Football: Shoreham and Lancing both too strong for Chichester

On Saturday they were comprehensively defeated 3-0 at Shoreham.

With a strong breeze in their favour, City were on top during the opening half-hour. Winger Dan Watts produced a string of runs to provide chances for Morgan Forry, although many of them were flagged for offside.

Shoreham gradually worked their way into contention. On 37 minutes, a Mark Pulling free-kick in a dangerous position drew a spectacular diving save from Matt Evans.

Right on the stroke of half-time, the Mussels took the lead when a cross from the right picked out Pulling on the far side who rifled the ball in.

Shoreham turned the screw during the early stages of the second half. On 51 minutes Tom Yeates turned the ball across the face of the goal and the unmarked Aaron MacMillan had an easy tap-in to make it 2-0.

Four minutes later, Bradley Bant’s corner was headed in by Jack Williamson and the contest was all over.

City defender Lee Bradshaw was forced to head the ball off the goal-line on 62 minutes and then Yeates spooned an effort onto the crossbar before the game started to peter out.

It was a similar story at Lancing onm Tuesday night. Chichester held out until the interval in a match staged in a heavy rainstorm.

The best chance for City was on 34 minutes when a long-range Jack Blatchford free-kick dipped fiendishly, forcing keeper Joel Harding to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

But during the second half it was all one-way traffic. Shaheen Sadough broke the deadlock on 52 minutes with an unstoppable shot out of nowhere.

Five minutes later a Lancing corner led to several headed efforts being half-cleared before Dan McLaughlin finally netted.

On 78 minutes, former Bognor favourite Richard Hudson scored a fantastic 35-yard goal that majestically sailed into the net. And to round off the evening, Wayne Joseph’s corner was converted by Danny Gainsford in the final minute.

City (v Shoreham): Evans, Dye, Hibbert, Gilbert, Boniface, Bradshaw, Blatchford, Hagan, Forry, Potter, Watts. Subs: Cody, T Smith, Lambert.

(v Lancing): Evans, Cody, Hibbert, Blatchford, Boniface, Bradshaw, Dye, Hagan, Potter, Forry, Watts. Subs: T Smith, Dormer.

East Grinstead visit Oaklands Park on Saturday and Horsham YMCA journey down on Tuesday.

CHESTER BROWTON