Clack saves City – as Blues have fun in sun
Chichester City 1
East Grinstead Town 1 Isthmian south east
A Josh Clack equaliser in time added on rescued a point for Chichester in a Good Friday encounter at Oaklands Park as the hosts ended a run of three league losses on the spin.
Chichester, who suffered a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at the turn of the year, had keeper Kieran Magee to thank for a string of outstanding second half saves, including one from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.
Jamie Horncastle returned to partner Ben Pashley at the heart of the defence.
EG right back Fintan Walsh’s long throw into the box with barely 60 seconds on the clock was cleared by Emmett Dunn before Magee got to the ball ahead of Ben Aubrey when it was recycled.
Pashley’s set-piece was just too strong for Ethan Prichard, as was Kaleem Haitham’s pass to the Chi No7. Ryan Davidson broke two tackles driving into the penalty areas.
Nice feet from Tyrone Madhani teed up a rare Chi opportunity but his effort didn’t test keeper Luke Glover.
Rob Hutchings fed an inviting pass down the left flank towards Madhani but it rolled out for a goal kick.
Tariq Straker picked Davidson’s pocket and raced forward to find Aubrey whose cross nicked off a defender and into Magee’s arms.
Max Walsh headed one over the bar for EG.
Prichard’s pace drew a foul off Miles Cornwell who escaped a caution from referee James Robinson.
Tom Summerfield was the first player into the notepad for a foul on Dunn five minutes before the break.
On the stroke of half time Dan Uchechi’s free kick was headed into Magee’s gloves by Glenn Wilson.
C lack found hu tc hings with a lovely ball the No3 couldn’t quite get under control.
Cornwell had another go on 57 minutes only for his fierce attempt to cannon off a teammate.
Aubrey got a talking to from the ref and the visitors brought Drew Cooney on for Summerfield. Charlie Oakwell-boulton replaced Horncastle.
There was euphoria for the travelling fans behind the Archery End when a fantastic volley from Cornwell outside the box found the back of the net on 69 minutes.
Cooney picked up a booking with 15 to go and Omar Folkes replaced Douglas.
Pashley brought Folkes down in the penalty area in the 85th minute but Magee kept Chi in the game with a brilliant save to deny Cornwell from the spot.
Aubrey made way for Adetokunbo Zambara.
Walsh lifted an effort onto the roof of the net before on 92 minutes, with seemingly a fourth consecutive league loss without scoring on the cards, Chi countered, Hutchings squared the ball and Clack drilled it home.
Chichester host Ramsgate at Oaklands Park on Saturday for their final game.
Read the report from Burgess Hill 2 City 2 in full at sussexworld.co.uk
Selsey 2 Godalming 0 SCFL division one
Selsey returned home for the first time in sixgames and the crowd was swelled by the club’s morning coaching for five to 14-year-olds.
Youngsters were welcomed with their families and in good weather it was a day to savour.
Asolid performance and a 2-0 win from the Blues capped a great day. The game was a great spectacle between two sides in good form.
Jack North went close after good work from brother Dillon and James Henton and then Dillon North almost broke the deadlock.
Godalming did force a few corners but Lee Newell in the home goal dealt with most with good clean handling.
The second half saw Newell ihaving to be on his toes when a cross from the right got a deflection and almost fell to a forward in the box only for Newell to save with his feet.
Wth the keeper off his line Bradley Higgins-pearce, 40 yards out, struck a free kick that cannoned back off the bar.
Great build up play by Joe Alman, Corey Burns and Higgins-pearce released James Henton who turned his man and fired a left-foot strike around the keeper and into the net for 1-0.
Then Dillon North who got in on the act with a great strike. North collected the ball, travelled towards the Godalming goal and from 25 yards out struck an unstoppable curling strike into the far corner.
The home defence were in no mood to let anything past and this was a great result in front of a big Easter crowd.
This Saturday Selsey host Oakwood in their final game.
Thanks went to all the coaches and volunteers who helped make Saturday’s open football day a great success.
Wittering United 3 Angmering Village 3 West Sussex Lge D3S
Wittering’s title hopes took a step back after they drew 3-3 against depleted Angmering Village.
Ben Collins saw a long range shot saved before hitting the post with a point blank header as United struggled to make clear chances.
Wittering took the lead following a fabulous ball from Robbie Courtman splitting the defence for Louca Keenoy to slot home.
Angmering hit back and took the lead with a half volley from a near post corner and a well directed header from a crossfield ball that sailed into the top corner past Tom Roxburgh.
On 36 minutes Collins was brought down and converted the penalty after the keeper was sent off for dissent.
Just before the break Keenoy was set free again to restore United’s lead, another cool finish with a low shot past the excellent stand-in keeper.
However Wittering’s defence were all at sea and the Village drew level once more.
United finished with nine players. Keenoy was seemingly brought down in the box but the penalty was not given and Burns saw red too.