East Sussex Football League: Hollington United close in after leaders Rye Town beaten by Punnetts Town

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The gap between the Macron Store Hastings East Sussex Football League's top two is down to five points after leaders Rye Town lost and second-placed Hollington United won on Saturday.

Rye suffered a second defeat in three games as they went down 5-2 at Punnetts Town, while Hollington made it three successive league wins with a 4-1 home win over Jesters Town.

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Callum Hadaway and Ole Reader were on target for Rye, but two Jamie Salvidge goals, and one apiece by Tim Johnson, Harry Worsell and Michael Keefe extended Punnetts' unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions and lifted them up three positions to fifth.

A Danny Woodley brace, and Archie Baker and Rosh Wells finishes earned three more points for Hollington, who have two games in hand on Rye and a much better goal difference.

JC Tackleway action from pre-season | Picture: Paul HugginsJC Tackleway action from pre-season | Picture: Paul Huggins
JC Tackleway action from pre-season | Picture: Paul Huggins

The other two Premier Division fixtures that went ahead both ended all square, including an eight-goal thriller between The JC Tackleway and Sidley United.

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An 85th-minute equaliser from Andy Atkin - his second of the afternoon - earned eighth-placed Sidley a point in a contest where they led 1-0 and 2-1 only to trail 3-2 and 4-3.

Archie Bay and Ian May were Sidley's other scorers, while Adam Reilly's hat-trick and a Toby Payne strike made it four matches without defeat for a Tackleway side now up to third.

Sandhurst put a stop to three consecutive league losses, all of which were against teams in the top four, with a 2-2 draw at home to Sedlescombe Rangers.

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The goals of Toby Wigram and Adam Hsuan for sixth-placed Sandhurst were cancelled out by Brooklyn Pennells and Ben Steadman for Sedlescombe.

The match between fourth-placed Westfield II and Bexhill AAC was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

SC Pass & Move jumped from third to first in Division One after they won 5-2 at home to Crowhurst II and previous pacesetters Rye Town II lost 3-1 away to Ninfield.

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Charlie Honey plundered a hat-trick for the new top dogs, whose other men on target were Curtis Coombes and Jonty Lavocah. Ben Andrews and Jay Edwards provided the Crows’ response.

Oliver MacDonald nabbed a consolation for Rye as they fell two spots to third following their first league defeat of the season.

Jason Taylor's brace and one from Tom Saunders preserved Ninfield's unbeaten league record and put them fourth - two points behind Pass & Move with a game in hand.

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Northiam 75 are now just a point off the pace after climbing from fourth to second on the back of a 5-1 home victory against St Leonards Social.

Strikes by William Goodsell (2), Chris Aldous, Bobby Bowles and Luke Gasson continued Northiam's unbeaten start in the league. Liam Miles nabbed a consolation for Social.

Hawkhurst United climbed up two positions off the bottom thanks to a 3-2 success at home to Battle Town II - their first league win this term after four straight defeats.

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The goals of Archie Baker, Morgan Todd and George Lawrence opened the Hawks' account for 2024/25, despite Jamie Smith and Kieren Martin scoring for still-winless Battle.

Bexhill AAC II have opened up a two-point advantage at the summit of Division Two on the back of a 1-0 home triumph over Catsfield.

A solitary River-Jay Gray goal - the first Catsfield have conceded in three games - was enough to extend AAC's undefeated record to seven matches in all competitions.

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Wadhurst United replaced Westfield III in second spot after thumping them 5-0 at Washwell Lane.

Harry Bateman and Ryan Watkins netted twice each, and Jack Pearman was also on the scoresheet for Wadhurst against 10-man Westfield.

Victoria Baptists made it back-to-back wins and rose two positions into the top four by thumping Parkfield 7-2 in the Eastbourne derby at Old Town Rec.

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Jamie Bunn and Jack McLean - two players with considerable experience at senior level - struck twice each for Victoria, whose other marksmen were Alex Costello, Kyle Daines and Chris May. James Graham and Joe Smith retaliated.

Little Common II also advanced two spots, in their case to seventh, after seeing off Sedlescombe Rangers Development 6-0.

Attilio Field (2), Kit Harris-Macrae, Tristan Hinz, Harvey Rose and Owen Westbrook netted to give improving Common a second win in their last three outings.

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Two points continue to separate the top four in what's shaping up to be a fascinating Division Three title race.

Crowhurst III, whose trip to Westfield IV was postponed, remain top, although their lead has been cut to a single point.

Mountfield United moved above The JC Tackleway II, whose visit to Ticehurst didn't go ahead, into second place with a 3-3 draw at home to 10-man Burwash.

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But still-unbeaten Mountfield, who have played one match fewer than Crowhurst, were denied a win which would have taken them to the head of affairs by a late Burwash equaliser.

Steven Fortsch, Jordan Whitefoot and Nick Severino found the target for Mountfield, while Mark McMahon, Charlie Lock and Oliver Taylor netted to keep fifth-placed Burwash undefeated.

