FOOTBALL: County League weekly round-up

On Tuesday night, they crashed 3-1 against Shoreham, on the back of a heavy 6-0 defeat at Eastbourne on Saturday.

It took 36 minutes for Tuesday's game to come to life as Ryan Bradley smashed home a long clearance, from Mussels goalkeeper Michael Hunter, past Alex Bryant in the Wick goal.

Scott Murfin then levelled things up and turned on the edge of the box and fired past Hunter for his 11th goal of the season.

Murfin had looked the only real danger up to that point and the Shoreham defence were struggling to cope with the diminutive but lively front man.

It was no more than the away side deserved and they went into half-time on level terms.

However, Wick barely troubled the Shoreham goal in the second half, and the home side regained the advantage on 61 minutes when Bradley struck again from what initially seemed to be in an innocuous position.

Wick tried desperately to get back in the game, throwing four men up front, but their efforts failed to amount to any efforts on goal.

Shoreham had the final word when substitute Rob Boddy squared the ball to Dean Smith, who tapped home late on.

Wick boss Vic Short said: "We felt comfortable at 1-1 and could have gone on to win it. But Shoreham came out in the second half much quicker than us."

On Saturday, two goals on the stroke of half-time from Lucas Mann put Eastbourne 2-0 up at the break but Short believed they could have been different.

He said: "It's easy to say, but to be honest, I though in the first half we were the better side, and with 44 minutes gone we were unlucky not to go in a goal up.

"They then put one away and by the time I turned around they had another.

"George Gaskin came on at half-time and he went close, before Scott Murfin had a free-kick saved and Neil Murfin hit the rebound straight at the keeper.

"They then went straight up the other end, won, and converted a penalty and it was always going to be hard from there."

Neil Murfin went close for Wick in the first-half with a far-post header, while they also had two efforts cleared off the line in quick succession.

However, with Mann completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot 15 minutes into the second half, James Bywater then struck, Mann hit his fourth on 41 minutes before James McKenzie completed the scoring with 10 minutes to go, wrapping up a miserable afternoon for Wick.

WICK v Shoreham: Bryant; Torode, Sharman, Beaney, Sutcliffe; Clayton, Pearce, Turner, Barnard; N.Murfin, S.Murfin. Subs: Biggs, Buckland (Beaney 67), Gaskin (Murfin 67), Jarvis (Barnard), Forster.

V Eastbourne UA: Bryant; Torode, Sharman, Biggs, Buckland; Turner, Clayton, Pearce, Swain, N.Murfin; S.Murfin. Subs: Gaskin (Swain 45), Beaney (N.Murfin 80), Barnard (Torode 65), Forster, Sutcliffe.

Local bragging rights went to Littlehampton as they overcame promoted side Clymping in Division 2 on Saturday.

Clymping player manager Dom Di Paola blasted his side's lack-lustre performance in what he believes was "the worst we have played in over nine months".

"We were absolutely rubbish and got what we deserved.

"The attitude from the players was poor and I'm really disappointed, there will be some changes on Saturday."

Ross McKay headed home Ryan Hudson's corner in the 12th minute, and after Nathan Peacock and Adam Mitchell went close for Golds. Paul Brown then managed to get Clymping back into the game on the half hour mark.

Brown cut into the box and finished well to draw the sides level.

Littlehampton's Jason Minton struck the post after the break which jump-started Clymping a little.

But Matt Russell made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on the hour when Mitchell was fouled, and that was how it finished.

Littlehampton player-manager Gary Young believes the only way is up after his team's first league win of the season, and said: "I'm pleased. It was much better than last week and we can build on this.

"It was a deserved win and we could have had more. I'm expecting this to kick- start our season."

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Ward, Crawford, McKay, Hazell; Charman, Hudson, Russell, Minton; Mitchell, Peacock. Subs: Janman (Charman 70), Young (Ward 80), Taylor, Askew.

CLYMPING: Oakley; D.Di Paola, Young, .Moss, Stokes; Castro, Brown, Meehan, Shelley; Barnard, Ghent. Subs: S.Di Paola (D.Di Paola 55), Quirosa (Castro 75), Weston (Young 80).

Arundel manager Simon Butler believes that his team have put their slow start to the season behind them after a 2-1 win at St Francis in Division 1.

He said: "The squad are really starting to gel and they are playing as a unit. I think we should aim for a top five finish as we have the players to be capable of that.

"It was a comfortable win, although the score-line doesn't suggest so. We played well and deserved to win."

Russell Hardwell and Rob Grove both had shots saved in a score--less first half, but Grove headed home Jason Wimbleton's freekick two minutes after the break.

With Rangers still reeling, Hardwell fired home off the post from Matt Axell's corner a minute later.

Scott Tipper then had a shot cleared off the line and Dave Walker fired wide. Geoff Pitcher pulled a late goal back for St Francis, but Mullets held on.

ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Sneller, Walker, Wimbleton, Hall; Hardwell, Grove, J.Biggs, Axell; Tipper, Martin. Subs: R.Biggs (J.Biggs 66), Matt Huckett (Martin 73), Hamilton (Tipper 74).

Rustington crashed out of the John O'Hara Cup in the first round to division-higher Hailsham, but despite the defeat, manager Pete Matthews was pleased with their performance.

Matthews said: "I'm as happy as it's possible to be after a defeat, we played well and dominated for long periods.

"The goals we conceded were poor but considering there were a lot of regular players missing, I was pleased and the aim is a reasonable league position."

Chris Green had a header saved and then saw another effort go wide.

Chris Kirkham's shot was blocked, but Hailsham took the lead through Ryan Alexander on the hour. Tom Riddiford doubled the lead with 18 minutes left, only for Kirkham to reduce the deficit from a Lee Gibbs through ball three minutes later.

Tyler Goatcher sealed the win late on for Hailsham.

RUSTINGTON: Gammon; Green, Goff, Harris; Duffy, Bennett, C.Matthews, Morten, Gibbs; Churchill, Kirkham. Subs: Adams, Gibbon (Churchill, Morten 70), Cox.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]