FOOTBALL: County League round-up (January 30)

Wick boss Carl Stabler said: "It was a fantastic game, which had everything.

"At 4-2 down in the 87th minute, I thought the game was lost, but we showed excellent spirit to come back. This cup is definitely a target for us now."

David Altendorf's double put Ringmer 2-0 up by the 25th minute. But Simon Clayton pulled a goal back on 35 minutes and Scott Murfin levelled early in the second half.

Ringmer edged ahead again through Joe Dryer on 60 minutes, and Dave Soutar made it 4-2 nine minutes later.

But Ringmer keeper Gary Trott was then sent-off with three minutes left and George Gaskin scored from the resultant free-kick to set up a nervy finale. Incredibly, Murfin rescued the tie and took it to extra-time with the equaliser in added time.

In extra-time, Murfin put Wick in front with his hat-trick goal and Gaskin got the sixth to finally put the remarkable game to bed. Murfin got his fourth, and 29th of the season, late on, before Ringmer substitute Sam Sowter got another goal back.

WICK: Bryant; Torode, Sharman, N.Murfin, Buckland; Turner, Pearce, Clayton, Barnard; More, S.Murfin. Subs: Gaskin (More 70), Huggett (Barnard 80), Wrigley (N.Murfin 110).

Clymping boss Dominic Di Paola was left ruing another two dropped points on Saturday, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wealden in County League Division 2.

Di Paola's side came up against an in-form Wealden goalkeeper, but also missed a hatful of chances, including their seventh missed penalty of the season.

Di Paola said: "It was another two points dropped and the same old story really.

"And we missed another penalty as well. I have worked out that if we had scored all of our spot-kicks this season, we would have another 12 points on the board.

"It was quite bizarre as we were the better team all game, although their goalkeeper did make some great saves."

Wealden opened the scoring through Andrew McDowell on 20 minutes, before Tony Castro missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot soon afterwards.

Goals from Richy Moss and Joe Shelley put Clymping ahead, but McDowell's second levelled things in the closing stages.

Clymping's match at Southwick on Tuesday was postponed owing to an unfit pitch.

CLYMPING: Oakley; Stokes, Young, S.Di Paola, Biggs; Francis, Shelley, Castro, Moss; Ghent, Miller. Subs: Hand (Miller 55), Brown (Stokes 60), Meehan (Castro 70).

Arundel recorded an excellent 3-2 win over improving Three Bridges on Saturday in County League Division 1.

Mullets came flying out of the traps and went ahead through Josh Biggs on five minutes.

Russell Hardwell made it 2-0 six minutes later and it appeared as though Arundel would run riot.

But Bridges' Dean Wright shot home soon afterwards, before Mullets' Howard Neighbour restored the two-goal lead five minutes before half-time.

Lee Carney gave Bridges hope again 25 minutes from time but they finished the game with 10 men after Dean Carden was sent off and Mullets held on.

Arundel assistant boss Simon Butler said: "Our main problem has been too many draws, and we've had so many injuries and unavailability.

"We've got to keep going and with Gary Norgate re-signing, hopefully, we'll get up to where we should be.

"I was pleased with the result and performance and, hopefully, we can start climbing the table."

Norgate has re-joined Mullets after he was released by Ryman League Bognor last week. Norgate was Arundel's top scorer with 39 goals last season when they finished runners-up in the County League.

Butler added: "Gary's return will be a huge boost for the club and he is welcomed back by the management, players and committee as he is a good, honest, genuine lad and has now experience playing regularly at a higher level."

Mullets' match with Wick on Tuesday was postponed as some areas of the pitch were too soft, which could have endangered the players' safety.

ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Sneller, Pickford, Hall, Walker; Hardwell, Grove, Neighbour, J.Biggs, R.Biggs; Tipper. Subs: Basil (J.Biggs 54), Tewsley (Grove 75), Griffiths (Pickford 76), Harewood.

Rustington won for the third league game in succession and eased their relegation fears with a 2-1 win over struggling Southwick.

Blues joint manager Kevin Short said: "We weren't at it in the first half and they seemed to want it more. At half-time, we told them to raise the level and work harder, and they responded and got the job done."

Dominic Shepherd put Southwick in front on 22 minutes but Blues turned the game around with two goals in quick succession after half-time.

Steve Kirkham made it 1-1 immediately after the break and then Jason Wimbleton put Rustington ahead 10 minutes later.

Blues' Rob Butcher was sent off for a second bookable offence but, despite late Southwick pressure, including a superb Andy McCarthy save, Blues held on. Wickers' Grant Bean also saw red late on.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Butcher, Neal, Smith, Green; Boxall, Hudson, Wimbleton, C.Kirkham; Smart, S.Kirkham. Subs: Bennett (Wimbleton 60), Tucker (Smart 70), Morten (C.Kirkham 77), C.Matthews.

Littlehampton moved into the top half of the Division 2 table with a 3-1 victory at relegation-threatened Steyning Town.

Golds joint boss John Suter admitted his team were "lucky" to win and the victory was mainly down to a profligate Steyning display.

He said: "The result didn't reflect the performance. I think we were tired but we should have been four or five down at half-time.

"I would describe it as a lucky result and Steyning can count themselves unfortunate.

"We were poor, in the first half particularly, but took our chances whereas they didn't."

Jerry Manning played in Idriz Adedoja to give Golds the lead, only for Nani Ali to pounce on the rebound after Greg Hearne struck the bar to level on 34 minutes.

Adedoja netted his and Golds' second just before half-time and Jamie Buckett's header from a Matt Russell free-kick made the points safe late on.

On Thursday, Golds lost 3-2 at home to Ryman League Premier Division Horsham in the Brighton Charity Cup first round.

Littlehampton struck twice through Barney Boutwood and Joe Charman, and for a while looked as though they would cause a shock.

But goals from Eddie French and a brace from Anthony Purcell put Horsham through.

Suter said: " It could have gone either way. It was end-to-end and it was evenly contested."

LITTLEHAMPTON v Steyning: Stoner; Young, Crawford, McKay, Hazell; Charman, Russell, Manning, Sayers; Lawson, Adedoja. Subs: O'Hagan (Young 57), Buckett (Charman 64), Windsor (Manning 71).

v Horsham: Stoner; Sayers, Crawford, Hazell, Wollers; Charman, O'Hagan, Manning, Peacock; Lawson, Boutwood. Subs: McKay (Peacock 20), Adedoja (Wollers 50), Russell (Charman 70).

East Preston grabbed a 2-2 draw at Storrington in Division 2 thanks to Jay Huet's 80th-minute equaliser. Kristian Harding gave Swans a 34-minute lead but Kevin Budge levelled on 40 minutes, before Swans regained their advantage before half-time through Craig Grantham.

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

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]