Rock solid: Rock-a-Nore lead way in East Sussex Football League contest

Eighteen matches went ahead, but in cases where an alternative kick-off time - to avoid clashing with the funeral of Prince Philip at 3pm - couldn't be agreed, several were rescheduled for a later date.

Just four games were played in the Premier/Division One Competition and Rock-a-Nore went top of group B following a thrilling 5-4 victory away to Punnetts Town.

Reece Johnson plundered a four-goal salvo for the Rocks, whose other goal was scored by Jan Bailey. Louis Walder and Steven Worsell struck twice each for Punnetts in a game which ended 10-a-side.

Sedlescombe Rangers II dropped their first points in the same group after losing 2-0 at home to The JC Tackleway.

Strikes by Kale Williams and Toby Payne earned the Old Towners their first win at the third attempt and ended the last remaining 100 percent record in either group.

Rye Town are a point behind Rock-a-Nore and Sedlescombe in third after having to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Victoria Baptists.

Martin Brain's goal for still unbeaten Rye wasn't enough to prevent the Baptists picking up their first point of the competition.

Bexhill AAC moved up to second in group A - level on points with leaders Sidley United II - on the back of a 2-1 success at home to Robertsbridge United

The goals of Dominic Sinden and Jerome Smith earned AAC their second win out of three, despite an Adam Hardy strike for Robertsbridge.

Six fixtures were contested in the Division Two/Three Competition and Catsfield went top of group A in light of a 3-1 win at home to Little Common II.

The goals of Antony Atkin, Adam Reilly and Peter Rollison put Catsfield two points clear of a quartet of teams immediately behind them. Common are one of them and their scorer was Nick Kavanagh.

Two of the others are Northiam 75 II and Hastings United Youth. They met on Saturday and Northiam emerged 2-1 winners via the finishing of Scott Embery and Luke Gasson. Rhys Morfee's goal couldn't prevent United suffering their first loss.

Old Town Lions picked up their first point at the second attempt as they drew 0-0 at home to Westfield II.

Group B leaders Bexhill AAC weren't in action and Hawkhurst United II drew level on points with them after winning 2-0 away to Sandhurst in the Kent derby.

Danny McGahan scored both goals for a Hawkhurst side which has played a game more than AAC.

Herstmonceux and Mountfield United celebrated their first victories, with Ceux winning 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller away to Bexhill Rovers and Mountfield triumphing 3-1 away to neighbours Robertsbridge United II.

Paul Oliver and Matt Tidmarsh were among the scorers for Mountfield.

All eight contests went ahead in the Division Four/Five Competition, and Welcroft Park Rangers and AFC Hollington II maintained their perfect winning records.

Welcroft Park made it three wins out of three in group A via a 4-2 victory at home to a Hooe team which had won its previous two games.

Jamie Bundy scored a hat-trick and Kirk Ferguson also netted for Welcroft Park, while Aidan Pierce bagged a brace for Hooe.

That result gave Welcroft Park a two-point cushion at the top because second-placed Hastings Comets could only draw 1-1 away to Wadhurst United II. Brandon Smith's goal wasn't enough to prevent the Comets dropping their first points.

Sovereign Saints II are a point behind the Comets in third following a narrow 3-2 success away to Herstmonceux II.

Jordon Funnell, David Green and Travis Parks netted for Saints, while Robbie Hodgson was on target for a Herstmonceux outfit which so nearly claimed its first point.

Hampden Park U23 did gain their first points thanks to a 4-3 triumph at home to Sedlescombe Rangers development. Jay Kendall blasted a hat-trick and Ethan Jones also struck for Park.

AFC Hollington II enjoy a two-point advantage at the summit of group B after a 5-2 win at home to Parkfield gave them nine points out of nine.

The goals of Ryan Meechan and Oliver Truman weren't enough to prevent Parkfield suffering their first defeat.

Ticehurst are second, albeit having played a game more than the leaders, following a remarkable 8-3 victory away to Orington.

