Bull goal wins nailbiter

The hosts opened the scoring in only the second minute when Simon Munday was caught napping, which allowed Timms time and space to pick out Warren Levy, who fired home to make it 1-0.

Crows' response was immediate. They forced a corner, there was a scramble in the six-yard box and the ever-alert Phil Rhodes smashed the ball home to make it 1-1.

Slowly Crows got on top, forcing the home defence into some desperate defending, and on 20 minutes Dean Chamberlain's pace took him into the Southwick penalty area. He was pulled down by Harris to earn Crows their first spotkick this season and Dave Adams coolly sent Ben Counsell the wrong way.

Southwick's equaliser followed a strange refereeing decision as Kush Movaffagh collected the ball ahead of Chidley, who seemed to push the Crows keeper out of the area. Southwick took the free-kick quickly and Timms was then fouled in the penalty area. A spotkick was awarded and Levy saw his effort hit the post, but Stevens reacted first to score for 2-2.

In the 43rd minute Nathan Godden unselfishly squared the ball to Chris Ransome, who put Crows 3-2 up at the break.

Crows were forced to make a change at half-time as Chris Ransome had suffered an ankle injury and he was replaced by Liam Bull.

The second half started well for Crows who were looking a lot more competitive and organised, but another refereeing decision went against them. Dean Chamberlain was clearly fouled, everybody stopped, Levy's effort hit the crossbar and Timms followed up to equalise.

With 15 minutes left Liam Bull was put clear by Chamberlain and he finished superbly for his 10th goal of the season.

Crowborough: Movaffagh, Munday, Prodger, Rhodes, C Bishop, Godden (Baker), Cooke, Chamberlain, Adams, Body, Ransome (Bull). Uused subs: A Bishop, Colbran, Gordon.

County League Two

Wealden 4 Storrington 0

WEALDEN manager Mark Simpson was delighted with the clean sheet as the league leaders took a huge step towards sewing up the game in the first 12 minutes.

Simpson said: 'I was pleased with that nought, we haven't had one for a while.

'We got at Storrington early and knocked the stuffing out of them. We played some nice football.

'It's great to have the points in the bag and a good lead at the top already but the other sides have games in hand.'

Tobi Hutchinson set the ball rolling with a goal on six minutes. Paul Thomsett sent Wes Tate away, he crossed and Hutchinson volleyed into the roof of the net.

It was 2-0 on 12 minutes as Andy Johnson set up Craig Ottley and his great diagonal ball saw Tate slot home.

Tate scored his second and Wealden's third midway through the second half. He cut inside his opponent, looked set to cross but then drilled in a powerful shot at the near post.

Five minutes later Hutchinson made it four, latching onto the loose ball after Justin Harris's 30-yarder had been parried by the Storrington goalkeeper.

Chris Johnson is available after suspension for tomorrow's RUR Charity Cup tie at home to Bexhill, kick-off 12.30pm.

Wealden: Clarke, Reece Head, Thomsett, Brownall, Merry, Ottley, Davis, Harris, A Johnson (Ward, Mitchell), Tate, Hutchinson (Johnstone).

FA Vase 2nd qualifying round

Peacehaven 1 Godalming 4

THREE injuries eventually took their toll as Peacehaven departed the competition.

Manager Darren Guirey said: 'We lost three big players '“ Luke Martin with a damaged toe, Mark Price with an ankle problem and Michael Page with a groin strain.

'And in extra time they brought on a pacy lad up front and he finished us off, but I was delighted with our performance. Their manager was so relieved to have won.

'We should have won it in the 90 minutes. We missed three good chances, had two cleared off the line and gave away a silly penalty.

'The officials were abysmal, we should have had two penalties.'

Godalming scored their penalty on 27 minutes and Peacehaven did not equalise until the 90th minute when substitute Ryan Walton finished off a good move involving five players.

Returning to the fray as a substitute was Jamie Wright, who was involved in a car crash last month.

Guirey said: 'Jamie rang me on Friday night and said he was fit to play. I was surprised but he is a fit young lad and we're glad to have him back.'

Tonight Peacehaven visit Saltdean Reserves in the Vernon Wentworth Cup.

Peacehaven: Stainsby, Murray, Jones, Brown, Fleming, Bailey, Grabowski, Martin (Brown), Page (Wright), Stepney, Price (Walton).

County League Two

Seaford 3 Sidlesham 1

SIDLESHAM continued their bad old ways when they had Mark Wozniak red-carded for a comment to the referee with 34 minutes gone which made Town's task a lot easier.

