West Sussex League: Yapton win marks Sted-y progress

Yapton Res 1 Stedham United 6

Division three south

Stedham extended their unbeaten start to the season, but only after a slow start gifted the home side a lead within three minutes.

With the rain lashing down, Stedham started pulling themselves back into the match and playing a passing style of football which should see them do well this season.

They equalised through Marcus Williams after some good movement in the final third.

Stedham were dominating and with a fine move which started with left-back Christian Jones, Matt Tilbury fired home to put them in the lead.

They pulled further ahead with a defensive mix-up that allowed Tilbury to tap-in from close range.

Stedham were finding space all over the park and another good passing play saw Williams score his second of the game and Stedham’s fourth to make it very hard for the home side to come back.

There was time for another first-half goal when Chris Horlock linked with the strikers to fire from the edge of the area to make it 5-1.

The second half was a scrappy affair with Yapton aiming to stop Stedham from playing football.

Each side had chances but neither team were clinical in front of goal.

Stedham got their sixth when Williams was put clear on the wing and his low cross to the front post was met by a good run from Alex Jones for the striker to finish with aplomb.

Five minutes before the final whistle Yapton were awarded a penalty when Stedham keeper Matt Boxall wrestled a Yapton player to the ground.

The spot-kick was struck wide and summed up Yapton’s day.

Stedham continued their unbeaten run and went top of the league.

n Stedham Reserves played out an eight-goal thriller but came out on the wrong side of of 5-3 loss to a good Tangmere team in division five south.

Chapel 2 Felpham Colts Res 6

Div five south

Felpham dominated the first half-hour with goals from Andy Chick, Sam Carter (2) and Kris Zmukda but Chapel started to get into the game just before half-time and started the second half the stronger side.

Pushing forward, however, left them exposed at the back and James Williams added to the Felpham score.

In the last 15 minutes Chapel got on the scoresheet through a Tom Kaighan penalty - only for Chick to get Felpham’s sixth.

In the dying minutes Graeme Lucking scored direct from a corner for Chapel.