League celebrates triumphant day in county cup

Nine clubs from the local league made it through to the last 32 of the county knockout competition with second round victories on Saturday.

Old Hastonians recovered from 2-0 down at half time to triumph 3-2 away to AFC Varndeanians III courtesy of a David Pugh hat-trick.

AFC Hastings had a somewhat easier day, thrashing Thakenham Village 10-0 thanks to the finishing of Wes Peoples (4), Nigel Baldwin (3), Sam Butchers (2) and Mark Blanche.

Their third round opponents will be Sidley United, who prevailed 3-0 away to Partridge Green II via a Lee Roberts brace and one from James Bailey.

Catsfield enjoyed a morale-boosting 5-0 victory at home to Beaumont Park. David Booth (2), Colin White, Nigel Champion and Anthony Luke scored the goals.

Crowhurst returned from Horsham Crusaders with a comfortable 5-0 victory. Goals from Jordan Turner (2), Jonathan Rich-Spice, Tom Andrew and Steve McGowan rounded-off a strong team performance.

Peche Hill Select II overcame East Court 3-1 by dint of goals from Simon Randall (2) and Gary Taylor.

Ticehurst returned from their long journey to Worthing Leisure with a hard-earned 4-2 victory having been 2-1 down at half time. Ticehurst dominated the second half and a Jamie Smith hat-trick, in addition to Alex Kingshott’s first half goal, took them through.

Eastbourne Rangers outgunned Grasshoppers Old Boys 6-1, while Wadhurst United progressed without kicking a ball as their opponents, Stedham United II, were unable to raise a side.

There was one other cup match played on Saturday and that was in round two of the league’s Eastbourne Coach Finishers Challenge Cup. The JC Tackleway II beat fellow Division Four side Punnetts Town 4-0 with goals from Aaron Lillycrop, James Brann, Nathan Bossom and Glenn Oakman.

The rest of the action took place in the league and with the clash of the Premier Division’s top two, Battle Baptists and Peche Hill Select, postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, third-placed Ore Athletic kept in touch by winning 2-1 away to Hawkhurst United. Goals from Jack Daniels and Scott Ramsay won it for Ore, with Oliver Lawrence scoring for the home side.

Sedlescombe Rangers are fourth after a 4-2 victory at Mountfield United, in which Rhys Warren bagged a hat-trick and Phil Hatch also netted.

A late goal by Justin Mewett enabled second-bottom Robertsbridge United to claim a much-needed point with a 1-1 draw at St Leonards Social, who had earlier taken the lead through Neil Winton.

On the adjacent pitch at Tilekiln, Rock-a-Nore came from behind to edge out Hollington United 3-2. Nathan Brown, Jordan Harley and Oliver Tutt netted for the Rocks against a Hollington side whose goals came from Gavin Ramsden and Daniel King.

The one match in Division One didn’t get started because Sovereign Saints were unable to raise a side for their trip to The JC Tackleway.

Northiam 75 strengthened their position at the top of Division Two with a 2-1 win at Icklesham Casuals. Goals from Sam Dangerfield and Steve Housago gave Northiam their sixth victory in seven league games. Valdison Newman netted for Icklesham, while young Joe Fraser put in a good shift after coming on as a second half substitute.

Herstmonceux leapfrogged Little Common III into second place after beating them 2-1. Philip Broom and William Mclaughlin claimed the Herstmonceux goals, with Connor Jackson replying for Common.

Four goals from Liam Sayer helped fourth-placed Peasmarsh United outgun Hastings Rangers 5-1. Gavin Carey completed the scoring for the home side with Joe Harmer replying for Rangers.

Bexhill AAC returned from Eastbourne Athletic with a 3-1 victory. Goals from Vinny Heron, Craig Ray and a Ben Cornelius free kick won it for Bexhill.

Westfield III are three points clear at the top of Division Three on the back of a 3-2 victory at home to West Hill United. Westfield’s goals came from Billy-Jo Driver (2) and Toby Pearce, with West Hill replying through an Andy Wallbank double.

Second-placed Bexhill United II slipped up by losing 4-1 against Pebsham Sibex, whose hero was four-goal Lee Paine. Andrew Matthews scored Bexhill’s consolation.

Goals from Lee McNaughton, Darren Hutchinson, Mark Larkin and Ashley McCann fired St Leonards Social II to a 4-1 success against Sedlescombe Rangers II. Alfred Lyne netted a late consolation for the home side.

Gary Bryant scored for second-bottom Hooe Sports in their 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Orington.

Jake Barker scored six goals for a Hailsham Athletico team which went top of Division Four via a 7-1 triumph against Victoria Baptists.

Bexhill Rovers hit double figures by beating Wittersham II 10-1. Luke Newbury (4), Michael Hughes (2), Adam Beeching, Oliver Luck-Baker, James Kelly and Matt Simmons helped themselves to the goals in a victory that puts Rovers third.

Bexhill AAC II took an early lead against Battle Baptists II through Darren Witham, but goals from Jamie Crouch (2), Adam Thompsett and Charles Cotterill saw the Baptists run out 4-1 winners.

Conquest United scraped past Hawkhurst United II 4-3 to go fourth. Conrad Woodgate, Gregory Daniel and Jason Baldock all scored for Hawkhurst, although Conquest gained victory through a Godswill Chukwuemeka hat-trick and one from Mike Hawley.

Sandhurst continue to lead Division Five after their 4-1 home victory against FC Westridge. A brace from Matthew Adams, supported by a goal each from Ben Cooper and Matthew Cooper, kept Sandhurst unbeaten in the league.

Magham Down are three points off the pace in second after beating St Leonards 4-2. St Leonards replied with two goals from Ryan Kayne.

Sedlescombe Rangers III led 2-0 at half time against Icklesham Casuals II only for the Casuals to salvage a 2-2 draw with a 90th minute equaliser. Simon Mitchell and an own goal gave Rangers the advantage, but Joel Sadler struck twice to earn Casuals a commendable result in a game where both sides fielded the bare 11 players.

A Liam Bailey hat-trick helped Hampden Park United claim a 4-1 victory away to Robertsbridge United II, whose consolation came from Matthew Hardy.

Battle Baptists III lost 5-3 to Parkfield despite goals from Anthony Hickman, Ben Kempner and Sam Loughman.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!