Chichester edge past Plymouth - ladies beat Eastbourne

Chichester 3 Plymouth Marjon 2

Conference West

Chichester struck three times in eight second half minutes to set up victory over Plymouth Marjon – their first win in four National League West Conference starts.

Chichester fell behind three minutes after the interval but turned the match on its head with a treble in the third quarter before Plymouth cut the deficit seven minutes from the end to create a nervy finish.

The hosts played far better as a side than they had in their three previous defeats and would have changed around 1-0 up had Cameron Ryall not wasted a great chance after Alex Baxter’s shot from a penalty corner had been superbly saved by Phil Carr.

Chi keeper Chris Bristow made two fine saves before a mistake by Josh Brown created the opening for Jon Tew to fire Plymouth ahead.

But the Devon visitors cracked under pressure as Chichester forced several short corners, Alex Holton equalising and skipper Matt Sewell giving his side a 46th minute lead, the first time this season they’d been in front.

As the tempo increased, Bristow beat out a Plymouth short corner and Alex Thakore was sin-binned – but ten-man Chichester from extended their lead from a fierce low Oli Baxter cross-shot.

Adam Bloomfield and Joe Bugden bungled a chance to settle it with a fourth and Bristow had to make two more short corner blocks before a slip by Thakore let in Tom Hodgkins to make it 3-2 with Plymouth’s second seven minutes from time.

MIKE VIMPANY

Chichester Ladies 5 Eastbourne 1As 4

Chichester made it four wins from four by winning a nine-goal thriller.

Strong runs down the wing from Lottie Greenlees and Maddie Hantrais came before a break from Eastbourne saw them take a 1-0 lead.

But Chi trio Demelza Peake, Bella Festa and Georgie McTear bossed the midfield to supply Sally Bradley and Katie Rose up front. In the 20th minute McTear made it 1-1 with a fabulous hit at the top of the D into the backboard. McTear soon added a second.

Late in the first half Chichester won a short corner which Jess Stanley scrambled over the line and the score was 3-1.

In the second half Eastbourne levelled it at 3-3. Chi stayed calm with strong passing and tackles from Megan Thomas, Jess Stanley, Amy Chaplin and Jenny Horton denying Eastbourne.

A reserve sweep pass from Festa into the D led to Greenlees getting a touch to make it 4-3. Saves from Georgie Brown kept Chi ahead but a short corner from Eastbourne levelled the score with five minutes to go.

Chi ladies put together an excellent move through the middle to win a short corner.

The final whistle blew and it was all to play for. Thomas slipped the ball to McTear to smack the ball in for her hat-trick and the winning goal.

Chi are on the road to Burgess Hill this weekend.

Chichester Friars 7 Gillingham 2nds 1

Hampshire Area Div 4

The Friars had a great start when Chris Pacey tucked away a rebound from a short corner in the first minute.

But Gillingham applied pressure throughout the half, setting up multiple chances. In the 34th minute the lead was doubled when Bryan Locke finished off a flowing Friars move.

Rob Torrance in goal made a superb save from a fierce shot before the ball was swept out of the D and a counter attack resulted in Locke scoring his second.

Locke completed his hat-trick on 44 minutes to put the Friars four ahead, but Gillingham pulled one back.

Further goals from Locke, Pacey and Andrew Savory made the final score 7-1.

Steve Mercer, Andy Osborne, Trevor Andrews, Mark Richmond and Mark Green were outstanding.