Gavin goals send Ringmer into final

The Blues seized the initiative from the outset. A quickly taken throw-in from Danny Bird enabled Gavin Jones to cross from near the corner flag to provide Andrew Ducille with a chance to score but he pulled his shot inches wide.

After 20 minutes a Chris Dicker free-kick set up the unmarked Jones to head home to give Ringmer the lead.

Dicker was causing Shoreham's defence all sorts of problems as he set up further chances for Jones and Matt Beeston. Down the right crosses from Beeston and Darren Tidey were also causing problems for the Musselmen.

However, all too often their crosses eluded the blue shirts, as did the final pass from midfield. As a result goalmouth excitement was in short supply. Shoreham offered little up front with their best goalscoring chances both coming in the first half courtesy of Ringmer players.

First Ross Standen's attempted clearance of a back pass sliced off his boot for a corner when it could just as easily have found the net. Then Danny Bird headed a corner against the base of the goal post and was mightily relieved when Gary Stacey reacted quickly to blast the ball out of play.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with two early chances for the Blues. First a shot from Ducille came back off the post and then a cross from Beeston was headed out by a defender but straight to Jones, who gleefully slammed the ball home to double Ringmer's lead.

The remainder of the game saw Ringmer dominate play but again the final ball let them down. With Shoreham failing to penetrate the Blues's defences the match meandered to its inevitable conclusion enlivened only a late flurry of rash challenges and bookings.

Ringmer: Standen, Bird, Beeston, Curnow, Harris (Probert), Stacey, Dicker, Ducille, Jones, Clark, Tidey (Hunt). Unused subs: Shepherd, Lamont, Adams.

County League One

Eastbourne Town 1 Ringmer 0

RINGMER'S title hopes took a knock with this narrow defeat, and Horsham YMCA's 3-1 win at Worthing United the following day saw the Blues's championship lead whittled down to two points with YMCA having a game in hand.

A crowd of over 200 was treated to an absorbing match at Eastbourne and the hosts emerged as the first side to complete the double over Ringmer this season.

The game began at a furious pace, and this early momentum continued throughout in a game full of attractive football. Both sides defended in numbers, with their goalkeepers in commanding form dealing with crosses and corners which meant that shooting opportunities for the strikers were in short supply.

Steve Dallaway and the speedy Mark Godwin for the home side were a lively combination up front, as were Gavin Jones and Gareth Green for the Blues, but the closest to scoring was Matt Beeston, who forced Greg Nessling to make a fine save from a powerful header.

Into the second half it was again Nessling who came to the rescue of the home side with a couple of acrobatic saves. First he kept out an overhead kick from Jones and then a fiercely-struck 25-yard shot from Beeston.

As the half progressed a number of Ringmer players visibly tired after their midweek exertions in the Brighton Charity Cup win over Horsham, while the Town players were fresh after 13 days without a competitive fixture.

This proved decisive as the Blues defence came under increasing pressure, with Godwin causing all sorts of problems down the right wing.

With five minutes remaining the home side were awarded a free-kick in front of goal and just outside the Blues's penalty area. Up stepped ex-Brighton man John Piercy to bend his kick around the wall and it shaved the inside of the post before nestling in the net.

Ringmer: Standen, Bird, Beeston, Curnow, Harris, Stacey, Clark, Ducille, Jones (Shepherd), Green, Probert (Hunt). Unused sub: Adams.

County League Two

Storrington 0 Wealden 2

Early on neither team could adjust to the driving rain, and Chris Ward, Andy Johnson and Richard Piper were all in on goal but unable to find the final touch. Storrington also had chances but again could not convert them into goals.

On 16 minutes Storrington should have gone one up when a long-range shot off the greasy surface was fumbled by Jamie Skates in the Wealden goal, but an onrushing forward put the ball woefully wide.

The same forward was at fault on 25 minutes when a similar slip by the Wealden goalkeeper was blasted high over the crossbar.

Wealden did start to pressure Storrington, winning a series of corners from which Craig Ottley returned a ball cleared by the defence with a fierce shot which the home goalkeeper acrobatically tipped over.

The resultant corner was cleared, and with the Wealden defence caught upfield Skates slid out and part blocked a shot, which cannoned off Anderson and rolled towards goal. Skates somehow scrambled back to clear from the goalline.

Into the second half Wealden had the wind and rain at their backs, and on 50 minutes Piper linked well with Johnson but his shot was just over.

Five minutes later Steve Davies fed the ball into the channel and Piper beat the offside trap, but the Storrington goalkeeper flung himself to block the goalbound shot. The resultant corner was swung in deep by Ottley, but the backpedalling goalkeeper palmed the ball onto the crossbar.

Again it went for a corner, and this one was cleared to Davies, who passed wide for Ottley to hang up a cross at the far post. Jay Head, after his move from Ringmer to Wealden, opened his goal account for the club with a firm header.

