Blues get first senior win

Blues won 3-0 with second-half goals from Sean Duffy, Andy Smart and Craig Cox, playing against the wind and driving rain, reports Steve Bailey.

Ross Adams fired wide the best chance of the first half after six minutes. Two Duffy crosses late in the first period also caused problems for Wickers' defence, with veteran Lee Cox, making his latest Southwick debut, heading one over, and Smart, at the far post, just failing to trouble Wickers keeper Dave Bogan.

Southwick started the second half brightly. Wayne Joseph's skidding shot was saved by Blues keeper Andy McCarthy and Jon Donoghue scooped an effort over from 18 yards.

But on 50 minutes, Rustington made the breakthrough. Smart's flick found Duffy and he drove the ball into the far corner from 12 yards.

Bogan then denied Duffy and Rob Butcher before Blues doubled their lead on 70 minutes. Chris Couzens got to Terry Withers' pass a fraction before Bogan on the left-wing and crossed for Smart to nod home at the far post.

Southwick pressed for a route back into the game but that hope was extinguished with nine minutes left. Substitutes Dale Nally and Cox combined before Cox drilled past Bogan from 15 yards.

Rustington manager Gareth Davies said: "I didn't think we played very well in the first half but improved in the second.

"The early goal in the second half settled us down and it probably suited us playing against the wind because we played more shorter passes.

"Hopefully, we can take the momentum into Saturday's game."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Butcher, Bibb, Hellen, Bashford; Duffy, Cumber, Morten, Withers; Smart, Adams. Subs: Couzens (Adams 60), Nally (Cumber 69), Cox (Withers 74).

ARUNDEL showed great character to fight back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Selsey in Division 1.

Chris Hibberd started the comeback on 58 minutes before Stuart Hack headed home two Josh Sutcliffe corners on 85 and 86 minutes.

Sutcliffe then twice went close to winning the match in injury-time but saw two long-rangers hit the woodwork.

Selsey had gone 3-0 ahead through clinical finishes from Ross Woolf (14 mins), Derek Chester (47) and John Vines (56).

Arundel assistant-boss Simon Butler said: "We showed great character to come back from 3-0 down and we almost won it but Josh hit one post from 20 yards, then hit the other one from long-range."

ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Duncan, L.Walker, Hall, Hack, Hibberd; D.Towers, Wimbleton, Mike Huckett; Matt Huckett, D.Walker. Subs: Grove (Towers 35), Boxall (D.Walker 65), Sutcliffe (Duncan 70).

LITTLEHAMPTON made it two wins from two in Division 2 with a 3-2 success at Sidlesham.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Golds took the lead through an excellent team move which Simon Clayton finished off on 18 minutes.

Sids levelled 10 minutes before half-time but Littlehampton moved 3-1 ahead within 13 minutes of the second period. Stuart Bennett converted a penalty on 49 minutes before Paul Hodder fired home on 58 minutes.

Sidlesham made it 3-2 on 82 minutes and Golds keeper James Everett then saved his side two points with an outstanding save in injury-time.

Littlehampton boss Trevor Waller said: "We didn't play particularly well but this could be a good three points come the end of the season.

"James Everett saved us two points with an excellent tip-over save right at the end."

LITTLEHAMPTON: Everett; Swain, S.Bennett, Hodder, May, Bird; Clayton, J.Bennett, Brown; Huet, Neighbour. Subs: Sell (Huet 60), Thompson (May 75), Harrison (Neighbour 80), Farrell.

WICK recorded their second successive victory with a 2-1 win over Chichester.

Dominic Shepherd struck both their goals before getting red-carded.

Joint-manager Carl Stabler said: "It was a very harsh sending-off but I'm pleased with the start we have made.

"It was always going to be a hard game with Mick Catlin and the Chichester boys coming over to us in the summer and they were up for the game."

For Jim Hughes' live report, see the Littlehampton Gazette on August 16.

EAST PRESTON's match at Redhill was postponed because of problems with the home side's floodlights.