City, Lions and Selsey all have that winning feeling

Chichester City, Selsey, Midhurst and Pagham all celebrated success in the latest Southern Combination League games and cup matches.
Pagham celebrate a goal at Hassocks / Picture by Phil WestlakePagham celebrate a goal at Hassocks / Picture by Phil Westlake
Pagham celebrate a goal at Hassocks / Picture by Phil Westlake

Here are the reports - don’t forget to get the Chichester Observer every Thursday for all the local football reports, pictures, reaction, tables, results and fixtures.

SCFL premier division

An equaliser from Ellis Martin earned Chichester City a valuable home point in a close encounter against Haywards Heath.

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The first half saw Chichester and Heath - who started the day a place in front of their hosts - have an equal amount of possession, but neither side was really able to test either keeper.

It took until the 35th minute for the visitors to really test Chichester keeper Ant Ender with two efforts in quick succession, the first a long-range effort from 20 yards and then a follow-up from inside the six-yard box, both of which saw Ender producing two spectacular saves to keep it goalless.

The second half was more entertaining for the spectators on a chilly afternoon and Heath took the lead in the 58th minute. It was a gift as Jack Lee attempted to head the ball back to Ender, only for Haywards Heath forward Trevor McCreadie to score into an open net.

Chichester responded well, with more possession and attacks. Lee almost made up from his mistake by hitting the bar with a neat right-foot finish from a corner and Josh Clack also tested the keeper from a long-range effort.

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City No9 Scott Jones had two opportunities to level things, the first being a shot on the half volley which went into the side netting before moments later heading inches wide from a Clack set-piece.

The pressure finally paid off in the 67th minute as Chichester won a free-kick on the edge of the area. Captain Martin stepped up and curled the ball into the bottom corner to the delight of the home supporters.

Once Chichester had equalised there was only one team in it, but they failed to capitalise and were lacking the finishing touch in the final third.

Nonetheless it was a well-deserved point for Chichester from leaving them in fifth place, still only a point behind Haywards Heath.

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City first-team coach Danny Potter said: “It was a fair point in the end for both teams.”

Chi City: Ender, Williams, Lee, Martin, Watts, Block, Heggarty, Thoms, Clack, Jones, Hartley. Subs: Collard, Pashley, Gale, Fenlon, Potter.

TOM DYSON-LAURIE

Chichester City 3 Eastbourne Town 1

Sussex Senior Cup R2

City eased into the third round of the county cup with an Oaklands Park victory over Eastbourne Town.

Scott Jones’ double was the difference between the sides. The striker edged City ahead on 11 minutes but that was cancelled out by Alan Foster after the break.

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Luke Fenelon restored the lead on 66 minutes and Jones made sure of progress five minutes later. Chi host Canterbury in the Vase this weekend.

Hassocks 0 Pagham 3

Premier division

Pagham haven’t lost in the league since the opening day o and there was little chance of their run ending as they sauntered to victory at the Beacon.

The Robins have now faced all the realistic title contenders bar Haywards Heath and they feel Pagham have easily been the best of the lot.

Hassocks goalkeeper James Broadbent made three outstanding saves which helped keep the scoreline respectable.

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Joe Shelley opened the scoring with 12 minutes on the clock, rising to produce a bullet header from a corner.

Hassocks faced an uphill struggle to get back into the game from that point, especially missing two of their inform forwards in Nathan Miles and Ben Bacon.

And that struggle became an all-but-impossible task on 26 minutes when Kieron Pamment doubled Pagham’s lead.

The Hassocks defence gave Pagham a couple of opportunities to get crosses in, eventually giving Pamment the chance to net.

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Hassocks lost Mark Price to injury but the tactical reshuffle that followed belatedly got Hassocks going with James Westlake having a decent chance from which he couldn’t finish.

Hassocks huffed and puffed at the start of the second half before the game was finally killed off. A quick break saw a Pagham forward win a free kick which Scott Murfin fired home via a deflection from the wall for 3-0.

The Robins kept going and had a couple of opportunities to pull a goal back, Ashley Marsh rampaging forward from left-back to produce an exquisite cross which Liam Benson should have finished and Jamie Hillwood blazing wide when well placed.

The result leaves Pagham still challenging leaders Shoreham.

SCOTT McCARTHY

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Pagham secured a superb 3-2 Sussex Senior Cup win at East Grinstead on Tuesday.

Scott Murfin, Callum Overton and Kieron Pamment struck as the Lions held on with ten men.

Southwick 2 Selsey 4

SCFL division one

Selsey are up to 11th spot in division one after an excellent win at Southwick.

Bradley Dean gave Steve Bailey’s side a 16th-minute lead which was cancelled out by Dean Smith on the half-hour.

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Ryan Chittock restored the Blues’ lead five minutes later and Morgan Forry continued his rich vein of goalscoring form to make it 3-1 on 58 minutes.

James Kilhams made the game safe with Selsey’s fourth eight minutes later and Smith’s second for Southwick ten minutes from time never looked likely to set up a frantic finish.

Selsey are on the road again on Saturday when they head to Lingfield.

Storrington 1 Midhurst 1

SCFL division one

Midhurst remain in mid-table after a 1-1 draw at Storrington.

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Lewis Hamilton gave Dave Berkowitz’s team the lead after 25 minutes but they held it for only three minutes before Matthew Searle levelled it up for the home team.

Midhurst host Langney this Saturday.

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