Under 9
Winning in the rain
Marle Place Wands 1 Hurst Hornets 0
Jordan Middle's followed up a Ben John shot midway through the second half to settle this League Cup tie. Place, who were generally dominant throughout, showed good movement and their best effort of the first half was a neat lay-off by MoM James Ellmer that enabled Middle to strike his shot firmly against a post with the keeper beaten. Hornets, try as they did, were limited to a long range effort over the bar and another narrowly missing a post as the Place defence played Scrooge. Substitutes Archie Hill and Charlie Ledger settled well for Place.
Marle Place Wands 1 Hurst Hornets 1
The two sides then played a friendly, in which Madeline Tester emerged the star player for Place thanks to her persistence in attack. All players have to be commended for trying to play football in what can only be described as atrocious conditions for both matches. The referee for each game was Martin Cooper.
Under 10
Place back on top
Marle Place Wands 1 Crawley Down B 0
In rainy windswept conditions, Place soared back to the top of the table with a mix of grit and quality. Tom Williams began as a lone front runner, with Alex Whitton just behind. Wingers Connor Higgs and Henry Foulkes were promonent early on and Whitton went close from distance. The home defence of Charlie Waters and Joe Barker were rarely troubled and Jack Richards had to make only one save. Only resolute defending kept Place out until late on when Whitton finally broke the deadlock. Before that, sub Antonio Gallotta had worked some shooting opportunities and Higgs went close from a well-worked free kick. Foulkes made a number of jinking runs down the left, while when Down did threaten, joint Place MoM Barker and Waters defended with passion and determination.
Marle Place Wands 2 Crawley Down B 0
The rain eased slightly but the wind increased as the second match kicked off. Nathan Harwood came closest for Place with a shot which tested the keeper and Gallotta, put through by Bates, also had a shot well saved. Gallotta turned provider as MoM Cieran Deer forced in the ball at the second attempt . The long, accurate kicks of home keeper Kyle Arnold caused chaos in the Down defence, while at the other end Spike Andrews and Ryan Longstaff kept things tidy. Sub Lewis Knight scored the second half goal with an unstoppable header from a corner. The home side fully deserved both victories in testing weather, their cultured passing football wedded to a steely grit and determination seeing them through against strong opposition.
Under 11
Ollie masters conditions
Lindfield Juns B 1 Marle Place Wands 8
The match started in appalling conditions, heavy rain and an almost waterlogged pitch hampering both sides. It was Place who settled the better, playing some neat passing football despite the conditions. After George Askew and Ads Chilcott went close, Stuart Ellmer opened the scoring when he forced in a superb cross by George Askew. Further goals soon followed through Kaolan O'Connor, who latched on to a neat through ball by Sam Farnhill, a good solo effort from Askew and another fine finish from O'Connor. Luke Coleman completed the first half scoring from point blank range after Farnhill's first two attempts got bogged down. Lindfield's best effort of the half was a solo effort by Theo Nicholl that was well saved. Place started the second half in similar vein, with Jamie Nicholson, Askew and Chilcott adding further goals before the inevitable tiredness set in. Lindfield showed improved passing after the break and Philip Demetriades and Cameron Millar both went close before Demetriades gabbed a late comnsolation when his shot from the edge of the box squirted under keeper Wills Brimacombe. Place MoM was Ollie Gillam for a sure-footed, strong tackling performance and both teams deserve credit for trying to play good football in poor conditions.
Jamie and Chris in charge
Oakwood Youth 1 Lindfield Juns A 5
Lindfield made the trip to Oakwood in testing conditions and put on a good performance to get the win. In the first half Lindfield had some excellent chances, with Sam Beard and Louis Evans just wide, Jak Alcock and Beard both denied by the woodwork and a 'goal' ruled offside. Eventually Evans stabbed in from close range and with Lindfield passing well, a lovely delayed pass from Holman enabled Beard to make it 2-0 with a sweetly struck shot. It was Holman who grabbed the third but Oakwood pulled one back before half time when Matthew Dingle could not hold onto the ball in the difficult conditions. After the break the visiting defence of Fitzgerald, Ratcliff, Cruttenden and Wilkes worked hard, ably assisted by Cowie and Beard who tackled back well. Any shots that were on target were dealt with by Dingle and at the other end further efforts came from Sear, showing good technique to volley home a Beard cross, and Holman as he diverted in a shot by Fitzgerald. Joint MoM were Jamie Wilkes and Chris Holman.
Under 12
Alex give Place the edge
Marle Place Wands 4 Plumpton Ath 0
Place started slowly against a defiant Plumpton side but stayed strong at the back thanks to Alex Harman George Tucker, Billy Mitchell and Alex Collins. It was late on in the half when Jake Higgs and Ben Ackland linked well to find Edwin Dale, whose long range effort fooled the keeper to put Place one up. Plumpton started the second half well by testing keeper Josh Crowther but he held firm and it was his long kick that released Steven Bright on a driving run that earned a penalty which he got up to convert. Another break from George Bloomfield then led to Daniel Brumpton and Dale linking before Bright bagged his second. The continued hard work of Ryan Baker and Nicolas Stipidis was then rewarded when Oliver Brookes got on the end of a through ball to complete the scoring. Place MoM was Alex Harman.
