FOOTBALL: Weekly County League round-up

The victory was Wick's seventh in their nine league games and Wick boss Vic Short said: "We were brilliant and I was so proud of all the boys.

"We changed things around a little bit as we'd been a bit gung-ho recently and conceded a few goals. We went five across midfield to frustrate them and always looked dangerous on the break.

"We'd have been happy with 0-0, so everyone was on a high afterwards, having got the win. There's a great atmosphere here and we'll just look to push on while we've got the momentum with us."

Scott Murfin scored the only goal from the penalty spot, after he was brought down, with 12 minutes left for his 13th goal of the season.

Wick now travel to reigning champions Eastbourne UA on Saturday, and third-placed Shoreham on Tuesday.

Short said: "It's going to be a tough little run '“ we only had four days' notice that we had Whitehawk away on Tuesday.

"But we've got to get on with it, and we're very happy with how we are doing."

On Saturday, Wick had continued their fine form in front on goal with a 6-3 win at Ringmer.

Short said: "We had a few problems, injury-wise, but we coped okay. We went 3-1 up but then fell asleep and let them back into it.

"We're always looking as though we are going to score goals, but we need to tighten up at the back a little to stop conceding.

"Although, in the second half we came out much better and really dominated."

Daren Pearce opened the scoring for Wick after 10 minutes, before David Altendorf equalised soon afterwards.

Lee Barnard and Philip Turner put Wick 3-1 ahead, but they let Ringmer back into the game again, and they drew level before half-time.

Turner restored the lead after the break and Ringmer were then reduced to 10 men before goals from Simon Clayton and Scott Murfin sealed the win.

WICK v Whitehawk: Forster; Torode, Sharman, Biggs, Buckland; Turner, Clayton, Pearce, Swain, N.Murfin; S.Murfin. Subs: Sutcliffe (N.Murfin 70), Beaney (Clayton 75), Gaskin (S.Murfin 85), Lawson.

v Ringmer: Forster; Torode, Biggs, Sutcliffe, Buckland; Barnard, N.Murfin, Pearce, Turner; S.Murfin, Gaskin. Subs: Clayton (Barnard 20), Sharman (N.Murfin 65), Kew (Gaskin 80).

Arundel won for the first time since the opening day of the season with a 5-2 win at home to Redhill in Division 1, and assistant manager Simon Butler said: "We played well, showed character and deserved to win. We were clinical and it was a hard game but a good win."

Ashley Martin put Mullets ahead in the second minute from Scott Tipper's cross and Russell Hardwell fired home a free kick to double the lead in the 34th minute.

Andrew Dalhouse made it 2-1 three minutes later only for Tipper to restore the two-goal cushion five minutes before the break.

Marcus Elliott made it 3-2 just before half-time but second-half goals from Hardwell and Tipper got Mullets back in control.

They then could have added even more goals but Matt Huckett had an effort cleared off the line, Hardwell headed wide and Tipper missed his hat-trick opportunity when he blazed over.

ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Hall, Wimbleton, Pickford, Axell; Hardwell, J.Biggs, Grove, R.Biggs; Tipper, Martin. Subs: Sneller (J.Biggs 20), Matt Huckett (Martin 65), Hamilton (R.Biggs 79).

In Division 2, Littlehampton were beaten 1-0 at home by Westfield in a game Golds player manager Gary Young dubbed as "rubbish."

He said: "We were terrible, completely inept, but they were as bad as us and if we don't improve we will be relegated. It was one of those days and there was nothing of note to talk about."

Sean Smith got the only goal in the first half.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Sayers, McKay, Crawford, Minton; Charman, White, Hudson, Peacock; Rayner, Mitchell. Subs: Manning (Rayner 45), Stocker (Peacock 65), Gillard (White 75), Young.

Rustington boss Pete Matthews was left with mixed feelings about their 1-1 home draw with Sidley United.

He said: "A draw was probably a fair result on reflection, but we did have chances to go on and win it.

"I was pleased to get a result after two consecutive defeats, but after a 15-minute spell of chances at the end, it's a little disappointing not to have taken all three points."

Sidley went ahead after 15 minutes when striker Sam Hesmer got on the end of a long through ball, and chipped Blues keeper Andy McCarthy.

Blues created a couple of half-chances before the break after runs by Sean Duffy but failed to level the scores.

However, Steve Kirkham was on target for Rustington in the 75th minute as he forced home Brett Neal's flick-on.

Kirkham then hit the bar and Lee Gibbs also went close, before James Bennett went down in the penalty area but the referee waved away Blues' penalty appeals.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Harris, Curtis, Neal, Green; Duffy, Bennett, Butt, Gibbs; Churchill, Kirkham. Subs: C.Matthews, Stock, Gibbons, Peters.

Despite Richy Moss' brace putting them 2-0 up, Clymping crashed out of the John O'Hara Cup after a 4-2 defeat to Division 1 side Peacehaven.

Peacehaven's Tom Burton pulled a goal back with a header at the back post just before half-time, and they went on to punish a depleted and tiring Clymping side.

Burton netted another two within 17 minutes of the second half to complete his hat-trick before Clive Snell sealed the game off in the 83rd minute.

Clymping player manager Dom Di Paola said: "We played well for half-an-hour and then they were completely the better side.

"I watched them a few times last year and think they are a quality side and they showed that as we ran out of gas.

"We got caught in possession and their central midfielders put in great balls to get behind us for their goals. They had four quality attacking players, who punished us.

"If we had our normal side out, we would have given them a run for their money. I still don't think we would have won but it would have been a lot closer.

"The positives are that Colin Moss played well on his debut after signing from Wick, and everyone gave their all."

CLYMPING: Oakley; Stokes, Young, Porter, C.Moss; Ghent, Brown, Meehan, D.Di Paola; R.Moss, Barnard. Subs: Quirosa (Porter 70).

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