A defeat for Bosham and a high-scoring draw for Chapel feature in our latest West Sussex League round-up.
West Chiltington 2 Bosham 1
West Sussex League premier division
The destiny of the title fell back into the balance with just a handful of games left as Bosham slipped to a shock defeat.
Having beaten their hosts the week before, Bosham were full of confidence and started brightly on a sunny afternoon.
Neil Redman returned to the starting line-up as the Reds looked to play expansively on a sloping pitch.
After ten minutes Bosham crafted the first effort on goal when Redman went close from a well-worked set-piece. A delivery into the area was met by the head of Nick Edgington, who put the ball back across the box but Redman, unmarked at the back stick, diverted his header wide.
Ben Blanshard set up a chance with a left-foot effort on target but, with the keeper beaten, neither Redman nor Tom Davies could stretch out a foot to poke the ball home.
Right on half-time all the Reds’ good work was undone by a moment of brilliance from Craig Dawson to put Chiltington into the lead. Bosham failed to deal with a corner and after a woeful clearance, Dawson pounced to hit a spectacular volley into the top corner, leaving keeper Simon Hasted watching the ball fly past him.
In the second half, Bosham pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Redman brought a marvellous save from David Bundock to keep West Chiltington in front, and with the Reds throwing everything into attack an equaliser seemed likely.
Instead, Chiltington doubled their lead from the spot. The punished challenge was clumsy and Dan Clayton made Bosham pay by converting with ease.
Seconds after this, Blanshard lost his cool and referee Mick Saunders showed him red, leaving the Reds to play the last quarter of the match with ten men.
Bosham played remarkably well despite the one-man disadvantage and, after West Chiltington were also reduced to ten men with time running out, Edgington squeezed in a header to give Bosham a lifeline.
But the leveller wouldn’t come, enabling West Chiltington to close the gap at the top and ensure the race for the title continues.
BOSHAM: Hasted, Probee, Jack Hancock, Joe Hancock, Davies, Wilson, Blanshard, Docherty, Edgington, Dowden, Redman. Subs: Brett, Desai.
ALAN PRICE
Bosham lost again in midweek - going down 1-0 at Holbrook to throw the title race further open.
Fernhurst Res 4 Chapel 4
Division five south
Fernhurst took an early lead after a bad mistake by the Chapel keeper, but the game was quiet until the last ten minutes of the first half when there was a four-goal glut - three to Fernhurst and one to Chapel.
Fernhurst had to field a number of their first team who had already played earlier in the afternoon and as they tired the visitors started to get on top and pulled back the three-goal deficit with five minutes to go.
Both sides fought hard for a winner but had to settle for a draw.