Action all the way - but Selsey surrender two points

Mark Lee was dismissed for the hosts in an altercation with Leon Dussard, who was also sent off, with Neil John also shown a red card late on for the visitors in the Sussex League first-division tussle.

The point enabled Selsey to climb to 12th in the division-one table, nine points clear of the relegation zone and only four points off the top half.

Manager Ian Martin felt his side recovered well from the ‘harsh’ red card for Lee, saying: “It was another eventful afternoon. It was obviously only a point compared to the two extra points we felt we should have had, but it looks like we’re on the way up.

“We’re definitely moving in the right direction. In the last three games we’ve been 2-0 up at half-time and it’s part of our learning curve.

“I don’t think we’re naïve as a team or as footballers, but we seemed to come out for the second half tentative sand almost scared to go on and win the game.”

Strikers Ed Bowers and Graham Bush (2) were on the scoresheet but Martin still felt they weren’t at their best.

“Both forwards are playing ever so well but they are missing a few chances. They’re creating the chances and they’re getting in the right place at the right time, it’s just that lack of finishing because goals win games and we have to take these chances to kill games off because that’s what we haven’t been doing,” he said.

Despite the disappointment Selsey have now failed to lose at the High Street Ground since the beginning of October – home form that will stand them in good stead with four of their next seven games at home.

“We do like it there, obviously it’s one of the best pitches in the County League and we like to pass the ball round on the grass,” said Martin.

“The pitch was absolutely fine – there was no frost and it didn’t seem there had been any on it overnight. It had been cut and rolled and was in good condition.”

Shoreham and Arundel lie behind Selsey by only a point, and with both having two games in hand the table can make deceptive reading, but with Martin’s side now three games unbeaten they carry some confidence into Saturday’s game at Lingfield, currently in 19th position.

MARK ALLAWAY