Oxford University is a tough seat of learning for Chichester

With the varsity match weeks away, the Oxford players were keen to make an impression. Chichester went close on a couple of attacks but Oxford took the lead as Chichester conceded a cheap penalty corner and the top scorer in the league stepped up to flick the ball into the corner.

Chichester won a penalty corner which fell to Jack Lerwill on the top of the D, and he rattled the bar. Attacks from Richard Blakesley, Gerald Cox, Martin Gough and Andrew Sparshot looked promising for Chichester but Oxford held their lead to 1-0.

Within two minutes of the restart Oxford doubled their lead through naive defending.

Gaps appeared and Oxford went 5-0 up. Chichester could find no answer and were punished when Oxford scored their sixth.

Second-placed Richmond visit Kingsham this week.

Middleton & Bognor 3 Southwick 0

Middleton & Bognor bounced back from a hammering by Horsham to dismantle Southwick.

Captain Steve Pullen played a key role in the counter-attacking performance, scoring two.

The home side never looked in trouble as they dominated possession.

Middleton’s formation saw them move the ball quickly to their goal-hungry strikeforce.

Pullen opened the scoring with a majestic strike before Dan Robert’s calm finish confirmed their dominance.

The visitors left gaps, giving the home side a chance to go on and win 3-0.

Middleton had done their homework and with many teams in and around the relegation zone, this clean sheet may prove vital.

Chichester PP Ladies II 3 Brighton & Hove II 3

Chichester had nothing to lose as they are already down.

They threw everything into it and went ahead after great determination by Beth Marks.

Chichester were soon two up through Hudson. But Chichester took their eye off the ball and let the opposition in from a short corner.

After the break Chichester let Brighton in again. Both sides were making mistakes, and one of Chichester’s saw Brighton go ahead. Chichester equalised through Knight with a mazy dribble into the circle and a shot across the goalie with a reverse-stick strike.

CHICHESTER: Hlynianski, Banks, Rich, Marks, Helme, Austin, Knight, Hudson, Greenlees, Chaplin, Bourganell, Dutch, Van der Boon.

Chi Cherubs 0 Worthing Wlvs 2

Sussex Development League

The Cherubs suffered through their inability to put the ball between the sticks.

Chichester spent 75 per cent of the game in their opponents’ half and were threatened only on the break.

Poor distribution and a lack of decent short-corner routines were behind the defeat. The season ends with a challenging home game to Horsham Hotshots this week.

CHERUBS: Hetherington, Palmer, Stemp, Creswick, Donaldson, Woodruff, Gibbons L, Robson, Gibbons C, Shaw, Pendle, Bennison, Gleeson.