Wealden go out in penalty drama

Division Two Cup semi-finalWealden 2 Mile Oak 2(Mile Oak won 5-4 on pens)THIS was certainly not a classic cup tie played at Ringmer FC with neither side putting together much in attack, but it produced an exciting finale with each team scoring late on in the 90 minutes and Mile Oak getting home in the shootout.

Ben Michell, Steve Davies and Justin Harris all had chances but were denied by defenders's blocks while Mile Oak also had their share but could not find the net.

Both midfields tackled hard, and the hustling combined with the strong wind and a bumpy surface contrived to keep the scores level. Both teams relied on quick breaks and both defences held tight.

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An Andy Johnson flick-on ran across the goal with no Wealden player able to add the final touch, and Davies put Richard Piper through but he could not find the net, so the match was goalless at the break.

The second half took on the same pattern until a long ball out of defence by Craig Ottley split the Oak back four, but the goalkeeper was quickly out to clear the ball off Piper's toes.

On 52 minutes a deep Reece Head cross found Mitchell unmarked and his powerful header beat the goalkeeper but a defender cleared from the goalline.

Wealden's opener finally came on the hour when a far-post corner found Piper, who turned his shot home.

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Mile Oak piled forward but a long ball forward from Harris found Piper, whose first-time shot was parried away only for Mitchell to follow up but fail to increase the lead.

On 84 minutes Mile Oak fed the ball wide to the left and a first-time cross went in off Whittington for 1-1.

On 87 minutes Piper turned his defender and fed the ball into Mitchell's path only for the striker to be brought down. Harris stepped up to shoot home hard and low.

Wealden were forced back from the restart and clearance after clearance came back into their area before a hopeful Whittington lob held on the wind to fool goalkeeper Gareth Clarke, who thought it was going out of play and saw it drop over him and hit a post before going in for 2-2.

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Mile Oak dominated the first period of extra-time but could not break down the stubborn Wealden defence, while in the second period Wealden came more into it but could not find the winner.

County League One

Ringmer 1 Wick 1

A makeshift Ringmer side was forced to work hard against in-form Wick and had to settle for a draw at the Caburn, a result that saw their title lead cut to 10 points.

The absence for various reasons of Matt Beeston, Darren Tidey and Gavin Jones meant Andrew Ducille played up front, with Julian Curnow pushed into midfield as his replacement. At the back Clay Lamont and Jay Head both started the match with heads swathed in bandages protecting injuries.

Flowing passing movements were in short supply in a match played at a frenetic pace on uneven surface.

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The only chances of the first half fell to Wick. Head was deceived by an erratic bounce which fell kindly for Darran Annis to attempt a chip over Ross Standen.

Then on 24 minutes a shot from Tom Manton slipped under Standen, but Gary Stacey was on hand to clear off the goalline only for the ball to rebound off Annis and go into the goal between Stacey and Gareth Green.

With half-time imminent Green was again in goalmouth action to clear off the goalline from Annis.

Blues's attacking endeavours of the half were limited to crosses from either flank, all of which were too close to the goalkeeper.

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The pattern changed in the second half with an early free-kick from Chris Dicker headed towards goal first by Lamont and then Ducille. Dominic Shepherd was on hand to apply the finishing touch but the 'goal' was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.

On the hour a shot from Mickey O'Callaghan was deflected past the goalkeeper by a Wick defender for the equaliser.

Ringmer played with much more purpose following the goal and dominated the remainder of the match although goalscoring opportunities were still limited.

Two chances fell to Green. The first saw him shoot straight at the goalkeeper while the second saw his effort beat the stopper but go wide of goal. Then a free-kick from Dicker, Ringmer's man of the match, passed inches over the crossbar.

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Ringmer: Standen, Head, Lamont, Bird (Clark), O'Callaghan, Stacey, Dicker, Ducille, Shepherd, Green, Curnow. Unused subs: Probert, P MacNeill, Adams.

County League Two

Wealden 4 Westfield 2

Westfield started the better and were a goal ahead after only four minutes when Wealden goalkeeper Gareth Clarke could only partly clear and Duncan Jones was on hand to lob the ball home.

Wealden's first attack came on 12 minutes when Justin Harris swung the ball wide, Tobi Hutchinson touched it through but Richard Piper's shot was high and wide.

Westfield continued to push Wealden back, limiting the hosts to long balls, although Piper and Harris forced the Westfield goalkeeper to make two good saves.

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On 29 minutes at a Westfield free-kick both teams were jostling for territory when a retaliation saw Westfield reduced to ten men.

On 37 minutes a Hutchinson corner put the Westfield defence under pressure and a defender put the ball into his own net.

Wealden started the better in the second half and Harris forced the goalkeeper into a fingertip save. Westfield did not look a side down to 10 men, with Jones still hustling and forcing the play.

In the best play of the afternoon on 56 minutes a long headed clearance from Harris led to Wealden's second goal. Two 1-2s involving Piper, Steve Davis and Martin Schleider allowed Andy Johnson to fire home.

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Wealden at last looked in control and Piper put Davis in on goal only for a last-gasp clearance to concede a corner. Hutchinson swung the ball in and an unmarked Johnson headed home.

Westfield's quick breaks were still causing problems but the Wealden defence held firm, while at the other end Piper and Harris both had chances but stout defending denied them.

On 83 minutes a Hutchinson corner was met at the near post by Schleider although it was unclear whether he got a touch and both players claimed it.

The visitors refused to give up and when Clarke failed to clear a Westfield player was on hand to net.

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The Greene King man of the match went to Justin Harris for an outstanding performance.

