Swans are safe despite Oak loss

Storrington FC are safe from the drop in County League Division 2, despite a narrow defeat away to Mile Oak on Saturday.
Match action from Mile Oak's 1-0 win over Storrington on SaturdayMatch action from Mile Oak's 1-0 win over Storrington on Saturday
Match action from Mile Oak's 1-0 win over Storrington on Saturday

Rustington’s 6-0 loss at Wick & Barnham on Monday means they can no longer catch fourth-from-bottom Swans, who complete their season at Loxwood this Saturday.

Lloyd Skinner’s solitary second-half goal settled a largely scrappy and uneventful encounter on Saturday.

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Storrington boss Nigel Dyer said: “I thought we were the better side in the first half, it was quite an even game but we had the better of it and then they came back into it more, which is when they got their goal.

“We played some neat and tidy stuff and had the better chances in the game but unfortunately we missed them and it didn’t go for us. I was largely pleased with the performance, though.

Jamie Watts had a dipping drive tipped over by Swans ‘keeper Gary Elliott and then fired into the side netting from a tight angle as the home side began the match brightly.

Swans had chances of their own, though, as Ollie Setchell had a snap-shot saved by Aaron Stenning, before the Oak ‘keeper pushed an effort from debutant Russell Shoebridge on to a post.

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Swans’ Will Garrett headed wide from a John Langridge cross after the interval but Oak went ahead with their first opening of the second half just past the hour mark through Skinner.

McDowell had an effort cleared off the line and Skinner saw an effort palmed around the post as Oak looked for a second, while Iain Jarvie went close for Swans from a Setchell corner.

Chances form there were scarce but right at the death Swans missed a golden chance to snatch a point when Langridge was put through by Harry Jarrett but with only the ‘keeper to beat he scuffed it into the gloves of Stenning.

Swans: G.Elliott; Minter, Bester, Rhodie, Naylor; Setchell, Matthews, Jarvie, Garrett; Shoebridge, Langridge. Subs: Jarrett (Shoebridge 62), Hobden (Setchell 68), Ayres, Watton.