Jack Savage helped himself to a hat-trick, while Ed Sewell, Josh Jevon and Thomas Thake also found the back of the net for Ticehurst. Tom Benford, Thomas Blything and Aaron Lillycrop retaliated.

Ticehurst were also in action the previous Wednesday evening, when they lost 2-1 at home to West Hill United.

The goals of John Wilson and Tommy Warren proved just enough for West Hill, despite Guy Ballard pulling one back for Ticehurst.

West Hill made it six points in four days when they triumphed 3-1 at home to Magham Down on Saturday. Lewis Barrett, James Walker and Warren got the goals on that occasion, while Edmond Ward claimed Magham's consolation.

There was another 8-3 scoreline as Battle Town III made it two wins out of two by coming out on top at home to Welcroft Park Rangers II.

Daniel Turner blasted a hat-trick, Ben Thorpe bagged a brace, and Jack Austen, Toby Shaw and Linton Rogers also struck for Battle. Chris Neale and Charles Fairweather were among the scorers for Welcroft Park.

With plenty of midweek matches this week and next, plus a full programme this Saturday, a clearer picture of how things will develop is likely to emerge shortly.

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

Group B: Rock-a-Nore 3-6 (+2), Sedlescombe Rangers II 3-6 (+1), Rye Town 3-5 (+1), The JC Tackleway 3-4 (+1), Battle Town II 2-3 (+4), Punnetts Town 3-3 (-1), Crowhurst 2-2 (0), Victoria Baptists 3-1 (-8).

Division 2/3, Group A: Catsfield 3-6 (+4), SC Pass + Move Arrows 2-4 (+4), Hastings United Youth 3-4 (+1), Little Common II 3-4 (+1), Northiam 75 II 3-4 (-2), St Leonards Social II 2-2 (0), Westfield II 3-2 (-4), AFC Hollington 1-1 (0), Old Town Lions 2-1 (-4).

Group B: Bexhill AAC II 2-6 (+3), Hawkhurst United II 3-6 (+2), Hampden Park 2-4 (+2), Herstmonceux 3-4 (0), Sandhurst 2-3 (0), Mountfield United 3-3 (-1), Bexhill Rovers 3-3 (-2), The JC Tackleway II 2-2 (0), Robertsbridge United II 2-0 (-4).

Division 4/5, Group A (all played 3 matches): Welcroft Park Rangers 9pts (+11), Hastings Comets 7 (+4), Sovereign Saints II 6 (+6), Hooe 6 (+1), Hampden Park U23 3 (-3), Wadhurst United II 2 (-6), Sedlescombe Rangers development 1 (-9), Herstmonceux II 0 (-4).

Group B: AFC Hollington II 3-9 (+18), Ticehurst 4-7 (+8), Battle Town III 2-6 (+6), West Hill United 4-6 (-1), Parkfield 3-4 (-1), Icklesham Casuals 2-3 (+1), Orington 2-1 (-5), Welcroft Park Rangers II 3-1 (-13), Magham Down 3-0 (-13).

Saturday's fixtures (kick-off 3pm unless stated) - Premier/Division 1, group A: Bexhill AAC v St Leonards Social (2pm); Robertsbridge United v Battle Town; South Coast Athletico v Sidley United II (2pm); Wadhurst United v Bexhill Town. Group B: Battle Town II v Punnetts Town; Rock-a-Nore v Crowhurst; Rye Town v Sedlescombe Rangers II; The JC Tackleway v Victoria Baptists.

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

Division 4/5, group A: Hastings Comets v Welcroft Park Rangers; Hooe v Wadhurst United II; Sedlescombe Rangers development v Herstmonceux II; Sovereign Saints II v Hampden Park U23. Group B: Icklesham Casuals v AFC Hollington II (1pm); Magham Down v Battle Town III; Parkfield v Orington; Welcroft Park Rangers II v West Hill United.