FOOTBALL: County League weekly round-up

WORTHING United and Southwick's Division 2 clash on Saturday was not a classic by any stretch of anyone's imagination, but the three points, which were important for both clubs at each end of the table, went United's way with a 2-1 home win.

There was a distinct attack of the "showboats" from both forward lines where doing the simple thing would have been far more effective.

In fact, considering the gulf in points between the sides the quality from both was far closer than one might have imagined.

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Both goalkeepers were relatively under used but when called into action did all that was expected of them.

The first chance fell to Adam Mitchell who profited from a slip by Wickers' captain Dan Rahaman but when clean through blasted well wide of the mark.

United's best chance of an opening came through right winger Grant Bean who conjured up a rare piece of quality in the 16th minute to cross for Mitchell who buried from two yards.

Southwick did have a chance to level the scores when James Wotherspoon latched onto a slip from John Elliott but Ross Standen in the United goal saved well at the striker's feet.

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Fernando Da Cuna then denied Mitchell a second just before half-time with a good save.

Again, wayward finishing after the break let the home side down, as Grant Philpott and Jack Hayward wasted good chances.

It wasn't until the 72nd minute that substitute, and top scorer, Darren Annis showed some neat footwork from Mitchell's cross and slotted home from six yards.

After that it was all Southwick, who got their reward four minutes from time.

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They were awarded a penalty for a foul on Wotherspoon that Ryan Walton tucked into the bottom left corner, to leave United with a potentially nervy last three minutes plus injury time, had referee Neal Saxton not blown the final whistle a minute short of the 90.

United's joint manger Jason Rutherford said: "It wasn't a great game but it's three points, I suppose. We were missing Enzo Benn and Chris Hibberd, so I can't really complain."

UNITED: Standen; Hunt, Curnow, J.Elliott, Philpott; Hayward, Bentley, Bean, Joseph; Mitchell, P.Elliott. Subs: Annis (Elliott 67), Green (Mitchell, 76), Koroma, Geary.

Storrington took the local bragging rights with a 4-1 away win over local rivals Lancing in Division 2, a result that "embarrassed" Lancers' boss Martin Gander as their defensive worries continued.

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Gander said: " It was very disappointing and I'm not happy with the attitude my players showed.

"We seemed to give up after we went 2-1 down. That's not something I can accuse my players of very often, but it summed up our season that we missed too many chances and let in too many goals.

"Storrington are a good, workmanlike side but our performance was not acceptable. They're not bad players and injuries haven't helped, but they need to take a long, hard look at themselves and sort things out."

It was a second-half brace from Richard Ayres which capped a fine win and handed Storrington back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

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The Swans have regained their confidence according to boss Ricky Hamilton, and after being under the cosh for much of the first half they certainly showed far more belief after the break to run out comfortable winners.

Hamilton said: "I'm very pleased with the result, it was a battle of two sides who have had an up-and-down season really.

"It gives us back-to-back wins and another three points on the board and sets us up for the last six games.

"It's been a confidence issue for most of the season but we spoke about turning around our form and the guys responded against Worthing and then again on Saturday."

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With several players patched up following a heavy run of games, Lancing started stronger but a fine early save from Gary Elliott and some wasteful finishing kept it at 0-0.

Swans came back to exert some pressure of their own and after Ayres had forced a save Steve Tasker threaded a ball into the box for James Davis to calmly finish.

Dan Griffiths capitalised on Elliott's slip to equalise before the break but Swans took the game by the throat in the second half and Liam Humphries restored the lead on the hour, after Danny Coughin and Lee Garnham fired wide

A short Jordan Johnston corner to Tasker saw the midfielder pick out Ayres and his first time half-volley made it 3-1, and Tasker found Ayres again soon after to complete the scoring. He rode a tackle and cooly found the bottom corner for 4-1.

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STORRINGTON: Elliott; Davis, Blayden, Watton, McCall (Sleat 45); Tasker, Rhodie (Tidman 55), Humphries, Johnston; Ayres, Harding.

LANCING: Allfrey; P.Proto, Early, Ford, Mighall; Boswell, Beard, Sims, Garnham; Griffin, Coughin. Subs: Goacher (Coughin 65), Foster (Griffin 70), Skipper (Early 75).

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