FOOTBALL: County League round-up (April 22)

Short said: "We played well, the result was pleasing and we stuck to our game plan of contain and counter attack, and it worked."

Adam McMinigal put Sidley in front in the third minute, but Blues equalised on 30 minutes through Rob Butcher.

Butcher started the move with a pass that played in Chris Darwin. Darwin's effort was saved, and Butcher chested down, then volleyed home the follow-up.

Blues' winner came from Darwin on the counter-attack midway through the second half.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Wimbleton, Green; Darwin, C.Matthews, Boxall, Butcher, Gibbs; Smith. Subs: Bashford (Gibbs 20), Cox (Smith 65), Woodward.

Arundel remained in trouble at the bottom of the table aftera 1-0 defeat at home to East Grinstead Town in Division 1 but, despite the result, Mullets manager Richard Towers insists he is not worried by the threat of relegation.

The result left Mullets fifth from bottom, just three points off the drop zone, although they do have games in hand on their rivals.

Towers said: "I think seven more points will see us safe. If we get to 40 we'll be okay.

"Things seem to be conspiring against us, and we're not getting the lucky bounce. We need a win from somewhere but I'm confident we'll be okay."

Mullets midfielder Rob Grove filled in between the sticks as goalkeeper as Ben O'Connor was unavailable.

Arundel had several chances and Scott Tipper was inches away from converting a Russell Hardwell cross.

Matt Axell also fired narrowly wide and Rory Biggs had a header saved.

But despite their chances, it was East Grinstead, who netted the only goal of the game through Luke Piscina on 58 minutes.

Towers added: "It was a tight game, the goal came from their only shot on target but that's the way it's going at the moment."

ARUNDEL: Grove; Sneller, Walker, Pickford, Hall; Hardwell, R.Biggs, Axell, J.Biggs; Tipper, Neighbour. Sub: Norgate (Tipper 65).

Clymping had a late Billy Rayner strike to thank as they shared the points with Loxwood in a 3-3 home draw in Division 2.

Clymping player-manager Dominic Di Paola said: "It wasn't a great game to play in, both sides lacked a bit of quality and I felt that the draw was a fair result.

"I suppose we should look at it as a point gained as neither side deserved to win."

Rayner put Clymping ahead in the fifth minute but Loxwood equalised midway through the first-half through Phillip Awcock.

Joe Stokes re-established the lead on the hour mark, but Loxwood levelled for the second time on the hour.

Loxwood hit a third goal 15 minutes from time, but Rayner's injury-time strike rescued a point.

CLYMPING: Oakley; Brown, Hand, Young, Biggs; Stokes, Castro, Meehan, Rayner; Ghent, Moss. Subs: Gaskin (Moss 10 inj), Miller (Young 70), Peters (Hand 72), Bunting, D.Di Paola.

Littlehampton and Seaford played out an entertaining, but low-key, 0-0 draw in Division 2.

Golds played the better football, and their best chance fell to Matt Russell, who shot just over, but the lack of a cutting-edge proved their undoing.

Golds player manager Gary Young said: "We played well, and with a bit more cutting edge would have won. The game was evenly fought and we kept them at bay.

"We want to finish as high as we can and the club is set up to go forward next year.

"To win the Division 2 Cup was excellent and we've got some local derbies coming up that we want to do well in. Overall, I think we're well set for next year."

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Young, McKay, Windsor, Hazell; Buckett, O'Hagan, Tabor, Charman; Russell, Adedoja. Subs: Lawson (Adedoja 70), Barrett (Tabor 75).

East Preston missed out on a home point on Saturday, as Little Common's Michael O`Callaghan fired home an 89th-minute winner in a seven-goal thriller.

The game finished 4-3 to Common although Kevin Budge put EP ahead with a low shot on the turn after just 12 minutes.

Common equalised 10 minutes later as Jared Lusted beat Maciek Kason at his near post after a flick on.

EP failed to clear on 29 minutes and Lusted pinched the ball from Colin Moss, but then went down over the defenders leg, and Lewis Hole converted the resultant penalty.

Asa Nicholson's pass to Nathan Da Costa set up EP's equaliser on 52 minutes. The latter's ball found Budge, who again turned home.

The already-booked Lewis Hole was then lucky to stay on the pitch after taking out Kason, but the Common player avoided a second yellow, and then set up their third goal just two minutes later.

He put in O'Callaghan who buried past Kason on 75 minutes.

Kieran Howard's free kick then dropped to Jehan Huet in the box, and he drilled home through the crowd, thinking he'd earnt a point.

But nine minutes later Common broke forward, a square ball fell to O'Callaghan after James Harris' air shot and he ran on to dispatch past Kason.

EP: Kason; Harris, Waller, Moss, Sutcliffe; Da Costa, Howard, Burgess, Nicholson; Huet, Budge. Subs: Beaney (Waller 74), Harrington (Burgess 81), Deniz, Curtis.

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