Dormer at the double earns University opening-game success

Our weekly round-up of West Sussex League football action features wins for the University of Chichester and Lavant reserves, a draw for Lavant but defeats for Newtown Villa and Petworth.

University of Chichester 2 Newtown Villa 1

West Sussex Lge premier div

A feisty affair between two well-organised sides ended in the University picking up maximum points in their first league game.

The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute when, from Villa’s first corner, an attacker was given space to nod the visitors into the lead.

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The response was swift from the home side, who were awarded a free-kick just outside the box. New team captain Kenneth Hagan’s driven shot was flicked into the net by a lively Scott Dormer.

The winner came as a cross was diverted towards goal by Dormer and an outstretched hand stopped the ball. Dormer coolly slotted home the penalty.

Villa had a man sent off for foul and abusive language, which helped UoC hold on.

Faygate Utd 2 Lavant 2

Division one

With six first-team players absent or injured, Lavant’s management travelled to Crawley with trepidation.

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But the visitors aquitted themselves well and took the lead when Matt Price outjumped the keeper and headed Oliver Haggar’s deep cross in on 36 minutes.

Chris Coe was upended in the Faygate area, but Ross Lines’ spot-kick hit the post.

Haggar forced a fine save from the home keeper John Hore then at the other end Coe stopped the ball and Neil Sanson pick it up, and it was adjudged a back pass.

Phil Williamson drilled in the free-kick.

The second half was evenly poised until, untypically, Jon Wight under-hit a back pass and James King gave the hosts a 2-1 lead.

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When Matt Lyttle went on a dribbling run for Lavant, Mike Neville – who had just completed a 14,000-mile bike ride round the world – was on hand to hit the equaliser which Faygate’s Josh Trickel helped in.

Lavant: Sanson, Coe, Purgavie, Wright, Lyttle, Haggar, Holmes, Bartley, Price, Lines, Loversidge. Subs: Neville, Stevens.

Cowfold Res 3 Petworth 2

Division one

Petworth dominated most of the second half and led 2-1 with ten minutes ago. But sloppy defending and a frantic last few minutes saw them leave empty-handed.

Petworth defended resolutely in the first half but Cowfold went ahead against the run of play early in the second.

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Parity was restored when player-manager Paul Jefford scored from 25 yards and with 15 minutes left, a neat move down the right involving Rhys Borrows and Chris Jones sent Jaysi Wells away to set up Rob Levett, who fired home.

But Petworth sat back and allowed Cowfold the chance to mount attacks, two of which resulted in goals.

PETWORTH: K Jones, Borrows, R Torode,

T Carter, Hotston, Jefford, Pafford, D Torode, C Jones, Wells, Levett. Sub: P Torode.

Ifield Reserves 5

Lavant Reserves 6 (aet)

Sussex Junior Cup

Lavant struggled to locate the ground, arriving ten minutes before kick-off.

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The home side took first blood and took a one-goal lead into half-time.

Managers Cliff Massey and Mel Milburn geed up the players at half-time and Sam Cole broke through to slot home.

Shaun Massey’s long-range shot from the halfway line caught the keeper off-guard to give the visitors the lead.

Sub Guy Pinder headed home Lavant’s third goal from a lovely flighted cross from Dave Maclean. Cole made it 4-1 to the visitors as he used his speed to beat the offside trap.

With 15 minutes left, Lavant suffered a crazy period.

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Maclean smashed a cross into his own net then a soft back pass from Martin Ayers fell short allowing the Ifield striker to make it 4-3.

Lavant restored the two-goal advantage as Massey added his second from a free-kick.

Late on, Ifield again reduced the deficit to one goal and with seconds remaining, Ifield somehow snatched a late equaliser, forcing extra-time.

Boss Massey criticised the team for throwing away a commanding lead and five minutes after the re-start Ayers picked up the ball in his own half, ran through the defence and slotted home.

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Shaun Massey had a spot-kick well-saved but Lavant hung on to book their place in the next round, when they will host division-two Wittering Utd.

LAVANT: Turner, Richards, Grace, Ayers, Berry, Maclean, Colwell, Hine, Massey, Figas, Cole. Subs: Pinder, Ockwell.