FOOTBALL: Rustington and EP share the spoils

Such was the lack of footballing action, it was almost inevitable that the officials' decisions would trigger the main talking points among the frozen spectators.

On 66 minutes, it appeared that Kevin Clayton had slotted the ball home to give EP a 2-1 lead. The home side protested and, after a lengthy discussion between Cox and his assistant, the goal was over-ruled for an offside decision which the assistant linesman had not initially flagged for.

The visitors were clearly outraged by the decision, but shortly afterwards they were the benefactors of another questionable decision. EP player-manager Paul Curtis scythed down Lee Gibbs on the edge of the area. A red card would have been a fair outcome as Curtis was the last man, but instead Cox merely gave the EP defender a firm talking too.

The final act of questionable referring came with 10 minutes remaining. Rustington's Jon Tucker and EP's Mark Burgess were involved in an off-the-ball incident, where it appeared that Tucker had stamped on Burgess.

Burgess' retaliation earned him a second yellow card and an early bath, while Tucker can consider himself lucky not to have joined Burgess – earning just a yellow card, which incensed the visiting support.

There were also some footballing moments in a match not aided by a challenging playing surface and gusty winds. Despite EP forcing half a dozen corners in the first 10 minutes, it was Rustington who gained the first clear sight of goal, but Jason Wimbleton's 11th-minute header was ruled out for offside.

EP took the lead on the half-hour mark when referee Cox pointed to the spot for a handball. Jay Huet, probably the best player on the pitch, coolly sent Andy McCarthy the wrong way.

They nearly bagged a second five minutes later, but Josh Sutcliffe's drive from the edge of the box was well held by McCarthy.

Rustington got back on level terms in the 42nd minute when EP keeper Maciek Kason spilled a corner and Wimbleton forced the ball home on the line.

The second half lacked clear-cut opportunities with Blues' Gibbs having the two best chances to snatch a winner. His swerving shot on 47 minutes landed narrowly wide, then with 15 minutes left, his shot cannoned off Kason's legs and to safety.

The match marked the first-ever John Withers Memorial Trophy match to commemorate a founder member of East Preston Football Club, who passed away in December.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Smith, Tucker, Neal; Boxall, Wimbleton, Hudson, Gibbs, Green; Bennett, S.Kirkham. Subs: C.Kirkham (Wimbleton 60), Morten (Boxall 76), C.Matthews.

EAST PRESTON: Kason; Beaney, Curtis, Moss, Sutcliffe; Da Costa, Burgess, Clayton, Churchill; Nicholson, Huet. Subs: Howard (Churchill 60), Budge (Beaney 71), Harrington (Huet 86), Deniz, Williamson.

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