Football round-up: Bears let in five - YMCA narrowly beaten - Rustington roar to win

Broadbridge Heath 1 Lingfield 5

SCFL premier

Broadbridge Heath fought back well in a more competitive second half, but the earlier concession of four goals and missed home chances had left Heath far too much to do at the Countryside Stadium.

The game had barely started when lax marking enabled Charlie Naylor to tap in from a corner. The Bears responded with increased possession, and a great save from the Lingfield keeper prevented Louis Croal from scoring, with the subsequent corner cleared off the line.

But, midway through the opening half, Reece White put Lingfield further ahead from a scuffed shot, with the ball dribbling over the line, and, within five minutes the Surrey side went three up, Tyler Cox finding the net.

After Heath had wasted a free kick, matters got even worse when defensive mistakes on the left gave the ball to Lingfield for skipper Jamie Barkhit to score from close range just before the half time whistle.

In a more positive second half display, Croal could only scoop the ball on to the roof of the net with keeper Allen surging forward. Lingfield, though, added their fifth when a high cross from the left was well trapped and crashed in. Heath kept scrapping, sub Tim Cook just evading Dan Webster’s head before Heath were unable to take advantage of a botched Lingfield clearance. When Parmiter was felled action was allowed to continue and Croal banged in an excellent consolation goal.

Heath were creating chances, but opportunities came and went, followed by two late unfulfilled shots on goal. It was a far better second half showing, but, unable to withstand previous damage, Heath went down 1-5.

MARTIN READ

AFC Uckfield Town 2 Horsham YMCA 1

SCFL premier

Horsham YMCA travelled to league leaders AFC Uckfield Town seeking their first league points since the opening day of the season without the experienced Charlie Cooke and new front man Charlie Gee.

The home side made nearly all of the early chances and deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes when Morgan Vale scored from close range. Things got worse for YM on 22 minutes when Dean Carden had to leave the field of play due injury, to be replaced by Nathan Beckford who performed well at right back for the remainder of the contest.

From then on, in the period before half-time, YM’s young side picked up their game, enjoying the great bulk of the possession and forcing a series of corners. A period when Ben Wilson and Will Read switched wings was particularly productive in regard to goal scoring chances, however, YM were still a goal down when the interval came.

The second half began in similar vein with YM pressing for an equalizer, but against the run of play, disaster struck in the 56th minute when an Uckfield pass found Luca Page in acres of space inside the YM half and the Uckfield man took full advantage to beat a challenge from YM defender to get past YM keeper Aaron Jeal, doubling the home side’s lead.

YM stuck to their task with commendable commitment and some consolation was gained when Jack Ryder scored in injury time.

If the YM players are able to put in the same effort as they showed today, then in the matches ahead they YM should start to move up the league table. TIM HEWLETT

St Francis 0 Rustington 3

SCFL division two

Rustington are second in the SCFL division two after a fine win at St Francis.

Blues manager Jon Tucker changed his defensive set-up and it paid off.

An early through ball to Josh Irish seemed to have the two St Francis centre halves in a muddle and Irish fired his low shot into the bottom corner.

St Francis looked dangerous on the break but one effort was easily saved by Billy Nash in the Rustington goal.

A delightful free kick from Chris Darwin on the right found Reggie Miles, who should have done better,.

Rustington needed to up their game but soon got their second - from a corner Irish made no mistake at the back post.

The third soon followed as another delicious cross from Darwin found a rising James Butt, who eased his header into the far corner.

To their credit St Francis didn’t let heads drop and went close to pulling a goal back.

Irish might have completed a hat-trick in a scrappy second half in which frustration resulted in a few late bookings.

Butt also went close to doubling his tally following another great delivery from a set piece.

But it was very much a case of ‘job done’ for the visitors, to come away with 3 points and a clean sheet was a huge positive against what is a very young and enthusiastic St Francis side who’s style of football wasn’t suited by their home playing surface,

Rustington will feel they have much more to offer and can go into October in good shape and still unbeaten.