East Sussex Football League: Bottom beats top as five-star Sedlescombe Rangers end Rye Town's winning start

Two-time reigning league champions Rye went into last weekend's game eight points clear at the top of the table having won all of their opening five league matches this season.

By contrast, Sedlescombe were bottom of the standings (following the withdrawal of Bexhill Town) with only one point from three encounters.

But Rangers made a mockery of those statistics with a superb first victory of the season at Rye Rugby Club – and jumped up two positions to eighth as a result.

Two Adam Sully goals, and one apiece by Ben Steadman, Brooklyn Pennells and Alfie Finch brought about the shock scoreline. Sam Hesmer provided Rye's lone response.

Rye did at least retain their eight-point cushion as the three teams immediately below them heading into Saturday's programme also all failed to win.

Hollington United jumped up from fifth to second courtesy of a 2-1 success away to a Sandhurst side which was second at kick-off but is now fourth.

Archie Baker and Rosh Wells scored for Hollington, who have two games in hand on Rye, while James Found was on target for Sandhurst.

Jesters Town remain third - level on points with Hollington and games played, but with a slightly worse goal difference - following a 2-2 draw at Punnetts Town.

The goals of Travis Parks and Jake Barker for Jesters were matched by Peter Featherstone and Tristan Jarvis for sixth-placed Punnetts, who are only two points behind the teams in second, third and fourth.

Westfield II slid from fourth to fifth on the back of a 2-1 away defeat against seventh-placed The JC Tackleway, who are now level on points with them.

Strikes by Toby Payne and Adam Reilly ensured Tackleway claimed the spoils, despite Charlie Wilson notching for the Westies.

With the top two in Division One prior to last weekend not in league action, SC Pass & Move climbed from third to first via a 2-0 home triumph against St Leonards Social.

Pass & Move's third league win out of three leaves them two points clear of Rye Town II and three above Herstmonceux, albeit having played once more than the latter.

Joseph Elliott and Charlie Honey were on the scoresheet for the new top dogs, who prevailed despite finishing with 10 men.

Crowhurst II moved off the foot of the table after picking up their first point of the campaign in an entertaining 4-4 draw at home to Battle Town II.

Tommy Whelan’s brace, and one each from Louis Martin-Saint and Ali Rahmani got the Crows up and running, while the goals of Kieren Martin (2), Jason Tilbury and Shea Potter earned Battle their second point.

Catsfield plunged from top to fifth in Division Two after seeing their unbeaten start to the term brought to a shuddering halt by a 5-1 loss at Wadhurst United.

Adam Barham nabbed a consolation for the Cats against a Wadhurst outfit which is up to second and only a point off the summit.

Jack Pearman (2), Ryan Watkins, Toby Kent and Benjamin Sykes hit the net to give Wadhurst a fourth straight success across all competitions.

Westfield III are the new leaders after a goal in either half from Jack Harris and Jack Still clinched a 2-0 home win over Sedlescombe Rangers Development.

Jesters Town II went third on the back of a 3-1 victory at home to Little Common II in a fixture where all the goals came during the second half.

Tyler Smith's double either side of a Joel Shannon finish earned Jesters a third win in four league outings. Taylor Norton provided the Commoners' response.

Bexhill AAC II are still unbeaten in fourth - two points behind the leaders - following their 3-2 success away to Parkfield.

The finishing of Elliott Matthews, Charlie Morgan and Leo Oliver did the damage for AAC, while James Graham and Lee Chittick retaliated for sixth-placed Parkfield.

Division Three's top two weren't in league action and third-placed Crowhurst III missed the chance to leapfrog them after losing 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at Robertsbridge United.

Strikes by Danny Turner (2), Freddie Bransby-Zachary, Aaron Parris and Kurt Harber gave sixth-placed Robertsbridge their second league win of the season.

Crowhurst came away empty-handed despite Oliver Clark, Nathan Dolby, Joe Millar and Joshua Naylor all hitting the back of the net.

Ticehurst shot up four positions into the top four after scoring six goals in the first half en route to a 7-0 home triumph over Westfield IV.

Joe Kennard bagged a hat-trick in the opening 33 minutes, while Joshua Jevon, Danny McGahan, Rob Guile and Darren Nicol also found the target.

Wayne Green plundered a six-goal salvo as Division Four pacesetters Sovereign Saints Development saw off St Leonards Social II 6-0 away from home.

The result took Saints' points tally to 13 from a possible 15 (with a remarkable goal difference of +26) and extended their advantage at the summit to two points.

With Pevensey & Westham and Bexhill AAC III in cup action, The JC Tackleway III moved up to second via a 4-1 away win against Robertsbridge United II.

Jordan Brindley, Declan Loft, Ashton Loft and Stephen Cresswell got the goals for Tackleway, who like Saints and Pevensey, are yet to taste defeat. James Hopkinson was the Robertsbridge marksman.

Northiam 75 II are three points off the pace in third on the back of a 4-0 victory away to Hastings Comets. Julian Carney (2), Matthew Bricknell and Tyler Wilson got the goals.

Hawkhurst United II ended their four-match losing start to the campaign with a 3-3 away draw against Icklesham Casuals.

Sean Baker, Kelvin Lowes and George Richardson were the men on the mark for seventh-placed Icklesham.

There was also plenty of cup action, including a splendid 4-1 success for Division Two side Hooe over Division One high-fliers Rye Town II in round one of the Macron Store Hastings Cup.

