Blues win at Midhurst

Blues led 3-0 at the break and took the lead after only 82 seconds when Matt Huckett knocked home the rebound after Steve Kirkham’s effort was saved.

Andy Boxall doubled the lead in the 10th minute, and Huckett got his second on 20 minutes to make it 3-0.

Nicolas Tayler pulled a goal back for Midhurst from the penalty spot on 27 minutes, and Kirkham was then sent off for an alleged stamp, despite the striker’s protestations that he had simply collided with his opposite number.

After switching to a 4-2-3 formation with a man light, Blues shut up shop and, although Lewis Hyde struck the post for Midhurst, Blues saw out the game in relative comfort to move up to seventh.

Blues boss Brett Torode said: “It’s another win, so I’m pleased, and we’re looking for the top six now.

“It was nice to get one over on Trevor Waller (Midhurst boss), who’s a good friend of mine, and I felt we deserved it.

“I’m delighted with our form, we had to re-adjust when we went down to 10 men on Saturday, but it was comfortable in the end.

“We’ve had our blip, back in September, and are going well now and will be looking forward to the cup quarter-final against Lancing on Saturday.”

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Bennett, Wimbleton, Neal, Green; Sayers, Jones; Hudson, Huckett, Boxall; Kirkham. Subs: Butt, Clayton (Wimbleton, Hudson 60), Adams (Butt 80), Darwin.