FOOTBALL: County League round-up (Feb 6)

EAST PRESTON Football Club remained on course for a top-eight finish in County League Division 2 after they came from behind to win 3-1 at fellow mid-table side Westfield on Saturday.

EP manager Paul Curtis said: "We showed character. It's a tough place to go, so to win in the way we did was pleasing.

"We've got to keep going and really we need to consolidate and then push on next season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Teams have got their ground-grading inspections soon, so there could still be a chance of going up, you never know.

"The team is starting to gel and we're looking to build on what we've done in recent weeks."

EP fell behind early on but rallied and equalised through Kevin Clayton's finish from a Colin Moss pass in the 14th minute.

They introduced Jay Huet at half-time and the substitution reaped dividends when he neatly lobbed EP in front on 68 minutes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He grabbed his second, and EP'S third, eight minutes later, and that was the way it stayed.

EP host Rye on Saturday, then are at Southwick on Wednesday.

EAST PRESTON: Willamson; Beeney, C.Moss, Curtis, Sutcliffe; Churchill, Burgess, Clayton, Harrington; Azimi, Budge. Subs: Huet (Harrington 60), Maymon, Da Costa (Burgess, Beeney 70), Craven, Nicholson.

Also in Division 2, Rustington's recent revival ended with a 2-1 defeat at mid-table Oakwood, and Blues boss Kevin Short was left disappointed at his side's performance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "We were poor, dreadful, they were the better side and hopefully it's just a one-off.

"We were fortunate to go in at half-time one up and we didn't play anywhere near as well as we can."

Blues were forced to play midfielder Jason Wimbleton in goal after regular keeper Andy McCarthy was injured in the warm-up.

Short added: "Jason did nothing wrong, he wasn't at fault for anything but I felt it disrupted us a bit, although that's no excuse."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Blues went ahead through Steve Kirkham's goal just before the break, only for Liam Hunter to equalise on 70 minutes.

Oakwood were reduced to 10 men when Daniel Attwater was sent-off, but Gerald Manville still nicked the points a minute from time.

Rustington now travel to Little Common on Saturday.

RUSTINGTON: Wimbleton; C.Matt-hews, Neal, Smith, Green; Bennett, Morten, Tucker, Boxall; Smart, S.Kirkham. Subs: Hudson (Neal 15 inj), Darwin (Kirkham 65), Butcher (Matthews 70).

Wick were held to a draw by division-lower side Seaford away in the John O'Hara Cup quarter-finals, and will now face a replay at Crabtree Park for a place in the last four after a scoreless 120 minutes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a tight game of few chances, on a heavy pitch, Wick's best chance fell to Neil Murfin, who struck the bar after good build-up play when he should have done better.

Wick boss Carl Stabler said: "We played well, they're a good side and we'll treat them with respect.

"We don't mind about having to replay because we're all right in terms of games played, and we're confident the job can be finished off at home."

Wick travel to Eastbourne UA in the Sussex RUR Cup on Saturday, then visit Mile Oak in the league on Wednesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

WICK: Bryant; Torode, Sharman, Clayton, Buckland; Tuner, Barnard, N.Murfin, Pearce; Huggett, S.Murfin. Subs: Gaskin (Huggett 70), More (Turner 80), Wrigley.

Arundel's Division 1 home match with St Francis was postponed owing to an unfit pitch on Saturday.

Mullets are at Crowborough in the league on Saturday, then travel to Redhill on Tuesday.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]

Related topics: