keeper, but the Oaks routine saw the ball strike the foot of another Oaks attacker before a shot could be taken. With half time approaching, a ball across the Brighton D by Sam George fell to the now returned Allberry who after a couple of bites at the cherry slashed a reverse stick shot into the back of the net to draw the sides level at 2-2. Having worked hard to get back on level terms, the Oaks sloppiness crept in again when a turnover on the halfway line allowed Brighton to attack the Oaks D. After a ball across goal fell to a Brighton attacker, the initial shot was blocked but the rebound was volleyed in from close range to put Brighton 3-2 up as the sides broke for half time.
Immediately after the restart Andrew Ross was penalised for encroaching within five metres from a Brighton free-hit, seeing him sent to the sin-bin and Brighton awarded a penalty corner. From the resulting set piece the drag-flick fizzed wide of the left hand post. Oaks responded by going straight up the other end to win a penalty corner of their own, with George being fouled numerous times in the Brighton 25 yard area. The offending Brighton player was sent to join Ross on the naughty step and the Oaks penalty corner effort was saved by the keeper and scrambled to safety. Shortly after George once again bamboozled the Brighton defence with his magic hands finding a foot in the Brighton D. This time the Oaks effort was dragged wide of the left hand upright. Some defensive dithering by Oaks allowed a Brighton attacker to pinch the ball and he found a foot in the D to win a penalty corner. This time the effort was on target but Potton expertly turned it round the post. Another foot in the D soon after gave Brighton another chance to get a shot at the Oaks goal and this time a well worked routine saw the ball deflected high into the Oaks net to put Brighton 4-2 up after 44 minutes. As the third quarter neared an end an attack down the Sevenoaks left saw Taylor slide the ball across goal finding the Oaks man of the match Allberry lurking at the far side of the D, and he cut infield and crashed a stunning reverse strike into the bottom corner to make it 4-3.
Early in the fourth quarter Brighton were finally penalised for numerous fouls and breakdowns with a yellow card giving Oaks a man advantage but despite being camped in Brighton territory they could not find an equaliser, with another Cooper deflection the closest they came, forcing another sharp save from the Brighton keeper. Brighton remained a threat on the counter and Oaks were indebted to a combination of Potton and Craig Morton for clearing a goal-bound effort off the line with ten minutes remaining. As the clock ran down, Chris Barker up from the back showed some great composure in the D to find a foot and earn Oaks a penalty corner. This time Ross unleashed a rocket into the top corner leaving the keeper no chance to make the score 4-4. Oaks were unable to carve out a chance for a winner and had to settle for just one point.
In spite of the disappointment, Oaks can take some positives from the game, having trailed twice by a two-goal margin. Next week they face league newcomers Old Cranleighans, who will be high on confidence after their first win of the season against Reading.