Chi win nine-goal thriller – and Friars score seven

Chichester Ladies 5 Eastbourne 1As 4

Chichester made it four wins from four by winning a ninegoal thriller.

Strong runs down the wing from Lottie Greenlees and Maddiehantrais camebefore a break from Eastbourne saw them take a 1-0 lead.

But Chi trio Demelza Peake, Bella Festa and Georgie Mctear bossed the midfield to supply Sally

Bradley and Katie Rose up front. In the 20th minute Mctear made it 1-1 with a fabulous hit at the top of the D into the backboard. Mctear soon added a second.

Late in the first half Chichester won a short corner which Jess Stanley scrambled over the line and the score was 3-1.

In the second half Eastbourne levelled it at 3-3. Chi stayed calm with strong passing and tackles from Megan Thomas, Jess Stanley, Amy Chaplin and Jenny Horton denying Eastbourne.

A reserve sweep pass from Festa into the D led to Greenlees getting a touch to make it 4-3. Saves from Georgie Brown kept Chi ahead but a short corner from Eastbourne levelled the score with five minutes to go.

Chi ladies put together an excellent move through the middle to win a short corner.

The final whistle blew and it was all to play for. Thomas slipped the ball to Mctear to smack the ball in for her hattrick and the winning goal.

Chi are on the road to Burgess Hill this weekend.

Chichester Friars 7 Gillingham 2nds 1 Hampshire Area Div 4

The Friars had a great start when Chris Pacey tucked away a rebound from a short corner in the first minute.

But Gillingham applied pressure throughout the half, setting up multiple chances. In the 34th minute the lead was doubled when Bryan Locke finished off a flowing Friars move.

Rob Torrance in goal made a superb save from a fierce shot before the ball was swept out of the D and a counter attack resulted in Locke scoring his second.

Locke completed his hattrick on 44 minutes to put the Friars four ahead, but Gillingham pulled one back.

Further goals from Locke, Pacey and Andrew Savory made the final score 7-1.

Steve Mercer, Andy Osborne, Trevor Andrews, Mark Richmond and Mark Green were outstanding.