That's the way to beat Wayfarers - but it's close for Chichester

Chichester withstood hosts' London Wayfarers fightback to hold on for a 5-4 victory that took them second in the south open premier division-one table.
Bejay Ranger helped Chichester to victory away to London Wayfarers C131413-3Bejay Ranger helped Chichester to victory away to London Wayfarers C131413-3
Bejay Ranger helped Chichester to victory away to London Wayfarers C131413-3

London Wayfarers had won both their home games this season, but Chichester were bolstered by the return of Alex Thakore, who had been out for two weeks with a hamstring injury.

Chichester started the brighter, but struggled to create clear chances.

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It was Wayfarers who took the lead when Chichester struggled to clear a bouncing ball in the D which fell 
nicely to a forward to hammer home.

Chichester were soon back on level terms when Jack Lerwill got to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Ollie Baxter to slot home.

Chichester took the lead minutes later through a penalty corner, a well-worked routine seeing the returning Thakore slap the ball into 
the goal.

The visitors started to click and should have scored three more before the break through Lerwill and Baxter.

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But they did make it 3-1 before half-time as another penalty corner was converted by a great strike from Thakore.

Once again half-time seemed to come at the wrong time for Chichester.

They struggled to get out of the block and found themselves pegged back to 3-2 and then 3-3 through 
some good pressing from the home team.

This woke up the Chichester team and they soon took the lead, again from a penalty corner, when Dan Brook hit his first goal of the season into the roof of the net for 4-3.

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It was soon 5-3 to Chichester when some fine work from Matthew Cox and Tom Phillips created space for Baxter in the D to fire home his second of the match and seventh of the campaign.

Some late drama saw LW pull a goal back to 5-4, but Chichester held on for a deserved victory and are second in the table after five games.

Chichester welcome newly-promoted Sutton Valance this week to Kingsham (1.30pm).

CHICHESTER: Dan Godsmark, Luke Matthews, Kieran Henn, Jason Collins, Jack Lerwill (c), Matthews Cox, Alex Thakore, Tom Phillips, Ollie Baxter, Bejay Ranger, Dan Brook, Ollie Robinson.

Brighton V 5 Chichester Chipmunks 0

Sussex division three

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The Chipmunks struggled against Brighton, who were the best team they had faced this season, fielding a number of experienced senior players.

From the start, the Chipmunks had to defend hard from a series of Brighton attacks and within a few minutes Brighton had won their first short corner and scored.

During the first half Brighton won three further penalty corners following poor Chichester defending and Brighton converted.

Chipmunks kept trying to push forward, but were struggling to find the right pass, and despite significant attacks Chichester could not find the final pass to come close to scoring.

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The second half was a much better performance by the Chipmunks who gained more possession and started to pass the ball round the pitch well.

A couple of standout performances from skipper Charlie Gibbons and Joe Dannatt in the midfield gave a base for some strong attacks, particularly down the right, and again the team created opportunities to score but were unable to finish them off.

The defending was much better and stopped giving away short corners so Brighton were unable to extend their lead.

Richard Creswick had a great second half at left back, stopping the opposition attacks and also attacking down the left when his side had possession.

Unfortunately, late on a slip from the Chipmunks gifted Brighton their fifth goal against the run of play.

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