Battle, Sidley and Wadhurst vying for top spot in East Sussex League cup

With 24 fixtures on Saturday and 17 last Wednesday, it's been a busy week in the East Sussex Football League's April/May Competitions.
AFC Hollington seconds have had a good campaign so farAFC Hollington seconds have had a good campaign so far
AFC Hollington seconds have had a good campaign so far

Three teams are level on points at the top of group A in the Premier/Division One Competition, but Battle Town have the edge on goal difference after winning twice in four days.

Jamie Lindsay's hat-trick inspired Battle to a 3-2 win at home to Bexhill AAC last Wednesday before Mike Booth, Ian Rafati, Tom Saunders, Dean Boyd and Ben Hollingsworth netted in a 5-1 victory away to Robertsbridge United on Saturday. Oscar Hammond bagged a brace for AAC in the midweek encounter.

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Sidley United II are second after two goals apiece from Adam Mabb and Alex Williams earned them a 4-1 success away to South Coast Athletico on Saturday.

Jarad Beaumont replied for an Athletico side which had triumphed 1-0 away to St Leonards Social three days earlier. Nick Gamble netted the Chopbacks' second-half winner on that occasion.

The lead trio is completed by Wadhurst United, who followed up a 3-2 win at home to Robertsbridge last Wednesday with a 4-1 victory at home to Bexhill Town on Saturday. Curtis Coombes netted both Robertsbridge goals in the midweek clash, while Ben Eldridge scored for Bexhill in the weekend game.

AAC and Social played out a goalless draw in Saturday's other group A affair.

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Rye Town went top of group B courtesy of a 3-2 win at home to Sedlescombe Rangers II on Saturday in a meeting between the top two at kick-off.

Rob Levett, William Brown and Barnaby Osborne struck for Rye, who won 5-0 at home to The JC Tackleway last Wednesday. Brown (2), Osborne, Levett and John Booth got the goals in that one.

Sedlescombe had briefly gone back to the head of affairs last Wednesday following a 4-1 victory at home to Victoria Baptists, whose scorer was Jacob Impey.

Rock-a-Nore moved up to second - two points behind Rye with a game in hand - after Reece Johnson's hat-trick secured a 3-2 success at home to Crowhurst on Saturday.

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Crowhurst had recorded their third consecutive draw last Wednesday as their match away to Punnetts Town ended 2-2. The goals of Benjamin Barnett and Nicholas Moore for Punnetts were matched by Karl Tomlin's double for the Crows.

Punnetts then conceded their game away to Battle Town II on Saturday.

Toby Payne plundered a six-goal salvo as Tackleway won 10-1 at home to Victoria in the weekend's other encounter. Kale Williams (2), Steve Benton and Sheriffo Njie also got in on the act.

SC Pass + Move Arrows have hit the front in group A of the Division Two/Three Competition after winning 3-0 away to previous leaders Catsfield on Saturday.

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Jonjo Wright's double and one from Joshua Paige put Pass + Move a point clear of the Cats having played a game fewer.

Both teams triumphed last Wednesday. Adam Barham's hat-trick and an Adam Reilly strike gave Catsfield a 4-2 win away to AFC Hollington (whose scorers were William Lelliot and Anton Neil), while Ross Williams grabbed the only goal as Pass + Move prevailed at home to Hastings United Youth.

Northiam 75 II are just a point behind Catsfield in third after claiming four points in as many days.

One of them came in Saturday's 2-2 draw away to St Leonards Social II, whose four matches so far have remarkably all ended level.

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Luke Gasson and Daniel Hackett scored for Northiam in that one, while Aydin Janes (2), Kelvin Lowes, Scott Embery and Nathan Clemans were on the scoresheet in last Wednesday's 5-1 victory away to Westfield II. Ryan Harffey replied.

Social's previous three games all ended 3-3, including last Wednesday's trip to Old Town Lions. The goals of Jack Brockhurst (2) and Alvin Scott for the Lions were cancelled out by Ashley McCann (2) and Mark Larkin for Social.