Girls still unbeaten
Paddock Wood 0 Southdown AFC Girls 4
A solid performance by Southdown kept their unbeaten start to the season intact. In a tight first half they produced the better football, and with Ella Newnham marshalling the defence, Poppy Sinclair had a quiet time between the sticks. Hannah Lehkyj also put in some good tackles, while the midfield of Rachel Steer, Jodie Cork and Freya Newell gradually started to seize control of the game. Newell had an excellent game, providing good service for striker Emma Lewry. The strong tackling Natalie Everest was introduced in the second half and it was another sub, Alexa Morgan, who soon opened the scoring after good work by Beth Shoesmith. An excellent strike by captain Steer made it 2-0 and Newell capped her day with the third before a late strike by Lewry completed the scoring. Wood had little joy getting past the solid defending of Newnham, Jodie Cork and Lehkyj, who all contributed to keeping a clean sheet and recording a good victory.
All down to team work
Steyning Strikers 2 Southdown Ath 4
Athletic produced a tremendous team effort to beat the league champions. After a tight start, Steyning went ahead but Southdown kept calm and soon levelled when Tom Kay followed up his own shot that the keeper failed to hold. They then went ahead when good approach work from Max Donaldson enabled Lewis Lesbirel to curl in a left foot shot. Steyning reacted positively to deservedly equalise and they almost went in front when the ball struck a post. Athletic seemed to realise it could be their lucky day but efforts from Cameron Williams and Reece Kirk were just wide. In the second half Athletic were at their very best and took a well earned lead when Connor Oxley's low shot just squeezed in off a post. A rejuvenated Williams was unlucky not to get in on the scoresheet as two of his efforts brought out the best in the opposing keeper. The visitors saved the best til last when Lesbirel sent Kay away wide and he cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner. There was still time for Southdown to create more chances for Oxley and Lesbirel but again the busy Steyning keeper was equal to the efforts. The whole Southdown team deserve mention: Tarling, Roddis, Ambridge, Adams, Lewis, Churchyard, Williams, Donaldson, Worthington, Derham, Lesbirel, Kirk, Oxley, and Kay.
Under 13
Place have no complaints
Crawley Panthers B 4 Marle Place Wands 0
Strong winds and driving rain caused both sides early problems and defenders found themselves under pressure as the ball skidded through off the wet turf. Both teams had chances, with Place's Billy Nuttall denied one-on-one and at the other end Rory Beard pulling off two good saves and a number of high catches as he dominated his area. Place looked dangerous down both flanks with good work from Nathan Mitchell and Dylan Charles but, as the half progressed, Crawley began to get the better of the midfield battle. Finally their pressure paid off as they pounced on a defensive mistake and made sure after the break as they adapted better to the conditions. Place battled gamely and Jake Booth played well in midfield but the closest the visitors came to scoring was when the keeper's fingertips denied Mitchell's curling shot. Two late goals completed a deserved win for the hosts.
Comfortable for visitors
Henfield Girls 0 Marle Place Girls 6
In difficult wet and windy conditions, Place made the better start as Wheatley, Bowles, Powell and Rowe all had shots saved. They had to wait until midway through the first half to open the scoring when Powell outpaced the Henfield defence but then almost immediately the hosts were unlucky not to equalise when a shot from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar with Apps beaten. Place continued to press and increased their lead when Wheatley found space to fire home after good work from Spies. Yet despite the useful lead, Lomas, Harvey, Cura and Hunter were kept busy in defence. The second half started with two early goals, the first from Slinger after good wing play from Bowles and then within a few minutes Garrard added a fourth when Henfield failed to clear a corner. The hosts continued to battle on and Apps had to be quick off her line to save smartly but it was Place who scored again through Cura and then with conditions worsening, Garrard added her second from a corner. It was a good win for Place in tricky conditions.
Connor can't stem tide
Marle Place Rgrs 1 Furngate Yth 10
Place have been leaking goals badly over the past three weeks but intermittently have produced some good football. Results could certainly have been different and in this match Sean Barrett was thwarted twice early on by good saves. Michael Bridger and Connor Coles linked well in the first 20 minutes and after Conner was unlucky with a couple of good shots, his hard work was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half time. The Place defence have been solid in recent years but are going through a rocky patch, which, hopefully, will be only temporary. Luke Winterburn does a lot of committed work unnoticed, while Jon Platt shows great determination. Ian Bettridge played really well in the second half but it was Coles' work rate throughout that earned him the Rangers MoM award.
