Horsham YMCA and Storrington beaten - West Chiltington win with nine men

Horsham YMCA lost 2-0 at Little Common while Storrington slipped up at home to Selsey. But West Chiltington bat Rudgwick despite two red cards. Get all the latest local football reports below.
Horsham YMCA in action at Little Common / Picture: Robyn GoldingHorsham YMCA in action at Little Common / Picture: Robyn Golding
Horsham YMCA in action at Little Common / Picture: Robyn Golding

Little Common 2 Horsham YMCA 0

Horsham YMCA came away empty handed from their long trip to play mid table Little Common at Eastbourne’s sunny Princes Park Oval last Saturday, the game following a similar pattern to recent matches with YM competing for most of the game, only to concede late deciders

In dire need of a win, YM earned ten corners, compared with Little Common’s four, so there was no shortage of effort or opportunity, but finding the net is currently the problem. After an even opening, the hosts had a corner, followed by three in short order for YM resulting from home keeper Phil Hawkins tipping a shot over the bar. A strong YM strike was then chested out by Hawkins and scrambled clear, before Kian Moyles corkscrewed wide for Common. Jack Ryder then rushed through for YM to get into a potential one on one situation, but the ball was kicked away ahead of a long range blast being off target, followed by Ryder’s attempt inducing another corner, blazed over by Reece Batchelor.

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Common, though were also creating chances, with a close call being averted, and when action switched to the other end Adrian Todd headed a free kick just wide for YM. Aaaron Jeal pulled off an overhead save to keep Common at bay, then Dean Carden’s cross and Will Read’s long range volley maintained pressure. Common survived a scare when the ref awarded YM a penalty when Read burst through and went to ground, but the decision was rescinded after consultation, the first half ending goal-less

Resuming, YM enjoyed increased possession with a good strike from Todd going just over after Common had also been too aerial and unable to connect with a threatening cross. A Carden floater and through ball earned YM two more corners to no avail, until the game was interrupted by three YM yellow cards in quick succession, including two seemingly harsh interpretations. Both sides looked impotent in front of goal, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 75th minute when Lewis Parsons’ header got past the full stretch Jeal.

YM rang the changes and sub Diego Carmo headed over, with subsequent hectic YM action reaping no reward, before, with 5 minutes of normal time remaining, an incursion through open defence enabled James Miriam-Batchelor to tap home Common’s second. Ryder and Charlie Maguire had late shots, but the game had been safely put to bed by Common, YM Coach Lee Maguire telling the County Times: “We had plenty of possession, with better shape and we got little bits right, and created more chances than they did – we just need to add to that. We’ll be bringing in two new forwards for our league match against Hassocks at Gorings Mead on Tuesday evening.”

YM remain in the penultimate berth after bottom-placed East Preston lost 5-0 at Lingfield, while next opponents Hassocks (11th) were thrashed 8-0 by leaders Horley Town.

MARTIN READ

Storrington 0 Selsey 3

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Storrington manager Bob Paine is challenging his players to reach heights they have already shown this season – after admitting his disappointment in a 3-0 home loss to Selsey on Saturday.

“It was a very disappointing game for us,” he said. “We were second best to most things and it’s difficult to pick out anyone that played well. We need to be more consistent and perhaps a little bit of luck to go our way.

“We lost one of our most consistent players, Archie Thorpe, who dislocated and fractured his big toe after 30 minutes, which sums up how things are going for us right now. He will miss the next few games.”

The Swans go to Arundel on Saturday and Paine hopes for the type of performance they showed in beating Bexhill, who are now top.

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“It showed we can compete with the better teams but we haven’t done it enough this season so far.

“We need to add some more quality to the squad and Austin Okolo joined us last week from Newhaven – he will start at Arundel.

“I hope we will get one or two more on board.”

STEVE BONE

West Chiltington 1-0 Rudgwick

West Chiltington maintained their 100% record in the West Sussex Premier Division despite being reduced to nine men in their home game with Rudgwick.

Chilt got off to a bright start and they thought they had scored after only 5 mins but the referee disallowed the goal because he had already blown for a free kick just outside the penalty area. The hosts disappointment was short lived as Glen Whitaker blasted the kick over the wall and in off the underside of the bar and they dominated the rest of the half with a number of shots on target, the best of which came in the 27th min when Zak Sanderson’s shot was blocked following good work down the right by Gary Weedon and Whitaker. Sean Holt went even closer with a header hitting the foot of the post just before half time.

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Chilt were immediately on the attack in the second half and following Weedon being fouled on the edge of the area, Whitaker fired the free kick just wide of the left hand post. The match then became harder for Chilt when their keeper Mike Askew was shown a red card in the 53rd min for handball just outside the box. Midfielder Craig Dawson went into goal and he made the save of the match from the resulting free kick, diving full length to push the ball for a corner.

Although a man down, Chilt continued to give the Rudgwick defence problems with Sanderson having a couple of shots which the keeper saved before player numbers were evened up in the 80th min when the Rudgwick right back made an unnecessary physical challenge on the Chilt replacement keeper and was shown a red for violent conduct. There was only short lived parity as Chilt goal scorer Whitaker was also shown a red card 2 mins later following a midfield challenge, which the referee deemed to be dangerous. Despite regaining the man advantage, Rudgwick were unable to take advantage with Chilt managing to hold on for a deserved 3 points.

Chilt manager Keith Tomsett was pleased with the three points which keep his side top of the table. "Despite the 3 red cards this wasn't a violent or dirty game but rather a hard fought contest between two competitive sides and I am delighted with the spirit the lads showed to keep a clean sheet with only nine men. We now have a very tough game with second placed Capel next Saturday and we will need to show the same commitment again then."

IAN FRANCE

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