Kiri Dauti's double, and one each from Harvey Lincoln and Callum Holt-Burgess sent hosts Hooe through to the last 16. Rob Levett's strike was the sole highlight for Rye.

Both Hastings Athletic sides were in Macron Store Hastings Vase first-round action and both were beaten on home turf.

A Steven Rowlands strike couldn't prevent Athletic's first team losing 3-1 in an all-Division Three tie against Orington, for whom Brandon Easley, Spencer Sharkey and Sam Saunders netted.

On the adjacent pitch at Bexhill Road, Athletic's second string went down 13-0 against fellow Division Four outfit Bexhill AAC III.

Andrew Matthews (4), Dexter Bawn (3), Ian Rise (3), Luke Dangerfield, Kurt Excell and Ethan Rise were on the scoresheet for a dominant AAC.

Several East Sussex League clubs made it through to round three of the Sussex Bluefin Junior Challenge Cup.

Victoria Baptists, from Division Two, achieved the standout result, running out emphatic 7-1 winners away to A Brighter Community.

The Baptists’ reward is a home third-round meeting with Flansham Park Rangers at the start of next month.

Battle Town Development came from 2-1 down at half time to prevail 3-2 in an all-East Sussex League affair at Division Three rivals Burwash.

A brace of Jake Godfrey goals and Sonny Collyer's finish ensured Battle came out on top, despite Russell Fyfe and Charley Lock giving Burwash the edge at the break.

Battle will entertain Polegate Town II or Newhaven II in the last 32.

Division One team Northiam 75 received a walkover at home to Bracklesham Bay and will travel to Ashurst United next, but elsewhere the news was less good.

Ninfield were edged out 4-2 on penalties away to BN Dons following a 1-1 draw in Lancing. Ryan Souter scored for Division One club Ninfield during the first half.

Two Callum Holles goals couldn't prevent Pevensey & Westham suffering a 7-2 away defeat at the hands of The View Saturday.

And Mountfield United, from Division Three, went down 9-1 at Preston Manor Royals. Harry Compton claimed the consolation.

Standings - Premier Division (played-points): Rye Town 6-15 (+7 goal difference), Hollington United 4-7 (+5), Jesters Town 4-7 (+4), Sandhurst 5-7 (-1), Westfield II 5-5 (+2), Punnetts Town 4-5 (-1), The JC Tackleway 4-5 (-1), Sedlescombe Rangers 4-4 (-1), Sidley United 5-3 (-10), Bexhill AAC 3-2 (-4). Bexhill Town withdrawn.

Division 1 (played-points): SC Pass & Move 3-9 (+10), Rye Town II 3-7 (+8), Herstmonceux 2-6 (+13), Northiam 75 3-5 (+5), St Leonards Social 4-4 (-2), Battle Town II 4-2 (-7), Ninfield 1-1 (0), Crowhurst II 3-1 (-14), Hawkhurst United 3-0 (-13).

Division 2 (played 4 matches unless stated): Westfield III 10pts (+6), Wadhurst United 9 (+6), Jesters Town II 9 (+1), Bexhill AAC II 8 (+3), Catsfield 7 (+2), Parkfield 4 (0), Victoria Baptists (3) 2 (-2), Hooe (3) 2 (-2), Little Common II 1 (-7), Sedlescombe Rangers Development 0 (-7).

Division 3 (played-points): The JC Tackleway II 4-10 (+12), Burwash 4-10 (+5), Crowhurst III 5-9 (+7), Ticehurst 5-7 (+3), Mountfield United 4-7 (+2), Robertsbridge United 5-7 (-1), Battle Town Development 4-6 (+1), Orington 4-4 (-1), Hastings Athletic 4-3 (-5), Westfield IV 5-0 (-23).

Division 4 (played-points): Sovereign Saints Development 5-13 (+26), The JC Tackleway III 5-11 (+16), Northiam 75 II 5-10 (+15), Pevensey & Westham 3-9 (+17), Bexhill AAC III 4-9 (+12), Robertsbridge United II 5-9 (+8), Icklesham Casuals 5-4 (-10), Hastings Comets 4-3 (-5), Hawkhurst United II 5-1 (-15), St Leonards Social II 4-0 (-29), Hastings Athletic II 3-0 (-35).

Fixtures – Saturday October 12 (kick-off 2pm unless stated)

Premier Division: Bexhill AAC v Rye Town, Sidley United v Sedlescombe Rangers, The JC Tackleway v Jesters Town (1.30pm), Westfield II v Sandhurst.

Division 1: Crowhurst II v Northiam 75, Hawkhurst United v Herstmonceux (1.30pm), Ninfield v Battle Town II, Rye Town II v SC Pass & Move.

Division 2: Parkfield v Jesters Town II, Sedlescombe Rangers Development v Hooe, Victoria Baptists v Catsfield, Wadhurst United v Little Common II, Westfield III v Bexhill AAC II.

Division 3: Battle Town Development v Ticehurst, Hastings Athletic v Crowhurst III (1.30pm), Mountfield United v Robertsbridge United, The JC Tackleway II v Orington.

Division 4: Hastings Athletic II v St Leonards Social II (3.30pm), Hawkhurst United II v Bexhill AAC III (3.30pm), Sovereign Saints Development v Northiam 75 II, The JC Tackleway III v Robertsbridge United II (3.30pm).

Sussex Intermediate Challenge Cup, 3rd round: Punnetts Town v Ferring, Ridgewood v Hollington United.

Macron Store Hastings Vase, 1st round: Burwash v Hastings Comets, Icklesham Casuals v Pevensey & Westham.