Old Town followed that with a 4-0 success away to Hastings United Youth on Saturday. Alex Southall (2), Spencer Cornelius and Luke Redgeon-Cull scored to give the Lions their first victory of the competition.

Little Common II are three points off the pace in fourth after strikes by Nick Kavanagh (2), Rhys Jones and Andrew McTear clinched a 4-1 triumph at home to AFC Hollington on Saturday. Tom Whelan grabbed Hollington's consolation.

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Hawkhurst United II are setting the pace in group B after two wins in four days took their tally to 12 points from a possible 15.

Jason Donoghue's hat-trick and one from Danny McGahan helped secure a 5-0 victory at home to The JC Tackleway II on Saturday, while strikes by McGahan and Leon Fisher did the damage in a 2-0 success at home to Mountfield United last Wednesday.

Still unbeaten Hampden Park rose to second - two points behind the Hawks with a game in hand - by dint of a 5-3 triumph at home to Bexhill Rovers on Saturday. Iain Stewart-Pownall and Nathan Blackham were among the scorers for Rovers.

Sandhurst are a point further back in third after adding six points to their tally. A walkover away to Herstmonceux on Saturday was preceded by a 7-1 win at home to Robertsbridge United II last Wednesday.

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James Found plundered a hat-trick, Tom Budd bagged a brace, and Jon Bilsby and Dan Crawley got the others. Philip Anim netted the consolation for Robertsbridge, who then conceded their game away to Bexhill AAC II on Saturday. Fourth-placed AAC haven't dropped a point from their three games so far.

Last Wednesday's other fixture saw Tackleway chalk up their third straight draw as their clash at home to Bexhill Rovers finished 2-2. Shaun Burton and Dan Noakes found the net for Tackleway, while James Kelly was among the scorers for Rovers.

Herstmonceux, in fact, have conceded all of their remaining fixtures.

Welcroft Park Rangers are three points clear at the summit of group A in the Division Four/Five Competition having won all of their opening four matches.

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Their latest success was a 6-1 victory away to Hastings Comets on Saturday. Jamie Bundy (2), Marley Smith (2), Reece Shaw and Kieran Apps netted for the leaders, while Brandon Smith claimed the Comets' consolation.

Second-placed Sovereign Saints II triumphed 2-0 at home to Hampden Park U23 on Saturday via the finishing of Travis Anderson and David Green.

Hampden Park had won by the same scoreline away to Herstmonceux II three days earlier. Curtis Blake-Baldwin and James Weyland were on target.

Herstmonceux bounced back with a 5-0 win away to Sedlescombe Rangers development on Saturday. A Rory Collins hat-trick, and one apiece from Ryan Arnott and Robbie Hodgson gave Herstmonceux their first points.

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Hooe are level on points with Saints in third place after receiving a walkover at home to Wadhurst United II on Saturday.

AFC Hollington II hold a two-point advantage at the top group B having notched up five wins out of five - and a goal difference of +25.

A walkover away to Icklesham Casuals on Saturday followed a 7-0 victory away to Orington last Wednesday. Tom Whelan helped himself to four of the goals, with Daniel Allen, Sam Logan and Jules Phillips grabbing the others.

Second-placed Ticehurst received a walkover at home to Welcroft Park Rangers II last Wednesday and were further boosted by being awarded the points for an earlier defeat at home to West Hill United.

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Third-placed Battle Town III have nine points out of nine after goals from Toby Shaw (2), Daniel Turner (2) and Ben Thorpe earned them a 5-1 success away to Magham Down on Saturday.

Alex Hover replied for Magham, who were beaten 2-0 away to Icklesham three days earlier. Sam Norman and Valdison Newman were on target in that match.

Parkfield are fourth after Oliver Truman's hat-trick secured them a 3-0 triumph at home to Orington on Saturday.

The match between Welcroft Park Rangers II and West Hill was abandoned.

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With further matches scheduled this Wednesday, Saturday, Monday and next Wednesday, the games will continue to come thick and fast as we move towards the conclusion of the group stage.