Convincing Southdown
Rusthall 1 Southdown AFC 9
This was a convincing victory by Southdown after Rusthall had taken an early lead when Holly Kearvill was beaten by a well placed shot. This seemed to wake up Southdown and after several passages of good play, an equaliser arrived through Amy Simmonds. She soon doubled her tally and then a well taken goal was Sian Hamilton's first for the club. Lizzie Bradbury made it 4-1 at half time after a good long ball by Ella Newnham and excellent work from Megan Rickards. After the break Megan Lewis, Becky Davess and Jenny David had a quiet time at the back as captain Lottie Arnold grabbed a hat-trick of the highest quality. Simmonds also completed her hat-trick and there was another for Bradbury. Ellie Pinnock worked hard in midfield and went close on several occasions in another impressive team performance.
Under 14
Lindfield almost steal it
Lindfield Juns 3 Hassocks Juns 3
Lindfield began brightly despite the appalling conditions, with Farrel amd Wilkie combining well on the right to put the visitors under pressure. But then the hosts started to lose their way as Hassocks began winning every 50-50 ball and played the more penetrating football. Hassocks went ahead and only a superb save from Howard stopped them doubling the lead before they did just that. It was against the run of play when Parris headed home a well delivered corner by Blake. After the break Hassocks made the early running but Lindfield equalised when Blake lofted in a 30-yard free. This prompted a furious assault by the visitors and Howard pulled off save afer save, while Wood prevented a certain goal by deftly tackling a man on the edge of the six yard box. Wood was again involved as Newnham slotted home his pass totally against the run of play. It was only justice when with seconds to go, Hassocks equalised.
Cup hopes dashed
Southdown Ath 0 Hove Rivervale 8
Southdown's hopes of making progress in this year's Sussex Sunday League Cup ended at the first hurdle when they were brushed aside by Rivervale. Both sides started positively in spite of the driving rain and for 15 minutes it was nip and tuck. But then Hove's superior organisation started to show through and some slick passing led to their first goal. Another followed on the half hour and two goals in a minute early in the second half effectively ended the tie. Soon after that the trickle became a torrent after twenty minutes, with their second following ten minutes before the interval. From the restart, Hove's intention to press home their advantage was clear and Southdown had few opportunities to go forward. The match effectively ended as a contest ten minutes in when Hove scored two goals within a minute and shortly afterwards the trickle become a torrent as Hove started to score seemingly at will, despite some resolute defending, especially from Southdown MoM Alex Oecken.
Under 15
Hurst come out on top
Hurstpierpoint Colts 5 Roffey Robins 0
Hurstpierpoint travelled to Roffey for a top-table clash and after a bright start by both teams, Hurst took the lead on 15 minutes when Cal Dove flicked the ball in from a long throw by Kit Tregear. After that the hosts had chances, with Dove hitting a post from an excellent through ball by Luke Pearce and a penalty being superbly saved before both those players slammed the woodwork from follow-up efforts. It was looking like being one of those days but soon after the break Dove scored with a 20-yard fizzer. Surprisingly that only led to a scrappy spell of play before Hurst regained their composure and passing game to score three more goals. The hard working Will Baker scored from 15 yards and sub Tom Penfold fired in from close range when the keeper failed to hold a rasping shot by Kit Tregear. Penfold scored a second when he cut inside to hit a great left foot shot past the stranded. This was essentially a great team effort, with Ryan Kerr and Dominic Jennings outstanding in defence.
It's raining goals
Marle Place Wds 0 Patcham Black 12
The goals poured into the Wanderers net in this Sussex Sunday League game at a wet and soggy Janes Lane. Patcham led 4-0 at the interval and despite an inspiring display from second half substitute Jake Cave, Wanderers struggled to get going after the break. Ismail Islyam and Dan Stubbings came close to scoring but despite gutsy performances by them and Alex Wright, together with the debut of Chris Nunne, there were few shots on target. Andy Graham battled hard alongside Aaron Knottley, while Stubbings was unfortunate to have a 'goal' disallowed. To their credit, Wanderers heads never dropped but Patcham were worthy winners.
Under 16
Second-half blitz
Lindfield Juniors 7 Young Pilgrims 1
This was definitely a game of two distinctly different halves, although they were both very wet! Pilgrims began this derby strongly, forcing a fine save from stand in Lindfield goalkeeper Chris Wall. The goalless first half was relatively uneventful, with Adam Seabrook the best player for Lindfield. After the break the hosts came out with far more resolve and took . It took six minutes for Jack Perry to open the scoring and soon after Kyle Ellis made it 2-0. Perry slotted home his second 18 minutes in but when James Dowell replaced Wall in goal, Pilgrims took advantage to pull one back with an excellent header from a corner. But it was not long before James Watson scored the best goal of the match with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Pilgrims battled well and were unlucky when Lindfield's fifth goal came with a deflected shot by Wall. Thibault Bain headed in an excellent cross from Jamie Simmons to make it six and Josh O'Brien scored in the final minutes of the game to give Lindfield a resounding victory. Their MoM was Adam Seabrook.