A Brighton sporting day

If you ask someone to say what is Brighton famous for the answer you would probably get would be the Pier, Seafront, Lanes, Royal Pavilion and the gay capital of Europe. Sport would probably not feature yet with the Amex football stadium, Hove Cricket Ground, Brighton Racecourse and the greyhound stadium Brighton punches above its weight. Yesterday I enjoyed the first two, starting at Sussex v Worcestershire and finishing with Brighton’s 1-0 defeat of league leaders Huddersfield.

In the absence of batters Ed Joyce, Matt Machen, Luke Wright and Luke Wells it was always going to be a struggle and indeed it was. Yesterday we were all out for  229, at one stage 71-7, thanks to a rearguard action by Chris Jordan and Jefra Archer. After a break-through, Worcestershire  rallied with wicketkeeper Cox again scoring handsomely. Sussex now need 258 runs to win and I can’t see us doing so.

A group of us headed off at 5-30 refuelled at the bar of the Grand where the red strap of the lanyard of our 1901 Club could be mistaken for TUC conference accreditation and we found ourselves as part of those in “this great movement of ours” enjoying Brighton’s most expensive bar.

We got to the Amex in good time. This was a crucial game for the Seagulls. The Kayal/Stephens axis was reunited but winger Knockaert played up front alongside Hemed which did not function as well. Jamie Murphy had a one and one chance which he muffed as keeper Wood spread himself  well. Wood did not do as well with a Knockeaet shot spilling into the net. Brighton are now in the play-off positions with Fulham. I spoke to Alan Tanner who said the build-up against Burton was far too ponderous and he was concerned that at home Fulham only have achieved two points out of nine, were behind in all three, and coach Slavisia Jokatovic does not seem to know his best team.