There were differing fortunes for Sidlesham and Midhurst in the latest round of games in divisions two and thre of the Sussex League.
Clymping 0 Sidlesham 3
Sussex League division three
The Sids won well when they made the short journey to play Clymping in their third game in eight days.
The game gone off to a slow start with both teams looking for an opening and it was not living up to expectations.
Early chances from both sides were being missed but Clymping were proving they were not there just to make up the numbers and were getting through the Sids defence with ease.
The Sids were finding it difficult to get their game going and were allowing Clymping too much room.
The game was flowing from end to end with neither side looking as if they would score, but the breakthrough came on 45 minutes when Kieran Hartley broke through the defence and slotted the ball home to give the Sids the interval lead.
In the second half, Clymping put the Sids under pressure but when the ball went for a throw-in to Clymping, one of their players insisted it was a corner and he argued with the referee - leaving the official with no choice but to give him a red card.
This seemed to spur on Clymping and the Sids keeper was called on to make two superb saves.
The Sids began to get more into the game but then lost Hartley to an injury. He was replaced by Jimmy Brown and they began to push forward more. Two more substitutions were quickly made, with Sean Newman and Dan Raven coming on.
A ball was played to John Phillips, who slotted the ball past the home keeper to put the Sids 2-0 up.
Within two minutes, Dan Bassil received the ball 20 yards from goal and rifled home a tremendous shot to put the Sids 3-0 up. Clymping had given the Sids a hard game and will feel hard done by to have lost by three.
SIDS: Arnell, Carrigher, Low, Chatfield, Grantham, Jones, Hartley, Hounsome, Bassil, Phillips, Millins. Subs: Brown, Newman, Raven.
The win at Clymping followed a busy Easter for Sids. They began it with a 4-0 stroll at Rottingdean. Sean Newman with a penalty, Dan Bassil and Dean Platt (2) were the scorers.
That was followed by a 1-1 draw at Billingshurst when John Phillips was on target.
This Saturday, they’re at home to Ifield.
TONY ROWLAND
Midhurst 1 Steyning 6
Sussex League division two
MIDHURST’S excellent recent run of results came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Steyning.
Steyning arrived at Rotherfield well below Midhurst in the table but home boss Gary Block found himself without several players - with a mixture of weddings and injuries keeping regulars away.
Midhurst were one down at the break after keeper Ian Knight was unable to do anything about an effort that deflected past him off a defender just before the interval.
Miles Hamilton, who Midhurst had signed just before the transfer deadline, came on for the start of the second half in place of Andrew Newton.
Steyning went two up through Phil Williamson before Rob Wimble hauled Midhurst back into it with a goal 20 minutes from time.
But an amazing final ten minutes saw the visitors score four more - Craig Knowles leading the way with a ten-minute hat-trick and Alex Gathern adding another - as the hosts’ defence fell apart.
MIDHURST: Knight, Glue, White, Farr, Hyde, Dreckman, Pattison, Newton, Dormer, Wimble, Sheldrick. Sub: Hamilton.
Midhurst host Oakwood this Saturday.
TED DUMMER