City’s nine-game unbeaten run ends
Faversham Town 1 Chichester City 0 Isthmian south east
Chichester’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end with defeat at Faversham Town.
Michael Ademiluyi scored the only goal on 20 minutes, curling the ball beyond an unsighted Kieran Magee to give thehoststhreepreciouspoints in their bid to beat the drop.
Etienne Frimpong was given a debut for Chi at left-back in an otherwise unchanged starting XI from the one that thumped fourth-placed Whitehawk 4-1 midweek at Oaklands Park.
Faversham started on the front-foot and City skipper Connor Cody had a cross to block 60 seconds in. Frazer Shawandademiluyilinkedup butisaacbelloheadedawaybefore Cody steered the ball out forasecondcornerinasmany minutes that Callum Overton got clear.
And then against the run of play Lloyd Rowlatt fed Kaleem Haitham after Overton flicked on and leading marksman Ethan Prichard couldn’t tuck home a measured cross from the right. Next, Rowlatt’s neatturnandpasssetprichard up for another attempt which nickedoffadefenderforacorner that Rowlatt took and Emmett Dunn got a connection on, of sorts.
Keeper Magee was forced into a super save by Parsons in the ninth minute as Favershampressedoncemore.aheavy challenge from Frimpong on Ademiluyi, driving into the penaltyarea,gaverefereehoward Collins a decision to make – no pen.
Ayoola won a corner off Frimpong moments later that Parson played short to Kieron Campbell and Dunn cleared. Magee was off his line swiftly aheadofronaldsitholebefore Ademiluyi broke the deadlock with a strike which nestled in the bottom left hand corner.
Haitham did Ademiluyi justbeforethehalfhourmark, and cut inside, only for Bailey Vose to gather easily enough.
Rowlatt almost picked Overton; both Haitham and Prichardcouldn’tquitegetthe loose ball under control after Bello’sthrowwashackedaway;
and Faversham’s Olly Gray outfoxed Overton and headed back safely to Vose.
Joe Clarke sent Haitham scamperingawaydowntheleft inthefirstattackofthesecond 45 for a misplaced cross and thenwaswell-upbuthaitham lost the ball this time. Magee’s crossbar came to his aid four minutes in when Sithole’s hell of a screamer somehow cannoned back off the woodwork.
Frimpong was withdrawn forjoemoorewith20togoand then Parsons got in down the leftandcampbelldrilledaneffort over the bar.
Chi blew opportunities of their own late on as Prichard took a touch too much, Dunn had a shot blocked, and Clack headed Prichard’s cross off target. So, the unbeaten sequence, in which Chichester scored 21 goals and kept five clean sheets, is over. Miles Rutherford’s men return to Kent on Tuesday to visit Sittingbourne and on Saturday they face Hythe Town (3pm).
Punnetts 2 Bosham 1 SCFA Intermediate Cup QF
Two late goals from Punnetts turned this intriguing cuptieonitsheadtodumpout Bosham.
Bosham started sharply and took the game to the Blues withlewisrustellandedkennett causing problems for the defence.
David Castanheira was skilful in the midfield, linking well with James Wilson and Joe Boschi to create openings for Alex Barnes to tease the defence. Rustell ballooned one over the bar from yards out and Kennett was also denied by keeper Sam Wiegand.
Just after the half hour, the Robins got their noses in front. Wilson turned well and slid the ball into the path of Rustell, who instantly slotted itthroughtocastanheira,who burst into the area and slotted with confidence into the bottomcornertoputtheredsinto the lead.
The second half was a totally different affair. Punnetts came out and straight away looked like they had received
a rocket from their manager.
The likes of Rick Davey and Liam Beckett caused panic in thereds’defence.derekharding was a giant in goal for the Reds and kept the Blues at bay with a number of good saves.
Boshamseemedtobecome too workmanlike in their play, allowing the Blues to dictate the pace – and late on, Bosham’s worst fears were realised when the blues, deservedly, drew level.
With the game into its last quarter, a ball over the top seemed meat and drink for Harding but the ball sneaked out from his grasp and the predatory Harry Murray gleefully poked the ball into the empty net.
With Bosham reeling the
Blues pushed on and from a free kick a few minutes later, Lewis Walder headed in at the back stick having found himself unmarked.
Bosham pushed for a late strike to take the game to penalties but, despite Pat Bulbeck hittingthebarwithaheader,it wasn’t to be. This week Bosham turn attention to their Scfldivision2cupquarter-final at Worthing Town.
ALAN PRICE
Del Utd 7 East Dean 3 Chichester Charity Cup
East Dean lost a ten-goal thriller of a cup quarter-final. The home side started the game well having numerous shots on John Burnett's goal, with the keeper coming up with a handful of early saves plus a goal-line clearance to keep the score line level.
Haidon Davies found himself in the right place at the right time following a period of pressure as a goalkeeping error fell to him to slot home. Delunitedhadastrongperiod either side of half-time which saw them score twice. East Dean continued to work hard and they got their reward with Daviesconvertingaoneonone through the keepers' legs. On 90 minutes it was 2-2.
Extra time saw a drop in performancecomparedtothe prior 90 minutes and Del United won 7-3. Alex Smith scored the Deans’ third.