Rye take big step towards title

The Quarterboys came from behind to beat Ringmer 2-1 at The Salts on Saturday thanks to goals from Kenny Pogue and Matt Maclean, while main rivals Three Bridges lost by the same score at Lancing.

It means that Rye remain nine points clear of second-placed Lancing having played two more games, but have extended their advantage over third-placed Bridges to 14 points having played an extra five matches.

Elsewhere in Division One, 13th-placed Sidley United lost 3-1 at home to seventh-placed Lingfield despite taking an early lead through the returning Kevin Barden.

Dominic Clarke scored the only goal as Bexhill United made it six wins in eight Division Two matches with a 1-0 success at home to Southwick.

Westfield extended their unbeaten run to five games on the back of a decent 2-2 draw at third-placed Dorking Wanderers, although they were 2-0 up through David Pugh and Kevin Bird.

Little Common remain in the bottom two, however, after concededing a last gasp goal to draw 2-2 at home to Steyning Town. Drew Greenall and Jamie Crone were on target for Common.

Full reports will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played-points) – Division 1: 1 RYE UNITED 34-80, 2 Lancing 32-71, 3 Three Bridges 29-66, 4 Pagham 32-63, 5 Hassocks 34-63, 6 Peacehaven & Telscombe 32-57, 7 Lingfield 31-54, 8 Redhill 30-53, 9 AFC Uckfield 32-49, 10 East Grinstead Town 34-46, 11 Selsey 32-40, 12 Crowborough Athletic 35-40, 13 SIDLEY UNITED 33-40, 14 Shoreham 33-34, 15 Arundel 32-33, 16 Worthing United 30-32, 17 Horsham YMCA 33-30, 18 Ringmer 32-29, 19 St Francis Rangers 33-16, 20 Chichester City 29-8.

Division 2: 1 East Preston 29-80, 2 Hailsham Town 28-65, 3 Dorking Wanderers 28-56, 4 Littlehampton Town 30-50, 5 Eastbourne United AFC 30-49, 6 Southwick 31-47, 7 BEXHILL UNITED 31-46, 8 Loxwood 28-43, 9 Storrington 31-40, 10 Mile Oak 32-36, 11 Rustington 30-36, 12 Steyning Town 31-33, 13 Wick 29-32, 14 WESTFIELD 29-30, 15 Seaford Town 29-26, 16 Midhurst & Easebourne 28-26, 17 LITTLE COMMON 30-25, 18 Oakwood 30-25.