Storrington reacted well, changing their formation and throwing everything into attack. Sean Brownell, Reece Head and brother Jay time after time blocked shots and protected the lead, and on 89 minutes it was all over.

Johnson lined up a free-kick on the edge of the Storrington penalty area but substitute Tobi Hutchinson spotted the wall was not set correctly and stepped in to slide the ball through a gap into the net.

Wealden: J Skates, R Head, R Anderson, J Head, S Brownell, D Garrod, S Davies, A Johnson, C Ottley, C Ward, R Piper. Subs: D Gearing, T Hutchinson, I Breeds.

Wealden fought out a 2-2 league draw with Crawley Down in a match played at Hailsham FC. Craig Ottley scored a 62nd minute penalty and Jay Head got the second 11 minutes later.

County League Three

Rustington 3 Uckfield Town 2

Town suffered defeat in the cruellest of fashions having produced a performance that promised at least a point.

As the match entered added time and with the scores level at 2-2 Rustington were awarded a contentious corner from which a goalmouth scramble ensued, and Brett Neal seized on the loose ball to fire into the roof of the net from ten yards.

Town had taken the lead in the second minute when Adam Barnard's near post free-kick was turned in by a Rustington defender.

However, the joy was shortlived as Rustington restored parity in the seventh minute as a rapid break down the right was converted by Andy Smart following a low cross.

Worse was awaiting Town on the half-hour as Terry Withers pounced for No.2 as the host's swift and incisive passing on a slippery surface was causing Town problems.

Town dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half and equalised with another bizarre own goal when Dan Barnard harrassed Rustington's left back out of possession and floated a cross into the penalty area. The goalkeeper came but his centre half arrived before him and the ball span off a knee and into an unguarded net.

Uckfield: Leach; N Walsh, A Barnard, G Sawyer, Hunter; McLeary, Weaver, Michaels, Tubon; Watson, D Barnard.

County League One

Hailsham 0 Hassocks 0

HAILSHAM manager Kenny McCreadie was delighted with a clean sheet in a goalless draw against Hassocks at Beaconsfield.

McCreadie said: 'Their striker Pat Harding is one of the best in the league, he's got a great goalscoring record, and we kept him quiet. I was pleased with that.

'We had five or six good chances and missed them, we've got to be sharper up front.'

Ashley Jarvis went closest to scoring. Just before half-time Eddie Koboah was hauled down in midfield and the resultant free-kick found the head of Jarvis, who nodded past goalkeeper Joel Harding only for Micky Turner to clear from the goalline. Prior to that Jarvis had been just too high with a shot while Richard Thomas was also off target at the other end.

Ten minutes into the second half Peter Cooper just failed to get onto the end of Nick Barden's flick-on, while minutes later Barden curled in a long free-kick that skidded off the surface and Harding just managed to put it round a post.

Hassocks had their best chance when Thomas turned in the penalty area and fired in a shot that goalkeeper Russell Tanner turned aside with his feet.

Stuart Lewis should have sealed the points minutes from time when Scott French combined with Koboah to put in a cross which Lewis controlled but put his effort tamely wide.

Hailsham: Tanner, Hunt, Early, M Richardson, Jarvis, P Richardson, Lewis, Stevens, Cooper (French), Koboah, Barden.

County League Three

Peacehaven 1 Bosham 0

By Alex Panton

Peacehaven's longest eight days ended satisfactorily with four wins from four games as a Mark Price header was enough to defeat a spirited Bosham side and decide a rather undistinguished contest.

It was an important result for Darren Guirey's side, who maintained second spot in the table.

Guirey made one change, handing Ryan Walton a starting place ahead of Sol Diarra. In rainy, misty and generally miserable conditions Peacehaven started sluggishly, neither side being helped by the Piddinghoe Avenue pitch, which has taken a pounding recently.

There was a scare when a scramble in the Peacehaven area culminated in a volley from Nick Edgington being tipped onto the crossbar by Simon Parsons. That was one of several Bosham opportunities, but their failure to capitalise on the pressure soon cost them dear.

Just after the half-hour mark Walton crossed from the left and Price, an early replacement for the injured Luke Martin, put a looping header into the far corner. Into the second half Bosham were camped in the Peacehaven half, and Olly Bray and Leon Barnett both tested Parsons, but the breakthrough which would have sorely tested a visibly tiring home side never came.

By the end The Tye had re-established dominance, with Walton and Simon Bailey both wasting opportunities to make their victory more comfortable.

Peacehaven: Parsons, Murray, Jones, Brown, King, Blackwell, Page, Martin (Price 23), Bailey (Diarra 80), Walton, Stepney. Unused sub: Whitney.

Peacehaven moved within 11 points of leaders Lingfield with six games in hand in division three following a 1-0 win at home to Hurstpierpoint. Jason Stepney scored in the 15th minute.

