East Sussex Football League: Busy weekend's action as rain finally goes away
For the first time this year, an almost full programme of matches was completed in the Macron Sports Hub Hastings East Sussex Football League last weekend.
The sunny and fairly warm weather of last week - a welcome change from all the rain so far in 2026 - allowed five league games and 11 cup ties involving the league's teams to go ahead.
Rye Town moved within a point of Premier Division leaders Westfield II, albeit having played three more fixtures, courtesy of a 4-0 win away to Ninfield.
A brace of Charlie Stevens goals, and one apiece from William Brown and Liam Sayer ensured Rye followed up the previous weekend's 7-1 victory with another convincing success.
Battle Town marked their return to Battle Recreation Ground by seeing off Sidley United 5-0 in their first league outing since losing 3-2 to the same opponents way back on November 1.
The result lifted Battle up a spot to third and they trail Rye by 11 points having played five fewer matches.
Jesters Town climbed above Sidley to fifth by triumphing 3-1 at Sandhurst in a game where all the goals came during the second half.
The finishing of Louis Osborne, Harry Worsell and Harley Mason meant Jesters made the long trip home with all three points, despite James Found scoring for Sandhurst.
A 4-2 derby win at home to Battle Town II took Robertsbridge United up into Division Two's top three.
Jordan Issac and Tommy Buckley netted twice each to give the Bridge their first victory since the start of November.
Bexhill AAC III missed the chance to hit the front in Division Four as they were beaten 2-1 by Ninfield II at Bexhill Road.
Strikes by Ninfield duo Billy-Jo Driver and Sebastian Huntley inflicted only a second league loss of the season on AAC and first since September 20.
The result keeps AAC a point behind Little Common III, albeit with two games in hand, and third-placed Ninfield are now just three behind them, having played once more.
Herstmonceux II received a walkover away to St Leonards Social II and moved above them into the top four as a result.
Moving on to the cup action and SC Pass+Move saw their hopes of Sussex Junior Challenge Cup glory ended by a 2-1 fourth-round loss at home to Seaford Town II.
The Division One high-flyers led at half time, but their Mid-Sussex League Division Two South opponents hit back after the turnaround.
Meanwhile, Hawkhurst United edged through to the ESFL Challenge Cup (Divisions 1/2) quarter-finals after overcoming lower-grade Mountfield United 3-2 away from home.
Goals from Nebiyu Elias, Leon Fisher and Mark Mitchell proved just enough for the Hawks against a Mountfield team for whom Dylan Harley netted twice.
Hawkhurst will head to Westfield III or Wadhurst United in what will be an all-Division One last-eight encounter.
Westfield III narrowly got the better of Northiam II by the odd goal in five to set up a Macron Store Hastings Cup quarter-final trip to The JC Tackleway II.
William Goodsell and Tyler Wilson were on target for Division Two side Northiam at Westfield Parish Field, but it wasn't quite enough.
All the goals came during the first half as Division Three team Wittersham scraped past Division Four outfit Hollington Hawks Youth 2-1 in round two of the Macron Store Hastings Vase.
Wittersham advanced to a last-eight meeting with Herstmonceux II thanks to the goals of James Ball and Cody Lacey. Fin Hodges replied for the Hawks.
Bexhill AAC, The JC Tackleway II and Wadhurst United all recorded away wins to progress to the Hastings & District FA Junior Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
AAC prevailed 3-1 against fellow Division One side St Leonards Social, despite Jack Buckley finding the target for the hosts.
Division One leaders Wadhurst defeated Division Two pacesetters Little Common II 2-0 via the finishing of Ryan Watkins and Edward Sawday.
Tackleway outgunned Catsfield 5-2 in an all-Division Two contest, even though Jacob Jones and Adam Barham scored for the Cats.
AAC and Wadhurst will lock horns with each other in the last eight, while Tackleway will entertain SC Pass+Move or Crowhurst II.
There were wins for Icklesham Casuals, Northiam 75 III and The JC Tackleway III in round two of the Hastings & District FA Lower Divisions Cup.
