Goals aren't Common enough for Midhurst... Selsey lose in goal feast

Midhurst had a bad day at Little Common / Picture by Kate Shemilt

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It was a very mixed weekend for our SCFL division-one and two sides. Midhurst and Selsey both suffered defeats on the road in division one, but Sidlesham and Bosham had happier awaydays in division two to stay in the top two places.

Here is the latest news from all four clubs...

Little Common 5 Midhurst 1

SCFL division one

Midhurst have dropped seven points in the dyimg minutes of recent matches so travelled to Little Common as a mid-table side facing higher-placed opponents.

The first 15 minutes saw both teams playing high-tempo football and the Sags outplayed Little Common for periods.

Lewis Hamilton, Scott Dormer and Nial McKenley-Burke all had chances but the opening goal eluded Midhurst.

The first goal came after 18 minutes when a simple lofted ball over the Midhurst backline saw Common’s Lewis Hole left unmarked to slot home.

You couldn’t fault the Stags’ will and determination to get back into it but several half-chances were spurned.

The turning point came ten minutes before half-time. A corner was whipped in and what looked like a foul on Dormer by Common’s Daniel Cruikshank was not given and he headed home.

The second half proved a tall order for Midhurst and Common made it three with a penalty by Wes Tate after Hunt was adjudged to have committed a foul.

McKenley-Burke began causing problems on the left and a couple more half chances were created.

Common added further goals from Russell Eldridge and Jamie Crone and the last attack of the game saw Hamilon score his seventh of the season with a cool chip.

Gary Norgate intercepted a pass on the Stags’ 18-yard box and sprayed a 30-yard pass to McKenley-Burke. His touch and crossfield ball was perfect for Hamilton.

This was a bad day at the office for the Stags but they are still within touching distance of that top five, which is their minimum target for the season.

Midhurst are at home unfder their new floodlights next Tuesday, when Oakwood visit in the Division 1 Cup.

Midhurst: Morgan, Castleton, Hunt (Stevens), May (Martin), Norgate, Morris, Hyde, Kemplin, McKenley-Burke, Hamilton, Dormer.

* Selsey lost by the odd goal in seven at Mile Oak.

Joe Manners and Morgan forry - four-goal hero last week - were on target in the first half and it was 2-2 at the break. Jospeh Clarke’s goal after the break couldn’t prevent a 4-3 defeat.

Selsey entertain St Francis Rangers on Saturday.

Upper Beeding 0 Sidlesham 3

Sidlesham are a point clear in second place after a comfortable win at Upper Beeding.

The game started in blustery conditions with the home side trying to use the wind to their advantage – but the Sids defence and goalkeeper held firm.

With Sidlesham playing some great attacking football down the flanks, the away side got the first goal. A ball was played through to Tom Bayley who placed his shot beyond the pair of them to put his side 1-0 up.

Sidlesham were indebted to Connor Kelly in goal for keeping out a strike from point blank range by an Upper Beeding forward.

The second half began in driving wind and rain with the away side adapting well. Matt Roberts went close with a header but was adjudged to have pushed his man.

The second arrived from another corner – it was half-cleared to the edge of the box where it was met by captain Greg Robinson whose first-time strike was goalbound until a hand prevented it from hitting the back of the ne.

The referee pointed to the spot and Bayley slotted home his second penalty in as many games.

Although Upper Beeding pressed again, Sidlesham controlled the rest of the game without being put under much pressure. Bayley capped a fine afternoon by latching on to a John Phillips through-ball and placing his shot beyond the keeper’s hand and earning the matchball.

This Saturday sees Sidlesham on their travels again, this time to Clymping.

Alfold 0 Bosham 5

Graeme Dowden and Marco Giambelardini both struck twice as Bosham marched on at the top of the table.

With only three minutes on the clock the Reds burst into the lead through Louis Bell, who latched onto a loose ball and fired a thunderbolt of a shot that went like a rocket into the top corner with keeper Ryan Mathews helpless.

Bell and Bradley Miles had superb chances to add to the tally but wasted them.

The Blues tried to find a way back into it and the pace of Karl Berryman had Bosham on their toes but keeper Kieran Magee had little to do as the excellent defence, led by Callum Fewell, dealt easily with any attacks.

Approaching the half-hour the lead was doubled. Dowden was in the right place to slam the ball home at the far post, finishing after a lovely turn and cross from Miles that wrongfooted the defence and left Dowden with the simplest of tasks. Five minutes of the second half had elapsed when Giambelardini scored with another flamboyant strike. The striker received the ball just outside the area, chipped the ball up then turned and volleyed the ball home past a stunned Mathews.

Next Jake Lafferty was upended in the box and Dowden put away the resulting penalty.

Giambelardini netted his second to make it three goals for the Reds in a seven-minute blitz.

Alfold still tried to salvage something but when Andy Sullivan got past Magee his effort towards an empty net was cleared off the line by Oliver Gilbert – and then Magee saved from Berryman.

An outstanding save from Mathews from a terrific strike from Matt Docherty prevented further damage.

Bosham will hope for more of the same this week when they host Cowfold at Walton Lane.

Bosham: Magee, Probee, Docherty, Gilbert, Bulbeck, Fewell, Miles, Giambelardini, Dowden, Bell, Lafferty. Subs: Redman, Ruston.

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