FOOTBALL: County League round-up (February 20)

Blues, one of only two sides to lose to Midhurst in the league this season, went ahead on 15 minutes, when James Bennett converted a Lee Gibbs free-kick.

Steve Kirkham hit a quickfire double to make it 3-0 by the half-hour mark, and Ryan Hudson added the fourth 20 minutes from time.

Blues finished the game with just 10 men after Chris Darwin limped off after all three substitutions had been made.

Boss Kevin Short said: "We played really well and that's one defeat in five league games now.

"But we've got to keep winning as there's a danger we could be sucked back in. Midhurst were actually better on Saturday than they were when they beat us, but we've come a long way since then.

"Our fitness levels are better, the attitude has improved and we're working really hard in training. We also changed the formation and I felt that helped us and made a difference."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Smith; Boxall, Wimbleton, Hudson, Gibbs, Green; S.Kirkham, Bennett. Subs: Darwin (Green 63), Morten (Gibbs 70), C.Kirkham (Smith 75).

Clymping boss Dominic Di Paola was delighted with his side's performance in Division 2 as they beat Oakwood 4-0.

Richard Ghent and Richy Moss went close before Seb Di Paola headed home Billy Rayner's corner on 40 minutes.

Joe Stoke got the second with a 25-yard cross-shot before Alex Biggs netted for his second goal in as many games.

Joe Shelley then got the fourth from the penalty spot in injury-time after he was fouled.

Dominic Di Paola said: "We just want to see how high we can get now. We've played most of the top teams and are now playing a lot of the sides around us.

"We're playing well now and are playing without fear."

CLYMPING: Paice; Stokes, Young, S.Di Paola, D.Di Paola; Biggs, Shelley, Rayner, Castro; Ghent, Moss.Subs: Meehan (Rayner 55), Miller (Moss 60), Hand (Ghent 75), Gaskin.

Littlehampton joint manager John Suter blasted his side's first half performance as they went down 3-2 to Seaford in Division 2. He said: "We were dreadful in the first half and it was desperately disappointing. We made them look like world beaters and it was Jekyll and Hyde performance."

Seaford went 2-0 ahead in the opening 45 minutes through an Adam Kneller free-kick and a Tom Callaghan strike on 32 minutes.

Golds rallied and struck back in the 55th minute. John Lawson was fouled and, although his resultant penalty was saved, Joel Sayers fired home the rebound.

Kneller soon made it 3-1 before Idriz Adedoja lobbed home to make it an exciting finish. But despite chances falling to Jerry Manning and Lawson, the leveller remained elusive.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Young, Windsor, McKay, Hazell; Sayers, Peacock, Kavallierou, Manning; Lawson, Buckett. Subs: Adedoja, Collander (Sayers, Peacock 70), Tavor (Kavallierou 78), Charman, Wollers.

East Preston's Division 2 match at Wealden on Saturday and their home game with Oakwood on Tuesday were both postponed owing to waterlogged pitches.

Last Wednesday, 10-man EP struck twice in the last 10 minutes to beat Southwick 2-1.

EP's Colin Moss was sent off for violent conduct on 40 minutes and Wickers went ahead on 60 minutes through Ryan Walton's penalty, after a Dan Waller handball.

EP levelled through Jay Huet on 80 minutes before Kevin Clayton got the winner from the outstanding Asa Nicholson's cross two minutes later.

EAST PRESTON: Williamson, Beaney, Moss, Waller, Sutcliffe; Nicholson, Clayton, Burgess, Churchill; Budge, Azimi. Subs: Huet (Budge 42), Curtis (Azimi 46), Maymon (Burgess 75), Harrington, Kason.

Wick went down 1-0 on Saturday at home to County League Division 1 title favourites Whitehawk.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Darren Freeman got the only goal with eight minutes left and Wick, who had several first-team players unavailable, were unable to force an equaliser.

Wick boss Carl Stabler said: "We played well and worked hard against a good Whitehawk team. We just need to keep going and our aim is a top six finish in the league and to win a cup, or two."

Last Wednesday, Wick drew 0-0 at struggling Mile Oak. There were few chances at either end, although Scott Murfin, carrying a knock, looked lively when he went on for the closing stages.

Wick's John O'Hara Cup quarter-final replay with Seaford on Tuesday was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

WICK v Whitehawk: Bryant; Torode, Sharman, Clayton, Buckland; Wrigley, Pearce, Barnard, Bird; More, Gaskin. Subs: S. Murfin, Sweat (More, Wrigley 85), French, Kew.

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

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]