Tackleway pipped fellow Division Three team Sedlescombe Rangers 4-3 on penalties after an entertaining tie had finished level at 4-4.
Adam Bond bagged a brace, and Ryan Edwards and Spencer Sharkey also found the net for Sedlescombe during the match itself at Oaklands Park.
Division Three got the better of Division Four as Icklesham were 3-0 victors over Robertsbridge United II. Blake Henderson, Sean Melvin and Oliver Spain were on the scoresheet.
Icklesham Casuals II were unable to join their clubmates in the last eight, however, after they lost 3-1 away to Division Four rivals Northiam.
Chris Aldous, Matthew Bricknell and Joshua Wheeler got the goals as Northiam earned themselves a last-eight trip to Wittersham or Bexhill AAC II. Ellis Jackson retaliated.
Tackleway will be at home to Hawkhurst United II or Burwash next, while Icklesham will travel to Ninfield II.
Standings (played-points) - Premier Division: Westfield II 9-27 (+20 goal difference), Rye Town 12-26 (+20), Battle Town 7-15 (+11), The JC Tackleway 10-13 (-4), Jesters Town 12-12 (-10), Sidley United 12-9 (-8), Sandhurst 10-7 (-18), Ninfield 8-5 (-11). Northiam 75 withdrawn
Division 1: Wadhurst United 10-22 (+11), SC Pass+Move 9-21 (+15), Bexhill AAC 13-21 (+6), Victoria Baptists 9-16 (+10), Crowhurst II 10-15 (+5), Herstmonceux 8-9 (-6), Westfield III 9-8 (-9), St Leonards Social 5-7 (-2), Hawkhurst United 11-3 (-30).
Division 2: Little Common II 14-35 (+45), The JC Tackleway II 10-23 (+34), Robertsbridge United 13-18 (+1), Parkfield 14-17 (-6), Northiam 75 II 12-15 (-4), Mountfield United 9-13 (-6), Catsfield 12-12 (-8), Battle Town II 14-4 (-56).
Division 3: Pevensey & Westham 12-27 (+19), Bexhill AAC II 10-21 (+19), Burwash 10-19 (+9), Ticehurst 6-13 (+4), The JC Tackleway III 9-12 (+3), Icklesham Casuals 8-9 (-8), Sedlescombe Rangers 9-6 (-11), Hollington United II 8-6 (-15), Wittersham 8-2 (-20). Battle Town Development and Hastings Athletic withdrawn
Division 4: Little Common III 13-28 (+15), Bexhill AAC III* 11-27 (+33), Ninfield II* 12-24 (+29), Herstmonceux II 9-22 (+27), St Leonards Social II 11-21 (+22), Robertsbridge United II* 10-15 (+1), Northiam 75 III 10-13 (+2), Hawkhurst United II* 13-13 (-30), Hollington Hawks Youth 12-3 (-38), Icklesham Casuals II 13-3 (-61). Hastings Athletic II withdrawn. * = points adjusted
Fixtures - Saturday March 14 (2pm kick-off)
Premier Division: Ninfield v The JC Tackleway, Sandhurst v Battle Town, Westfield II v Rye Town.
Division 1: Hawkhurst United v Bexhill AAC.
Division 2: Mountfield United v Northiam 75 II, Parkfield v Catsfield.
Division 3: Pevensey & Westham v Burwash.
Division 4: Bexhill AAC III v Little Common III, Northiam 75 III v Hawkhurst United II, Robertsbridge United II v Hollington Hawks Youth.
ESFL Challenge Cup (Divisions 1/2) quarter-finals: Little Common II v Herstmonceux, The JC Tackleway II v Victoria Baptists. 2nd round: SC Pass+Move v Battle Town II, Westfield III v Wadhurst United.
ESFL Challenge Cup (Divisions 3/4) quarter-finals: Bexhill AAC II v Hollington United II, Sedlescombe Rangers v Ninfield II. 2nd round: Icklesham Casuals v Wittersham, St Leonards Social II v Herstmonceux II.