Bosham win in cup at their Leisure

Conditions at Worthing Leisure Centre were never going to help produce good football but both teams tried to defy the odds.

Playing with the wind, Bosham had a good percentage of the early play, yet two early free-kicks simply sailed over the Worthing bar. The first chance fell to Ricky Neenan of Worthing but his near-post shot was easily dealt with by Kieran Magee in the Bosham goal.

Worthing had a purple patch for ten minutes, but with the ground cutting up badly, the final ball was often missing.

On the half-hour, an in swinging corner aided by the wind eluded the Worthing keeper and hit the underside of the bar and in a melee, the ball was cleared.

The second half started brightly for Bosham and the tactics began to work. Clever work by the Bosham midfielders – skilfully marshalled by captain James Wilson – ended with the ball at Edgington’s feet.

The tall striker coolly controlled the ball and beat the advancing keeper to shoot from a wide angle.

After the goal, Bosham found the controlled football missing in the first half.

Edgington was involved as Bosham doubled their advantage a few minutes later, evading a tackle and crossing from the same acute angle for a well-finished header from the industrious Jake Lafferty.

Two down so early in the second half meant Worthing needed to attack, which they did.

The hosts played some good football but were vulnerable to the counter-attack. Graeme Dowden was enjoying the freedom of the left side.

The diminutive Neenan looked dangerous, but the commanding figures of Callum Fewell and Ben Blanshard held firm.

Andy Probee and Matt Docherty made several timely interceptions late on and Louis Bell kept up the work-rate.

Bosham face a trip to play Lewes under-21s in the last eight on January 9, and get back to league action this Saturday at Cowfold (2pm).

BOSHAM: Magee, Probee, Redman, Blanshard, Stevens, Docherty, Bell, Wilson, Lafferty, Edgington, Dowden. Subs: Fewell, Bulbeck.

RICHARD BRYANT

Lavant Reserves 4 Worthing Boro 2

West Sussex League division three south

Lavant will be enjoying Christmas at the top of the table after a hard-fought win over promotion rivals Worthing Borough.

Two goals apiece from John Langridge and Lee Smith helped them overcome their opponents and replace them at the summit.

Lavant were out of the blocks like a shot, Langridge scoring twice in the first three minutes. After a half-clearance, Paul Taylor headed the ball back in and the big striker reacted first, nodding over the onrushing keeper, before hitting an instinctive left-foot volley from 20 yards a minute later.

It could have been a five-minute hat-trick for Langridge but his shot on the turn grazed the outside of the post.

Worthing began to get back into the game by throwing players forward, but Lavant scored a third on 25 minutes, keeper Ash Court’s kick clearing the left-back and Lee Smith beating the keeper to the bouncing ball, heading into the empty net.

The visitors had a lifeline five minutes later when Lavant failed to pick up markers from a throw-in on their right and the cross was guided in to the top corner.

Boro had another on 49 minutes when the unfortunate James Batten’s diving interception diverted a cross past Court. But they never really threatened another goal and Lavant came closest as the ball was poked past the keeper, who just recovered to clear off the line.

The industrious midfield duo of James Brooks and Charlie McLaren were no pushover, and Batten’s explosive runs from centre back began to force the visitors back.

A substitution with eight minutes to go was to prove vital as Smith was moved back up front and Pete Caveney put on the left. Within two minutes Smith made the game comfortable.

Sub Adam Yaxley broke up an attack and Caveney was released down the flank before crossing to the back post for the unmarked Smith to power home a header.

LAVANT: Ash Court, Chris Coe, Tom Parker, James Batten, Matt Grace, Charlie McLaren, James Brooks, Paul Taylor, Greg Ayling, Lee Smith, John Langridge. Subs: Simon Augustus, Adam Yaxley, Will Cieszynski, Pete Caveney, Tom Haslam.

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