Top v bottom was only going to have one outcome for Chichester City

City were under pressure from the start and only heroics from keeper Tosh Batey kept Rye at bay before he was beaten at close range by Alfie Weller on 19 minutes.

Rye won corner after corner, doubling the lead when Wes Tate fired home on 35 minutes. Four minutes later, Rye’s leading scorer Matt MacLean bundled the ball home as City struggled with a cross.

Only Batey kept the score respectable with some top-drawer goalkeeping. But he was beaten by Tate after 56 minutes, Weller making it five just two minutes later.

Chichester refused to roll over and Batey continued to thwart the Quarterboys, and took a knock in a sensitive area at one point.

Adie Girdler’s side were denied a penalty late on when Luke Woodley appeared to handle the ball.

City, 18 points off safety at the bottom, go to Ringmer on Saturday.

THE REV RICHARD KING