Pirates stretch their lead - but Lavant keep on chasing

First, Wisborough Green were the visitors to Nyewood Lane but were blown away by the in-form Looters.

Goals came from Phil Turner (2), Michael Frangou (2), an own goal and late efforts from Scott and Danny Towers.

Three days later Henfield were the visitors to Pirate Park and brought with them the league’s top scorer Steve Scott, who has bagged 24 goals this season.

Henfield had lost only one in their last 11 and would have fancied their chances against the Pirates after narrowly missing out on a draw when the sides met in October.

Boss Ted Griffin brought Warren Pye and Karl Westbrook back in and despite having already played two games that week the ageing Nyetimber side took another early lead when captain Frangou fired home from Sean Williamson’s long throw.

It was 2-0 when the impressive Karl Westbrook headed home Kieron Urquhart’s deep cross.

As the second half kicked off, Turner was next on the scoresheet with his third of the week and 18th of the season - before Westbrook added his second minutes later, just before being replaced by James Fallick.

Fallick scored his first of the season to make it 5-0 on 70 minutes.

Scott Towers made it 6 -0 when he teased the Henfield defence with his dazzling footwork and found the bottom corner. Liam Maskell made his first-team debut, coming on for Turner on 78 minutes, before Frangou finished off the scoring after closing down a poor clearance.

The Looters know they cannot afford any slip-ups in their bid for their first West Sussex League title, with second-placed Lavant still in hot form and with three games in hand.

Next its TD Shipley at Pirate Park in what will be the first meeting between the two sides.

Pirates (v Wisborough Green game): Matthews, Williamson, Pasterfield, Hamm, D Towers, Urquhart, Haga Hammond, Chester, Turner, S Towers, Frangou. Subs- Linkhorn, Westbrook, Wyatt.

v Henfield: Pye, Williamson, Pasterfield, Hamm, D Towers, Urquhart, Chester, Turner, S Towers, Frangou, Westbrook. Subs: Fallick, L Maskell, Linkhorn, Haga Hammond, Wilkins.

Lavant 2 Predators 0

West Sueex League premier division

Predators put in a spirited performance against second-placed Lavant, but the hosts won to put last week’s cup exit behind them.

Mid-table Predators dominated for long spells and there wasn’t much between the teams.

Michael Woolston went close before Lavant went a goal up with a tremendous finish by Dan Baker from outside the box after good work by Ash Hawkes.

The ‘worldy’ didn’t knock the Tigers’ confidence and they came back stronger. Their midfield four of Gayden Aldred, Josh and Toby Lauder and Joloyn Hillier bossed much of the game, though Matt Stevens and Charles Mclaren did well in the centre of the park for Lavant.

Lavant secured the game well into the second half. Predators, still pushing, decided to leave two men up top at a Mclaren free-kick and unmarked Jon Wright headed in.

Further chances falling to Hawkes and substitute Pete Caveney but the score remained 2-0.

But this was a very good team performance by Predators, whose MoM was Stoner.

Lavant: Court, Grace, Augustus, Lyttle, Wright, Mclaren, Stevens, Sandford, Hancock, Hawkes, Baker. Subs: Cieszynski, Caveney.

Predators: Munt, Oliver, Sutch, Martin, Stoner, Hillier, T Lauder, Aldred, J Lauder, Woolston, Barkley. Subs: Palmer, Richards, Penfold.

East Dean 5-4 Worthing Town Leisure Reserves

West Sussex League championship south

East Dean walked away with all three points after a nine-goal thriller.

After only two minutes they took the lead through James Ford, tucking away Ben Pett’s dragged shot. A few minutes later Ford got his second courtesy of another Pett assist.

Just ten minutes had gone when Ford scored his third with Pett assisting him once again.

East Dean gave Worthing little chance to pull a goal back and Craig Manchip made it 4-0 just before half-time, heading home Ford’s cross.

The second half was very different with Worthing the more dominant side. Somehow, Worthing managed to pull the scoreline back to 4-3 with three penalties.

Ford scored his fourth of the day after a corner from Dave O’Donnell. Just before the end Worthing scored again but couldn’t find an equaliser.

East Dean: Philpott, Ferre, Freeman, Reed, Pett, Haynes, Richards, Skeites, Odonnell, Ford, Manchip. Subs; Oram, Clark, Millard, English.

Jacks 1 Unicorn 3

Southdown Rose Bowl

Unicorn turned up trumps against local rivals Jacks to keep alive their quadruple league and cup dreams.

Alex Barclay was the joker in their pack, leaving the bench late to score his eighth goal of the season and finish off the spirited challenge of their Bognor-based opponents.

Michael Woolston slotted the Unicorn ahead before the break after strolling on to a lovely return pass from Sam Dallaway.

But Jacks stayed in contention thanks to great goalkeeping.

Jacks went down to ten men when one of their players was forced out of the action and they did not have a substitute. But they drew level when confusion in the Unicorn defence led to goalkeeper Keelan Belcher conceding a penalty which Jacks player-manager Danny Towers converted.

The home side enjoyed their best spell but Gary Clarke tucked away a chance created by Woolston to restore the lead. He then set up Barclay for the winner.

Unicorn manager Dennis Barclay said: “It was a hard-fought match between two sides who both wanted to win and it was played in great spirits. We are though to the semi-finals where we play AFC Chichester and we are still on course to win all four competitions we are involved in.”

* Before the match both teams held a minute’s applause in tribute to Hunston manager Stuart Hazelgrove who passed away last week. The same happened at a number of local games at the weekend.

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