FOOTBALL: County League round-up (March 11)

Swans showed great fight to bounce back from three straight defeats, but the match was marred with first-half controversy.

Kristian Harding gave Storrington the lead on four minutes when he latched on to a John Rhodie pass into the box and dispatched high into the net past United keeper Ross Standen.

Slowly United came back into the game before the controversy on 22 minutes. Swans keeper Gary Elliott got a hand to Julian Curnow's header from a corner and the ball came up and clearly struck Stuart McCall on the arm.

It was a blatant penalty and could have even resulted in a red card for McCall but, in the mass confusion and appeals that followed, Curnow ended up getting booked and a free kick was awarded Storrington's way after a United player picked up the ball, presuming it had either crossed the line or the penalty had been given.

Eventually things got back under way but United had lost their heads, probably incited more by the unacceptable and atrocious abuse directed at referee Wayne Webb from a contingent of spectators on the sidelines.

Both sides then had chances in the first half before, after the break, Elliott parried Chris Hibberd's shot.

United's best chance to equalise fell to Jack Hayward on 55 minutes. After excellent work from Darren Annis on the right, he squared to Hayward but Elliott raced out to bravely smother the shot.

Swans substitute Liam Humphries then sealed the points with his first touch of the game five minutes from time.

Fellow substitute Dave Cook whipped in a cross, which Standen fumbled and Humphries, with his back to goal, flicked the ball home from six yards.

United joint boss Jason Rutherford said: "I'm really disappointed and I don't really know what to say. It was a shocking decision and I still don't know why he's not given it. I think even they thought he had given the goal or penalty.

"Still, I have to say over the rest of the game we probably didn't deserve anything but they could have been down to 10 men and that changes the game."

Swans manager Ricky Hamilton was delighted with his side's performance, and said: "We showed real character and that we can compete with the top teams in the league.

"It shows what we can achieve and if I can bottle that commitment and desire, it'll make us into one of the teams that are capable of competing at the top of this league, which is what I'm trying to do here.

"I couldn't actually see the incident in the first half but Stuart said it hit him on the hand.

"It can be very easy to lose your way in games after decisions but I think we went about our business very well. A few decisions went against us on Saturday, so things tend to even themselves out.

"But I always try and tell my players a referee will never make as many mistakes as they will in a game."

On Saturday, Swans conceded two early goals and went down 2-0 at home to Sidley.

James Adebayo had an effort ruled out for offside in the second half and Storrington had two penalty appeals waved away.

Last Wednesday, United won 1-0 at Oakwood through James Bentley's 30th-minute goal.

Rutherford said: "It was a huge win and a great result, but it was a smash-and-grab raid as, if I'm honest, they deserved something from it."

STORRINGTON V United: Elliott; Davis, Blaydon, Watton, McCall; Tasker, Harding, Rhodie, Johnson; Ayres, Adebayo. Subs: Cook (Tasker 59), Humphries (Adebayo 80), Sleat, Beamount.

v Sidley: Beamount; Davis, Carter (Cook 45), Whatton, Sleat; S Tasker, Humphries (Adebayo 40), Ayres; Harding, Grantham (J Tasker 70).

UNITED v Storrington: Standen; Bean, Elliott, Curnow, Philpot; Bentley, Hayward, Hibberd, Joseph; Annis, Green. Used subs: Koroma, Saunders, Packer.

v Oakwood: Standen; Hunt, Curnow, J.Elliot, Philpott; Bentley, Bean, Hibberd, Joseph; Green, Annis. Subs: Simpson, Koroma (Green, Joseph 85), Moody.

Lancing were beaten 3-0 at Clymping, also in Division 2, on Saturday.

Lancers manager Martin Gander said: "As well as we played against Loxwood, we were as bad against Clymping.

"We didn't play anywhere near as well as we can and, although it was tight up until the first goal, it was disappointing thereafter but that's the way it goes. They're a team with good spirit, pace and they're well organised."

For Lancing, Shaun Skipper and Dan Griffin both hit the woodwork and Darren Boswell fired a snapshot wide.

LANCING: Green; Early, Ford, Proto, Mighall; Boswell, Beard, Skipper, Garnham; Clayton, Griffin. Subs: Goacher (Early 70), Howard (Skipper 72), Foster (Ford 80).

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