Saints lack heart

ST LEONARDS 1 SOUTHWICK 3

HEART triumphed over ability as Saints crashed out of the Sussex RUR Cup in the second round.

Cup holders Southwick may have had a poor start to the season, but they possessed a greater desire to win than their disappointing hosts on Saturday.

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On a player for player basis, St Leonards clearly have more ability, but despite dominating the first half and taking the lead from a re-taken penalty, the Blues looked tired and at times apathetic during the second period.

Sloppy marking, lack of commitment in the tackle and little imagination up front made for bleak viewing as they threw the game away.

Things started well enough with Dave Fisher supplying two excellent early chances for Dave Fleming who failed to capitalise on both occasions. Fleming showed good strength shortly after, holding off two defenders to make space but his wicked shot flew just wide of the post.

More chances for Fleming, Paul Ruddy and Andy Cyrus came and went, but a breakthrough came just before half time as a clumsy challenge brought the industrious Fisher to his knees with the goal beckoning.

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Fleming's penalty was too easy for keeper Mark Rice, but referee Richard Milton adjudged him to have moved forward before the ball was kicked, leaving Dean Thomas to stroke the ball home from the retake.

A goal to the good, the midfield sewn up by Fisher, Ruddy and Gavin Ramsden and Sean Ray superb in the heart of defence, the second half was full of promise.

But a catastrophic mistake by Ray ten minutes after the re-start changed the course of the game.

The burly defender, with time and space to spare in his own half, carelessly stroked the ball straight into the path of Southwick's Matt Ash.

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The striker's deadly curled shot from range sailed high towards goal, beating Greg Nessling but not the crossbar. But the ball bounced off the upright, hit the prostate keeper on the back of the head and bobbled across the line.

Terry Streeter put the visitors ahead on 63 minutes, with a vicious low angled shot that took the wind from St Leonards' sails.

The dynamic midfield of the first period became pedestrian, too many headers went unchallenged and even the hardworking Fisher looked out of puff.

The hosts' fate was sealed by a six-yard header from Jason Tighe that was so soft it probably wouldn't have hit the back of the net. But somehow Nessling let it slip through his hands and the comical effort suddenly wasn't so funny.

The hosts briefly sparked to life in the dying minutes, but it was far too late to make any impact on a game lost by a lack of passion.

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