Chichester student footballers in relegation battle - plus SEE Chi player score from inside his own half

The University of Chichester men’s football second team’s bid to avoid relegation has gone to the final game of the season after they lost 1-0 at home to Reading University.
Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan ColborneFootball action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne
Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne

Ollie MacArthur’s side started on the back foot.

An early Reading attack culminated in a powerful shot that lashed into the side netting before another chance minutes later was blocked by centre back Joe Hughes.

Reading went ahead on 26 minutes, despite protests that the goal-scorer was offside.

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Tricky wide man Rafael Santos looked like Chichester’s best avenue back into the contest.

He had his first real glimpse of goal when he received a cutback from Zac Felbabel, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

See the embedded Youtube video for a goal scored by a Uni of Chi sixth team player from inside his own half

Chichester started the second half strongly in worsening weather conditions and had two penalty shouts waved away.

Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan ColborneFootball action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne
Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne
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Excellent play from Tom Bickley drew a free kick just outside the box. Bickley’s effort, though, was gathered easily by the Reading goalkeeper.

Felbabel was well marshalled by the away defence throughout the match but did wonderfully to work his way into some space fifteen minutes from time,

He met a long pass with a fantastic volley that drew a super save from the Reading keeper.

Santos and midfielder Joe Gilbey both spurned chances to level the match before Reading were fortunate to keep eleven men on the pitch after a reckless sliding challenge on Santos left him reeling on the floor.

Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan ColborneFootball action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne
Football action at the University of Chichester / Picture: Jordan Colborne
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The visitors stood firm and Chichester now face a relegation battle with bottom-side Brunel.

The men’s football sixes fared much better, winning 3-1 at home against Surrey 4’s.

They went in front in the first half through an audacious 25-yard chip from star striker Jacob Mills only to be pegged back on the stroke of half-time when a loose ball was fired past stand-in keeper Tommy Dawson.

Chichester regained the lead after the break when James Mansfield curled a shot in from just outside the box, before the goal of the day came from captain Jake Hart.

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The centre back spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed a half volley into the net from just inside his own half.

Elsewhere in men’s football, the threes beat Surrey twos 3-0, the fours won 4-0 away at St Mary’s threes and the fives edged a close one with Surrey’s third team 3-2.