County League Two

Seaford 2 Steyning 2

TWO goals from youngster Liam Keith gave Town a share of the points as they twice came from behind in dreadful conditions at The Crouch.

Manager Duncan Kneller started without the injured trio of Sean McFadden, Nathan Scarfield and Lewis Wingate, Tom Callaghan was suspended and Jamie Wingett unavailable.

Town made a bright start and Keith and Scott Allison gave the Steyning defenders plenty to do while Chris Stanyard's speed and trickery also troubled them.

Town wasted chances before Steyning took the lead on 25 minutes when the Seaford defence was caught up the pitch by a through ball to Greg Hearne, who raced through to slip it past goalkeeper Kieran Maher.

Seaford hit the woodwork before Ben Dartnell slid the ball through to Allison on the right and Keith pounced on his pass to score from close range.

With conditions worsening by the minute Steyning went ahead again in the 70th minute. A corner from the right side reached Hearne in the penalty area and he headed untroubled past Maher. Moore, Chapman and Peachey all came on with 15 minutes left and ten minutes later Seaford equalised. Adam Kneller sent in a free-kick from the halfway line and Keith nipped in to add his second.

Seaford: Maher, L Plastow (Moore), Mayo (Chapman), Hammond, Doherty, Hamblin, A Kneller, Dartnell (Peachey), Allison, Keith, C Stanyard.

County League Two

Westfield 2 Saltdean 1

SALTDEAN manager Mark Smeaton has Gary Newman and Richard Ogoe injured and likely to miss the rest of the season. Smeaton said: 'We'll have to make do with what we've got, I'll have to put a few reserves in.

'The pitch at Westfield was a real mudbath but we played some good football and were unlucky not to get something.

'Their first goal was a real soft one. We cleared a set-piece out of the penalty area but it came back in and we didn't deal with it.

'Carl Southwell scored our goal when we were 2-0 down. It was a well-worked free-kick and his shot was deflected and left the goalkeeper wrongfooted. Roy Pook missed a real good chance after that.'

Saltdean: C Smeaton, Cheverest, Slade, J Smeaton (Coker), Costello, Clarke, Stevens, Coyne, Southwell, Saxby, Pook.

County League Three

Newhaven 1

Haywards Heath 1

By Alex Panton

Newhaven's outside chance of promotion may have disappeared. Though they are not out of the race, Simon McMenemy's second-half header means that they are now relying upon other teams to slip up.

The Dockers never really got going on a frustrating night. Despite taking an early lead they failed to produce the attacking play they are capable of and rarely troubled an experienced visiting defence.

Manager Jason Tighe named ex-Saltdean and Lewes defender Steve Metcalf in his starting line-up and had another new signing, Ash Bailey, on the bench.

Newhaven started purposefully, with Simon Halsey and Ross Newman both having opportunities. Haywards Heath soon settled, and it was only the sharp reactions of Mark Hildersley that kept a drive from Terry Garcia out.

The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark. Metcalf crossed from the right and Gary Holmes headed his 17th goal of the season. Newhaven had several chances to extend their lead, with Chris Georgiou and Ross Newman both spurning openings towards the end of the first half.

After the restart Heath started to push the Dockers back. They could have been level just five minutes into the half as Hildersley flapped at a cross, but Dan White stabbed wide. The match was deteriorating quickly with neither side showing much rhythm.

The turning point came in the 63rd minute. Louis Wright broke past Bailey and his cross found McMenemy, who put an unchallenged header beyond Hildersley.

Needing a win to put pressure on Peacehaven, the Dockers had no choice but to push forward. They almost regained the lead when a lob from Halsey hit the crossbar, but that aside struggled to create clear openings.

Newhaven went agonisingly close as time ran out. Georgiou broke into the six-yard box but was kept out by the excellent Darren Lambert.

Tighe said: 'It was annoying to be held but their goalkeeper made some great saves while Mark Hildersley at the other end had only one to deal with.

'Steve Metcalf looked good but sadly he's not always available, and Ash Bailey from Lancing was competent when he came on as replacement for the injured Jamie Bartholomew. We're not sure what Jamie has done but it's a foot problem.'

Newhaven: Hildersley, Edwards, Tighe, Leiper, Metcalf, Holmes, Schappveld, Georgiou, Bartholemew (Bailey 34), Halsey, Newman. Subs not used: Foote, Salvage, Goddard, Marchesi.

Tighe described the 3-2 victory at Little Common as 'comfortable' Tighe went on: 'The referee gave them their goals with poor decisions.'

All the goals came in the opening 27 minutes, Gary Holmes scoring twice for the Dockers and Simon Halsey once.

Newhaven: Steward, Edwards, Tighe, Leiper, Marchesi, Holmes, Schappveld, Georgiou, Bartholemew (Bailey), Halsey, Newman.