Chichester City ease through in FA Trophy

Miles Rutherford’s team made the long trip to Devon on the back of two straight league defeats – but they put those behind to reach the next round, in which they have landed a tasty tie at home to National South near neighbours Worthing.

It was a cagey first half at times at Parkway but from the moment Emmett Dunn fired City in front a couple of minutes before the break, there only looked like being a City win.

Isaac Bello doubled the lead just after the hour and ten minutes later it was game over thanks to a rare goal by centre-half Curtis Da Costa.

Jimmy Wild is never far from his next goal this season and he bagged City’s fourth with seven minutes left to put the icing on things, and City can now look forward to a big Oaklands Park crowd for Chris Agutter’s side’s visit on November 16.

Elsehwere, Selsey lost 2-1 at Chessington and Hook in Division 1 of the SCFL.

Boss Daren Pearce said: “It was our longest away trip of the season with the chance to build on our recent league results. Unfortunately we ended up loosing the game after going 1-0 up.

"After defending well in the first half we scored an early second half goal through Joe Boschi's neat finish.

"George Cody added what we thought was a good second only for the linesman to give the goal offside much to the astonishment of both home and away players and staff in the dugouts – when the players had lined up to kick off again.

"With no flag from the linesman before or after the goal went in, you can imagine the frustration when the goal was not given.

"For us this totally changed the momentum, with the lads becoming increasingly frustrated. Yes they shouldn't have allowed that to affect them but it’s happened times in as many weeks.

"After this the hosts scored when a mishit cross went over the top of Syd Davies and into the far corner, giving him no chance.

"We continued to push and create things but our hosts broke to score their second and the winner and take the three points.

"It’s a very frustrating afternoon when the game is taken out of your hands. We felt for the players as they gave everything on a tricky, heavy pitch with both sides trying to come to terms with the conditions."

The defeat followed back-to-back wins for the Blues, who had beaten East Preston 4-1 at the High Street Ground last Tuesday. Kieran Jones, Cody and James Henton (2) were on target.

Selsey are 16th and Pearce said: “We now turn our attentions to Saturday when we host Montpelier Villa.”

Also in Division 1, Infinity drew 3-3 at home to Banstead.

In Division 2, Bosham lost 4-2 at home to Capel.