Deadly Darrol humiliates Ringmer

A DARROL Parris hat-trick was the catalyst behind Ringmer's latest self-destruction as The Blues waved cheerio to the John O'Hara Cup in a second round replay at Westfield's diddy Parish Field on Saturday.

A DARROL Parris hat-trick was the catalyst behind Ringmer's latest self-destruction as The Blues waved cheerio to the John O'Hara Cup in a second round replay at Westfield's diddy Parish Field on Saturday.

Coming hot on the heels of their best display of the season at Horsham YMCA, Ringmer turned starkly about face on recording this woeful effort against the division two mid-tablers which is jostling for position amongst their worst.

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It must be said, though, that locum boss Adam Brown had a near impossible task from the start. After being handed the reigns by a holidaying Glenn Burvill for the second time in this campaign, Brown was instantly overloaded by the absences of Paul Thomsett, Leighton Allen and the cup-tied Warren Levy. Then team-mates Chris Johnson, Stuart Corlett and James Rhodes arrived with sick notes to compound the growing worries. Johnson's foot injury kept him out altogether, but Corlett and Rhodes had to struggle on due to lack of viable options. Add to this a psyched up underdog, now with home advantage, who still remain aggrieved at being wronged at The Caburn four-and-a-half weeks ago, and all the ingredients were there for a shocking upset.

As the crippled visitors literally limped into the opening stages, Westfield smelt blood straight away and mercilessly threw the first body punch on three minutes. Parris, a former frontman of The Rooks' stable, burst through the right channel and although keeper Darren Prior got a firm hand to his shot, the ball plonked mockingly over the line.

Parris continued to lead Ringmer a merry dance just as he did in the original tie from which The Blues were fortunate to escape following Johnson's last minute equaliser. But with a helpless Johnno reduced to a lonely spectator's role, his Ringmer colleagues could raise little more than a whimper.

Westfield's hungry endeavour put their first division counterparts to shame as Mark Drinkwater's header from a Lawrence Brand free kick almost beat an utterly deceived Prior.

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Ringmer's sparse attacking alternatives were further limited when Rhodes succumbed before the break, releasing Chris Clancy for a baptism of fire on his front side debut after signing terms from Newhaven.

Ringmer's infrequent chances fell mostly to Tom Holden who was crowded out when attempting to notch for the third successive game. However, it was The Blues' defensive arrangements that looked the most ill-at-ease, making hashes of apparently straightforward situations.

The second half brought scant relief and, on the cusp of the hour mark, the visiting backline took a gamble too many and paid a hefty price for trying to trap Parris offside near halfway and the insatiable striker smoothly lobbed Prior to double the lead.

Moments later, events descended almost into farce as a yellow shirt hooked a nothing ball miles into the air only to see an unchallenged Prior drop it at the feet of the game's most dangerous player three yards from goal. It was a gift-wrapped triple for Parris giving Ringmer a first taste of defeat against lower division opposition since 1999/2000.

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The Westies, in the midst of just their fourth season as seniors, had the unexpected luxury of withdrawing their starman with 20 minutes still to run. But there was no holding back and further Ringmer blushes were spared when top scorer Duncan Jones hit the post with a 73rd minute penalty kick awarded for hand ball against Grant Bean.

Infuriatingly, the Pevensey referee Mr Peter Lindsey then sent goalkeeper Prior from the field for swearing at the linesman towards the end an offence that was worthy only of a yellow card in first half injury time when Jones peppered the ref with 'f' words. Gruellingly, Jones immediately gave acting keeper Paul Ford his first and only job of picking No 4 out of the net, confirming a third round clash with Sidlesham for the hosts.

RINGMER: Prior, Corlett (Craig Brown 69), Hamilton, MacMillan, Isted, Ford, Chris Brown, Wickenden, Rhodes (Clancy 37), Bean, Holden. Sub (not used): Johnson. MOM: Grant Bean