Three on the spin for Rye & Sidley

Sidley pulled off a fine 4-1 win away to Arundel, while Rye triumphed 3-2 at home to East Grinstead Town in Sussex County Football League Division One.

Shaun Loft and Duncan McArthur put a dominant Rye two-up at half time. Matt Maclean added a 71st minute third before Grinstead pulled two goals back late on.

Second-placed Rye are now just two points behind Pagham, who were in cup action, having played three more matches and nine ahead of the team in third.

Casey Ham struck twice on his league debut as Sidley emphatically avenged an early season FA Cup defeat to Arundel. Dan Cruikshank and Kevin Bird also netted.

Bexhill United were guilty of some dreadful defending as they lost 5-3 away to Division Two leaders East Preston despite goals from Richard Saunders (2) and Andy Garman.

Managerless Little Common slumped to the bottom of the table on the back of a 4-1 loss away to fifth-placed Wick. Jordan Wood scored the consolation.

Westfield suffered a fourth consecutive defeat – all in knockout competitions – with a 6-0 loss at home to Selsey in round three of the Sussex RUR Charity Cup.

Full reports on all these matches will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played-points) – Division 1: 1 Pagham 14-39, 2 RYE UNITED 17-37, 3 Peacehaven & Telscombe 15-28, 4 Lingfield 14-27, 5 Lancing 14-26, 6 Hassocks 15-25, 7 Redhill 12-24, 8 AFC Uckfield 16-24, 9 Three Bridges 12-22, 10 SIDLEY UNITED 13-22, 11 East Grinstead Town 18-21, 12 Crowborough Athletic 16-20, 13 Horsham YMCA 15-18, 14 Ringmer 14-16, 15 Selsey 11-15, 16 Worthing United 13-11, 17 St Francis Rangers 15-7, 18 Shoreham 13-6, 19 Arundel 12-5, 20 Chichester City 11-4.

Division 2: 1 East Preston 12-31, 2 Hailsham Town 11-28, 3 Southwick 15-25, 4 Dorking Wanderers 11-24, 5 Wick 12-21, 6 Storrington 14-20, 7 Mile Oak 14-19, 8 Littlehampton Town 10-18, 9 Rustington 13-17, 10 Eastbourne United AFC 14-16, 11 BEXHILL UNITED 13-14, 12 Seaford Town 10-12, 13 Loxwood 11-12, 14 Steyning Town 13-12, 15 Oakwood 14-12, 16 WESTFIELD 10-11, 17 Midhurst & Easebourne 13-10, 18 LITTLE COMMON 12-9.