City gain fine win… Pirates hold Lions
Sittingbourne 0 Chichester City 3 Isthmian south east
Chichester City picked up three points away to the league’s in-form side thanks to goals from Joe Clarke, Isaac Bello and Jimmy Wild.
Miles Rutherford went with the same starting XI that battled for a point at Cray Valley PM.
The hosts came into this match on the back of seven straight wins, hitting the back of the net on 22 occasions and only conceding twice in that sequence.
The Brickies forced a corner 60 seconds in but Harry Hope’s kick landed on the roof of the net. Then Mitchell May played the ball towards Hope, but the Chi backline cleared.
Emmett Dunn tidied up the next attack and City captain Connor Cody hooked away. Bagasan Graham was presented with a chance to cross after the visitors’ rightback slipped but May headed wide.
Danny Parish pulled one off target on seven minutes from May’s pass, and Wild and Josh Clack caused a bit of pressure.
Further chaos ensued following Bello’s long throw as first Joe Moore had a shot, then Clarke reacted first to the loose ball and slammed home the opener.
Less than a minute later Ayman El-mogharbel picked out Graham for a poor delivery and El-mogharbel hit an effort off target. Bello and Conrad Honore linked up but Honore should have had a go.
Chi’s keeper was called into action to get to El-mogharbel’s cross-shot.
Curtis Da Costa cut out May’s cut-back and Rob Hutchings was caught, but there was no foul according to ref Teddy Osborn.
The hosts had to replace injured Luke Woodward with Donvieve Jones before some intense pinball in the away side’s box saw things eventually smuggled clear.
Clack won a foul at the mid-point that led to nothing; defenders broke up another Brickies’ move; and Honore got man-handled and Alex Bentley escaped a yellow card.
A hit from Clack bounced off the top of the bar after Chi forged a couple of chances.
Bello doubled the City lead though around the halfhour mark with a crisp shot into the bottom corner, his eighth league goal of the campaign.
Wild had an effort blocked; Magee was apparently fouled trying to grab a loose ball; and El-mogharbel’s forward pass to May was too strong. Good work from Moore, Clarke and Bello resulted in a pass from Wild to Honore and an attempt that was blocked.
Five minutes before halftime Wild had an opportunity as the ball glanced across the face of the goal. Bello’s long throw wouldn’t quite fall to Wild.
A Chi shot was headed away for the visitors’ first corner of the match.
Hutchings took it and Da Costa headed narrowly wide.
Another two decent opportunities came and went as well and Clarke couldn’t get a touch at the back post.
In time added on, Sittingbourne’s keeper Bobby Mason denied Wild with an amazing stop; Magee blocked one too, Honore was cautioned and Hutchings headed safely back to his No1 on the whistle.
El-mogharbel spurned the first chance after the break. Clarke was fouled and Hutchings’ set-piece was steered out for a corner which Hutchings delivered deep. Clarke received some treatment and El-mogharbel was booked before being replaced by Stefan Ilic.
May drilled a shot wide on 54 and Jones beat Clack, took on Hutchings and played over a wayward cross. Clack lifted an effort over and Moore’s jinking run led to him pulling the trigger and Mason making a save.
Magee slipped but punted the ball out; May’s header from a corner went off target and Cody headed Jones’ cross out for a corner.
Mo Jammeh came on for Honore before the hosts’ Mike Turner headed wide and Jammeh tried to lob Mason. Hutchings forced Mason into a save at his near post before Wild smashed home with his third goal in three.
Hutchings went into the book in time added on; Clack struck one high and wide; Olly Munt and Kyle O’brien replaced Moore and Clack; and Hutchings directed the ball away after Magee flapped at a free-kick.
Up next for Chi are Sevenoaks at Oaklands Park on Saturday.
In the SCFL premier, two goals by Howard Neighbour earned a 2-2 draw at
Pagham
home to Bexhill.
In division two, goals by Toby Hewett and Ashley Harris couldn’t prevent a 4-2 defeat at home to Rustington for
Bosham.
East Dean 3
Flansham Park Rgrs 2 West Sussex Lge Div 1
East Dean returned to action with a win when they hosted Flansham Park Rangers at Worthing Town’s 3G pitch.
Flansham had the better of the first half and took the lead.
Chances were at a premium for the home side and before half-time Flansham scored a second.
The half time talk from manager Tom Ferre was clear – East Dean hadn’t started playing and the boss still felt they could win.
Within 10 minutes, Aaron Freeman outmuscled the keeper on the edge of the box and placed the ball over the him.
A great team goal followed as the ball went from box to box. Keeper Jack Silvester played it to Jason Houghton and he and Brad Platt combined before Haidon Davies finished.
East Dean got the winner when Zach Dray received the ball at his feet 40 yards out and with the keeper off his line, he found the top corner.