Wealden: Clarke, Head, Thomsett, Brownell, Merry, Davies (Oliver), A Johnson (Ottley), Harris, Schleider, Hutchinson, Piper (Mitchell).

County League One

Redhill 1 Hailsham 3

HAILSHAM manager Ken McCreadie said: 'It was a terrible first half but we scored three good goals and ended up worthy winners.'

On 75 minutes Peter Cooper sent in a cross from the right and Lee Baitup was on hand to net.

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And five minutes later it was Cooper's turn to score as he flicked home Grant Spencer's pass.

Then with two minutes remaining Baitup set up Nick Barden to fire in just inside a post.

Redhill had taken the lead five minutes after half-time when a cross from Josh Smith after he had been given too much room saw Robbie Burns fire into the net.

Just before another Smith cross found James Thompson who cracked an effort against the crossbar.

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Redhill had dominated the opening spell with Burns and Smith always dangerous while at the other end Simon Stevens fired wide and Baitup had a great opportunity but was thwarted by a fine Justin Jones tackle. Cooper was then wide for Hailsham while Thompson missed the target for Redhill in what generally was a poor first half.

Hailsham: Tanner, Lewis, Early (Williams), Jarvis, Spencer, M Richardson, S French (Koboah), Stevens, Cooper, Baitup, Barden.

County League Two

Midhurst & Easebourne 2 Saltdean 1

PROBLEMS mounted for the Tigers with thisdefeat as Midhurst climbed above them in the table and Lancing and Sidlesham also closed the gap below with wins.

Manager Mark Smeaton said: 'It was a poor game but I thought we did enough to have earned a draw. It's a dreadful pitch and they know how to play it.

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'I had the Martin brothers suspended and Craig Bunch working so it was a mix-and-match side, you pick it and hope for the best.

'Ray Pook, son of Worthing manager Alan, is joining us. He's a striker who has been at Littlehampton and will be a useful addition.'

Saltdean were two down after 26 minutes at Midhurst before Ian Costello's 42nd minute strike. Costello worked a 1-2 with Harry Coker in midfield before advancing and skipping past a defender to drive home from the edge of the penalty area.

Saltdean: Smeaton, Slade, Clarke, Cole, Newman, Stevens, Ogoe (Coyne), Saxby, Costello, Pietrzak, Coker.

County League Two

East Grinstead Town 4 Seaford 1

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SEAFORD were run over in the second half by a East Grinstead side that had lost six of their last seven fixtures and were beaten 3-1 by the visitors in the RUR Charity Cup in October.

Duncan Kneller's team had plenty of chances in the opening half with Liam Keith, Scott Allison, Darren Moore and Chris Stanyard unable to find the net.

There was a warning of what was to come, though, when an EG shot hit the woodwork.

Two minutes into the second half the hosts went ahead when Simon Tadman took advantage of poor defending from a corner.

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Seaford were now under severe pressure and Tadman added a second on 72 minutes when he ran unchallenged into the penalty area to fire home.

It was 3-0 six minutes later after more poor defensive work allowed a cross which found Matt Thorpe unmarked at the far post.

Seaford had their one moment of success on 82 minutes when Allison's through ball allowed Stanyard to run through and shoot home.

However, Seaford again allowed the EG strikers room, and Ben Burns raced down the right and cracked home an unstoppable shot.

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Seaford: McFadden, Moore (Plastow), Doherty, Hammond, Wingate, Hamblin, A Kneller, Dartnall (Mayo), Keith (Livings), Allison, C Stanyard.

Vernon Wentworth Cup quarter-final

Rottingdean 0 Newhaven 6

NEWHAVEN qualified for a semi-final with Rustington after they cruised past Brighton Premier side Rottingdean.

Haven, who are also paired with Rustington in the Division Three Cup semis, are seeking revenge for defeat in the Vernon Wentworth final last season.

Haven started against Rottingdean without Shaun Breach, Nathan McGill, Chris Georgiou and Jamie Goddard. Manager Jason Tighe moved into midfield and Chris Foote came in at the back, and the visitors were 4-0 ahead at half-time.

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Tighe got the headed opener from a Ross Newman corner, and the latter beat the offside trap to grab the second.

Simon Halsey weighed in with the third after Chris Shappveld's deflected shot came back off a post, and Gary Holmes's scorcher from 35 yards signalled the fourth.

The fifth went to Nick Leiper, who smashed the ball home after good work by Halsey, while the sixth was an own goal after Foote's free-kick was deflected in.

Tighe tried out two new local lads. Gary Wright played the first half and Paul Savage took the manager's place in the second.

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Newhaven: Hildersley, Foote, M Leiper, Edwards, Marchesi, Holmes, Tighe (Salvage), Shappveld, Wright (N Leiper), Halsey, Newman.

Vernon Wentworth Cup quarter-final

Alpha Sports 2

Peacehaven 11

PEACEHAVEN will face Worthing Premier side South Bersted in the semi-finals after thrashing Brighton Premier team Alpha Sports.

Mark Price grabbed four goals, while Jason Stepney scored twice and there was one each for Jamie Wright, Simon Bailey, Ryan Walton, Ashley Jones and Aaron Blackwell.

Manager Darren Guirey said: 'The scoreline could have been anything, we played some lovely football on a difficult pitch.

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'Mark Price scored a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner, but the pick for me was Simon Baileys. We put together ten passes before he smashed it in.

Peacehaven: Parsons, Murray, Brown, Rider, King, Wright, Martin (Page), Jones, Bailey, Price (Walton), Stepney (Blackwell).

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