Standings (played-points) - Premier/Division 1, Group A: Battle Town 4-9 (+7 goal difference), Sidley United II 4-9 (+5), Wadhurst United 4-9 (+3), Bexhill AAC 5-7 (-1), South Coast Athletico 4-6 (-2), St Leonards Social 4-4 (0), Bexhill Town 4-4 (-4), Robertsbridge United 5-1 (-8).

Group B: Rye Town 5-11 (+7), Rock-a-Nore 4-9 (+3), Sedlescombe Rangers II 5-9 (+3), The JC Tackleway 5-7 (+5), Battle Town II 3-6 (+4), Punnetts Town 5-4 (-1), Crowhurst 4-3 (-1), Victoria Baptists 5-1 (-20).

Division 2/3, Group A: SC Pass + Move Arrows 4-10 (+8), Catsfield 5-9 (+3), Northiam 75 II 5-8 (+2), Little Common II 4-7 (+4), Old Town Lions 4-5 (0), St Leonards Social II 4-4 (0), Hastings United Youth 5-4 (-4), Westfield II 4-2 (-8), AFC Hollington 3-1 (-5).

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Group B: Hawkhurst United II 5-12 (+9), Hampden Park 4-10 (+4), Sandhurst 4-9 (+6), Bexhill AAC II 3-9 (+3), Bexhill Rovers* 5-7 (-4), Mountfield United 5-6 (-3), The JC Tackleway II 4-3 (-5), Robertsbridge United II 5-3 (-10), Herstmonceux* 7-1 (0).

Division 4/5, Group A: Welcroft Park Rangers 4-12 (+16), Sovereign Saints II 4-9 (+8), Hooe 4-9 (+1), Hastings Comets 4-7 (-1), Hampden Park U23 5-6 (-3), Herstmonceux II 5-3 (-1), Wadhurst United II 4-2 (-6), Sedlescombe Rangers development 4-1 (-14).

Group B: AFC Hollington II 5-15 (+25), Ticehurst* 5-13 (+8), Battle Town III 3-9 (+10), Parkfield 4-7 (+2), Icklesham Casuals 4-6 (+3), West Hill United* 4-3 (-1), Welcroft Park Rangers II 4-1 (-13), Orington 4-1 (-15), Magham Down 5-0 (-19). * = points adjusted.

Saturday's fixtures (kick-off 3pm unless stated) - Premier/Division 1, group A: Battle Town v Bexhill Town; Bexhill AAC v Sidley United II; Robertsbridge United v South Coast Athletico; St Leonards Social v Wadhurst United. Group B: Rye Town v Rock-a-Nore; Sedlescombe Rangers II v Crowhurst; The JC Tackleway v Battle Town II; Victoria Baptists v Punnetts Town.

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Division 2/3, group A: AFC Hollington v Northiam 75 II; Catsfield v Old Town Lions; Little Common II v Westfield II (4pm); SC Pass + Move Arrows v St Leonards Social II. Group B: Bexhill Rovers v Robertsbridge United II; Hampden Park v Hawkhurst United II; Sandhurst v The JC Tackleway II.

Division 4/5, group A: Hastings Comets v Sovereign Saints II; Hooe v Sedlescombe Rangers development; Wadhurst United II v Herstmonceux II; Welcroft Park Rangers v Hampden Park U23. Group B: AFC Hollington II v Battle Town III; Icklesham Casuals v Ticehurst; Orington v West Hill United (2pm); Parkfield v Welcroft Park Rangers II.

Monday's fixtures - Premier/Division 1, group A: Battle Town v St Leonards Social (11am); Sidley United II v Wadhurst United (3pm).

Division 2/3, group A: AFC Hollington v St Leonards Social II (3pm). Group B: Hampden Park v Bexhill AAC II (6.30pm).

Division 4/5, group A: Hampden Park U23 v Wadhurst United II (6.30pm). Group B: Parkfield v Icklesham Casuals (6.30pm).

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