In-form Magpies eye assault on the top four after Wick win

One defeat in their last eight Premier Division games has left Loxwood eyeing an assault on the top four.
Ollie Moore in action for his former side Broadbridge Heath LA1500062-2Ollie Moore in action for his former side Broadbridge Heath LA1500062-2
Ollie Moore in action for his former side Broadbridge Heath LA1500062-2

They completed a comfortable 5-1 victory over Wick & Barnham United at Plaistow Road on Saturday as both Ollie Moore and Charlie Pitcher netted a brace apiece.

Magpies manager Mark Beard said the aim at the start of the season was to break the top four, but he has not ruled out catching third either.

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They are currently sixth, four points behind Newhaven and five behind Horsham YMCA in fourth.

Beard said: “I said to the boys at the start of the season, the target was around fourth and we are still aiming for that. We want to catch Horsham YMCA and Newhaven and we believe we can. We have strong players to come back in as well.

“Once the under-18 cup final is out the way next Thursday, I won’t have to rest them. It’s no coincidence that our good runs and scoring goals is when they are playing.

“If we finished fourth in the league after the November we had, it’s a great achievement. We had a great start with ten wins out ten, but then became a bit disjointed. Ollie Moore has been a massive signing and Ollie Gill is back next week, so I am looking forward to them playing together.”

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On Saturday, Moore fired Loxwood ahead on 26 minutes as he volleyed home from the edge of the box.

Charlie Pitcher headed a second in at the near post after good work between Sam Beard and Joe Holvey saw the latter cross. Loxwood made it 3-0 just before the break as Harry Bachelor hit a half-volley into the top corner.

The visitors then pulled a goal back through a good corner routine which was finished by Daniel Simmonds on 47 minutes, but the hosts added further goals through Pitcher and Moore, with his seventh in seven games.

Mark Beard added: “They did really well. They played some great stuff and scored some great goals. We are flying at the moment and doing really well.

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“Wick had a had a couple of good wins and we knew they were a different team to last year we beat them, but we did not let it bother us and did what we do and they could not really handle it.”

Loxwood: Smith, Courtney, Scally, French, Holvey, Bachelor (Wood 55) Simpson (Richefond 65), Cave, Beard, Pitcher (Swaine 65), Moore.