Pagham and Wittering share spoils - but Pirates' ship sails on

Chichester & W Sussex Lge div one

Pagham and Wittering shared the spoils in an entertaining draw at wet and windy Westmeads.

Stock went close for Rangers with a long-range effort that was just wide and a free-kick before Wittering took the lead against the run of play.

A long ball over the top found Basil and he sprinted clear of the Rangers defence to slot past Mclaren.

Rangers should have been level but Andrew Lawrence shot wide.

Mclaren made a superb fingertip save to tip an effort wide of the post before a superb goaline clearance from Rhys Coe prevented the visitors from extending their lead. Rangers came out the second half all guns blazing, inspired by a formation change, and were soon levelled.

Donnie Todd’s free-kick was flicked in by Garry Clarke and then Nathan Stock danced round two Wittering defenders before unleasing a rocket from 20 yards which put Rangers in the lead.

Wittering enjoyed their best spell and Rangers were pegged back, Basil unleashing a rocket from 25 yards and giving Mclaren no chance.

Both sides pressed for a decisive third and Dean put away Todd’s cross. Rangers were looking good but disaster struck five minutes from time. A clearance from Song hit a defender on the back and the loose ball fell to Basil, who beat three players before unleashing his second thunderbolt which completed his hat-trick.

RANGERS: Mclaren, Todd, Wheeler, Coe

(Song), Heller, Long, Clarke, Dean, Lawrence (Holland), Robb, Stock. Sub not used: M Doran.

Nyetimber Pirates 2 Wheatsheaf 1

Division one

Michael Frangou kept the Pirates’ title dreams alive with a late winner.

Tom Williamson put an early shot inches wide. But the unbeaten side were rocked when Wheatsheaf went ahead against the run of play.

Manager Welling brought on Rob Wimble, Ryan Vevers and debutant Ash Hunter. Pirates’ hard work paid off when Kerry Hardwell equalised with his 22nd strike for the season.

Later Hunter’s superb cross was smashed home by Frangou for the winner.

PIRATES: Walter, Ballard, Bishop, Tribe, Palmer,S Williamson, Frangou,Griffin T Williamson, Ludlow, Hardwell. Subs: Wimble, Vevers, Hunter.

Elmer 3 Pagham Rangers Res 2

Division three

Elmer climbed up to second in difficult conditions. Pagham were reduced to ten men with striker Jack Stairs dismissed for abusive language.

Alex Peach putElmer in front direct from a corner.

Rangers found the equaliser with a solo effort from Jay Banham a minute before the break.

In the second half, Elmer’s top scorer Nathan Sadler put them back in front as he got on the end of a pass from Luis Gonzalez.

Fraying tempers saw five yellow cards issued. Sadler netted Elmer’s third on 90 minutes when Gonzalez teed him up.

Pagham pulled one back in the dying moments through Banham.