FOOTBALL: County League weekly round-up

Blues lost three players to injury in quick succession and then another two succumbed to injuries after they had used all their substitutes.

James Butt suffered a suspected broken wrist after a challenge with Seaford's keeper, Chris Green broke two fingers after falling awkwardly and Sean Duffy was kicked in the face and suffered a suspected broken nose, as well as losing a tooth.

Ryan Morten then received a dead leg and Lee Gibbs had a recurrence of his ankle injury, and Blues manager Pete Matthews said: "We've had so much bad luck recently, it's unbelievable. I thought we deserved a draw, it was a good game but we haven't had the rub of the green recently.

"It was a nightmare. We finished with just nine fit players, I just couldn't believe our bad luck, something needs to change for us and quick. Hopefully, in time for Friday's game at Littlehampton."

Tom Callaghan put Seaford ahead in the eighth minute from close range, but James Bennett equalised from Gibbs' free kick on the half-hour.

However, a 15-minute spell of madness was to be Rustington's undoing.

Butt came off on the stroke of half-time and was replaced by Duffy.

But just 10 minutes after the break, Duffy had to be replaced, as was Green, and to make matters worse, Rickie Mitchell made it 2-1 amid the carnage, and that proved to be the winner.

Blues travel to local rivals Littlehampton on Friday.

RUSTINGTON: Griffiths; Goff, Neal, Curtis; Bennett, Morten, Butt, Green, Gibbs; Kirkham, Adams. Subs: Duffy (Butt 44), Churchill (Green 50), J.Matthews (Duffy 55), C.Matthews.

Littlehampton recorded their second league win of the season with a 4-1 victory at rock-bottom Midhurst on Saturday.

Player-manager Gary Young said: "We played well, deserved it and I don't think the scoreline flattered us at all.

"I'm pleased, it has given us confidence and, hopefully, this can start a good run. It could have been more but I can't be disappointed with a 4-1 win."

Ashley Holloway put Midhurst ahead in the seventh minute but Ben Crawford headed home a Ross McKay corner to make it 1-1 in the 40th minute.

Ryan Hudson volleyed Golds ahead a minute after half-time before Matt Russell made it 3-1 on the hour with a good turn and finish.

Barney Boutwood completed the scoring with his first goal for Golds on 75 minutes.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Ward, McKay, Crawford, Hazell; Sayers, Hudson, White, Murray; Russell, Mitchell. Subs: Boutwood (Mitchell 60), Simmonds, Charman (Sayers, Russell 70), Young, Wollers.

Clymping picked up an impressive 1-0 win at second-placed Rye United in Division 2 to inflict the home side's second defeat of the season.

Clymping player manager Dominic Di Paola said: "It was a tight game but I think we deserved it as we had all the best chances. We defended properly and well to keep our first clean sheet of the season '“ against a side that are doing well."

Joe Shelley put Clymping ahead after just five minutes, when he cut in from the left, shuffled between two defenders and side-footed home with a neat finish.

Paul Brown's effort crashed off the bar in the second half before Di Paola believed his side should have been awarded another goal, when a shot came off the bottom of the bar and, he believed, crossed the line.

He said: "We were under more pressure in the first half as we were against the wind and they put a lot of long balls at us, but we coped well."

CLYMPING: Oakley; Stokes, Young, S.Di Paola, Moss; Ghent, Castro, Shelley, Brown; Hand, Barnard. Subs: Miller (Hand 70), Weston (Barnard 80), D.Di Paola, Meehan.

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