Seaford had been awarded a free-kick 30 yards out when Wozniak transgressed. Adam Kneller took the kick and sent the ball flying past McClelland into the Sidlesham net.

It was 2-0 five minutes later when Chris Stanyard gave the Sidlesham goalkeeper no chance, and the same player made it three approaching the half-time break, scoring from six yards.

Maybe complacency set in, but Town were not so impressive after the break and with four minutes left Simon Hounsome was left unmarked at the far post to score the consolation goal.

With Kieron Perkins returning to Ringmer manager Duncan Kneller had relied on the line-up that took all three points at Lancing on Wednesday last week. Ben Dartnell returned to the bench after injury.

Tomorrow Seaford are at Westfield in a match that kicks off at 12.30pm.

Seaford: Maher, Moore, Mayo, Hammond, Allison, L Plastow (Dartnall), A Kneller, Hamblin (Doherty), Jobe, Callaghan, C Stanyard.

County League Three

Newhaven 1 Rustington 1

NEWHAVEN manager Jason Tighe had no complaints as Rustington took a point at Fort Road.

Tighe said: 'You can't win all the time and they're much better than their league position would suggest. It was a fair result. They played the ball over the top and apart from their goal we dealt well with that tactic. There was some good football played.'

Rustington took the lead on 13 minutes after a mix-up in defence. The Dockers were caught square and Heighton lobbed the advancing Mark Hildersley.

Newhaven, missing Simon Halsey who injured his back at work, produced plenty of build-up play with no end result until Gary Holmes grabbed the equaliser on 62 minutes.

Kevin Marchesi crossed the ball into Ross Newman, whose shot hit Holmes on the knee and span up onto the underside of the crossbar. The Rustington keeper tried to push the ball away but could only help it into the net.

Tomorrow Newhaven are at home to Little Common, kick-off 1.30pm.

Newhaven: Hildersley, Edwards, Tighe, Botting (Leiper), Marchesi, Holmes, Georgiou, Breach, Bartholomew (Shappveld), Aylward, Newman.

FA Vase 2nd qualifying round

Saltdean 0 VCD Athletic 3

SALDEAN manager Mark Smeaton has problems before tomorrow's league match at home to East Grinstead Town which kicks off at noon.

Smeaton said: 'Carl Southwell has a thigh problem, Richard Ogoe an injured knee and Lee Smith shin damage. In addition Dave Martin is suspended and Mike Pietzek is working but we'll still have a decent squad.'

The Tigers went out of the Vase to Kent Premier side VCD on Saturday and Smeaton has no complaints. He said: They're a good side, they've beaten East Grinstead 7-0 and Oakwood 4-1 in the FA Cup this season.

'But the first half was even. We had three chances but went 1-0 down to a good goal. We just didn't compete in the second half and lost goals to two set-pieces. Their centre half gave us real problems and in the end they taught us a lesson.'

Saltdean: Smeaton, Smith (Bradbury), Clarke, Hamilton, Burns (Stevens), Cole, Costello, Saxby, McCarvey, Pietzek, Bunch.

FA Vase 2nd

qualifying round

Hailsham Town 2 Cove 5

Hailsham manager Kenny McCreadie was missing six players as they were run over by Combined Counties League side Cove on Saturday.

McCreadie said: 'They deserved to win, we were below par, but when you're missing so many players and relying on the reserves it's hard. Some of our boys forgot this is men's football but we can beat anyone with our full squad.'

Out were top scorer Nick Barden (thigh), Scott French (ankle), Matt Smith (knee), Stuart Lewis (fractured finger), Ashley Jarvis (knee) and Danny Brown.

The Stringers were 3-0 down at the break, fought back but finished a well beaten team. Jon Finnieston, Adam Crittenden and Michael Watson put Cove three up before a desperate scramble in the visitors's penalty area saw Martin Richardson's effort cannon off the crossbar.

Cove went four up when Danny Turner's shot looped into the net off Nick Whiteman's legs, McCreadie threw on Barnard, Bradshaw and Skan and it had some effect.

Skan looked lively and scored with a glancing header on 71 minutes and Peter Cooper added a second seven minutes later as he crashed home a thunderbolt overhead kick.

But any hopes Town had of getting out of jail were scuppered when Rickett scored Cove's fifth with a deflection off Paul Richardson.

Tonight Hailsham are at home to Redhill, kick-off 7.45pm.

Hailsham: Tanner, M Richardson, Early (Barnard), Spencer, P Richardson, Whiteman, French (Bradshaw), Newby (Skan), Stevens, Cooper, Done.