Blues avoid humiliation

JITTERY Ringmer were made to graft for the points against division one doormats Littlehampton on Saturday, even being required to overturn a 0-1 deficit before goals from Craig Brown and Leighton Allen denied The Marigolds an unlikely first win.

Ringmer's consistency problem remains unfathomable as the record for all competitions concurs 11 wins, eight losses and three draws. But this particular victory, however meek, pushes The Blues up to eighth place in an increasingly tight table.

Manager Glen Burvill, who flew back from Rhodes to rejoin his squad, was forced into two line-up changes after missing the Arundel triumph. Defender Kevin Isted had holiday plans of his own whilst keeper Darren Prior's work commitments kept him otherwise occupied. So, in came able replacements Max Hamilton and Richard Branson with Burvill naming himself and latest signing Marc Wane on the bench.

The foremost quarter hour contained little to inspire the scattered bystanders as only the linesman's flag sought to truly influence proceedings.

However, there was drama on 20 minutes when a Ringmer break, initiated by Terry Haworth's imposing header in midfield, saw Grant Bean outpace visiting skipper Alan Stoner. The ball squirmed away to Allen who was spun round by a frantic Chris Hazel causing the lino to signal a penalty kick. Usual taker Chris Johnson, twice successful from 12 yards this season, could only look on from the sidelines where he is still nursing an injured foot. So Allen took the responsibility, but his elongated and stuttering run-up pre-empted a routine save from Jez Long.

Then came the bombshell. A high ball deep into Blues territory had the concoction of recalled duo Hamilton and Branson in a pickle. The keeper's call went unheeded and the merest glance off the ex-Whitehawk centre half's noggin presented No 9 Andy Taylor with an empty net. It was a unique situation not only were the winless Marigolds, 22-1 flops just 3 weeks ago, a goal to the good but it had been scored by their chairman and acting caretaker manager.

Things almost became twice as surreal when Danny Swain hit the inside of the post before Ringmer snapped out of it within four minutes. Tom Holden sent over a quality cross to the far post where Craig Brown beat his marker to tuck a relief-inducing leveller into the corner.

The Blues were quick to repair the damage further and went ahead shortly before halftime. The away side were mightily piqued at what they considered to be a missed offside quite aside from some perplexing calls during the build-up, but Ringmer weren't complaining as Bean's free kick found a rising Allen at the back stick. Hamilton then piled in with Allen helping to shovel the ball over the line. There was some contention as to who had actually got the final touch although the players involved, who each had specific reasons to redeem themselves, confirmed that it was indeed Allen's fifth of the campaign.

The second half was a squalid spectacle, the best chance falling to Allen again within 30 seconds of the restart, this time Long smothered his shot following useful work by Bean and Aaron MacMillan.

The hosts did go on to create decent opportunities for MacMillan and sub debutante Wane as well as Bean who spectacularly hit the underside of the bar with the outside of his right boot, but this was far from a simple exercise in upping the goal difference.

Instead, Ringmer were made to defend doggedly by a team of seven 15 year olds who stirred up some fraught moments that had to be quelled by the unflappable Paul Thomsett and sidekick Haworth.

The final whistle came with Ringmer followers staring at their watches and assistant manager Adam Brown had sympathy for them, 'we were very poor today. We spent too long trying to hit the perfect ball but we had clear chances and if we'd taken some of those it would have been 4 or 5-1 and everyone's happy. Three points is three points though, and if we win our games in hand we'll be right up there.'

RINGMER: Branson, MacMillan (Pachent 83), Holden, Haworth, Hamilton, Ford, Chris Brown (Wane 60), Craig Brown, Allen, Thomsett, Bean. Unused sub: Burvill. MOM: Terry Haworth