Hastings Athletic chalked up their first points at the seventh attempt via a 3-2 victory away to Robertsbridge United.

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The finishing of Taylor Phillips, Steven Rowlands and Archie Sherwood got Athletic off the mark for the season, despite Danny Turner scoring twice for the Bridge.

The JC Tackleway III and Northiam 75 II are level on points at the top of Division Four after both recorded home victories.

Tackleway have the upper hand on goal difference after extending their unbeaten start to seven encounters with a 4-2 home success over Icklesham Casuals.

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Two Kale Hakos goals, and one each by Declan Loft and Ashton Loft lifted Tackleway to the summit. Kieron Buss and Chris Anderson were on the scoresheet for Icklesham.

Northiam, who have played once more than Tackleway, remain in hot pursuit following a 1-0 triumph at home to Robertsbridge United II. Nick Batehup grabbed the all-important goal.

Pevensey & Westham are nicely placed in third after extending their 100 percent league record to five matches with a 7-2 win at St Leonards Social II.

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Connor Middleton helped himself to a hat-trick, and Charlie Chambers, Jamie Cherryman, Reece Mansfield and Calum Sherriff also found the net for a Pevensey outfit which is only two points behind Tackleway with two games in hand. Abdou Nije claimed both Social goals.

Previous top dogs Sovereign Saints Development fell to fourth after their home clash against Hastings Comets was postponed.

After taking just one point from their opening six fixtures, Hawkhurst United II have now chalked up six from their last two - scoring 12 goals in the process.

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The Hawks were 7-0 victors away to Hastings Athletic II via the finishing of Louis Hazell (2), Morgan Dyke, Carl Emberson, Jack Godden, Levi Mitchell and Mathew Todd.

Standings - Premier Division (played-points): Rye Town 8-18 (+6 goal difference), Hollington United 6-13 (+18), The JC Tackleway 6-9 (+1), Westfield II 6-8 (+5), Punnetts Town 5-8 (+2), Sandhurst 7-8 (-4), Jesters Town 6-7 (-1), Sidley United 7-7 (-9), Sedlescombe Rangers 6-5 (-2), Bexhill AAC 5-2 (-16). Bexhill Town withdrawn.

Division 1 (played-points): SC Pass & Move 5-12 (+12), Northiam 75 5-11 (+13), Rye Town II 5-10 (+7), Ninfield 4-10 (+6), Herstmonceux 3-9 (+14), St Leonards Social 5-4 (-6), Hawkhurst United 5-3 (-13), Battle Town II 6-2 (-9), Crowhurst II 6-1 (-24).

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Division 2 (played-points): Bexhill AAC II 6-14 (+7), Wadhurst United 6-12 (+9), Westfield III 7-11 (-2), Victoria Baptists 6-9 (+4), Jesters Town II 4-9 (+1), Catsfield 7-9 (+1), Little Common II 7-7 (0), Hooe 5-6 (-1), Parkfield 6-5 (-5), Sedlescombe Rangers Development 6-0 (-14).

Division 3 (played-points): Crowhurst III 7-15 (+14), Mountfield United 6-14 (+7), The JC Tackleway II 6-13 (+14), Ticehurst 7-13 (+5), Burwash 5-11 (+5), Orington 6-7 (-3), Robertsbridge United 8-7 (-4), Battle Town Development 5-6 (0), Hastings Athletic 7-3 (-15), Westfield IV 5-0 (-23).

Division 4 (played-points): The JC Tackleway III 7-17 (+23), Northiam 75 II 8-17 (+17), Pevensey & Westham 5-15 (+23), Sovereign Saints Development 7-14 (+25), Bexhill AAC III 5-12 (+15), Robertsbridge United II 7-9 (+2), Hawkhurst United II 8-7 (-8), Icklesham Casuals 6-4 (-12), Hastings Comets 5-3 (-8), St Leonards Social II 7-3 (-25), Hastings Athletic II 5-0 (-52).

Fixtures – Saturday November 2 (kick-off 2pm)

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Premier Division: Punnetts Town v Westfield II, Rye Town v The JC Tackleway, Sandhurst v Jesters Town, Sedlescombe Rangers v Hollington United, Sidley United v Bexhill AAC.

Division 1: Crowhurst II v Hawkhurst United, Herstmonceux v Rye Town II, SC Pass & Move v Battle Town II, St Leonards Social v Ninfield.

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

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Division 3: Burwash v Crowhurst III, Hastings Athletic v The JC Tackleway II, Ticehurst v Mountfield United.

Division 4: Hastings Comets v Icklesham Casuals, Hawkhurst United II v St Leonards Social II, Northiam 75 II v Sovereign Saints Development, The JC Tackleway III v Bexhill AAC III, Pevensey & Westham v Hastings Athletic II.

Macron Store Hastings Vase, 1st round: Robertsbridge United II v Robertsbridge United.

Sussex Junior Challenge Cup, 3rd round: Ashurst United v Northiam 75, Battle Town Development v Newhaven II, Victoria Baptists v Flansham Park Rangers.

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