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Ferring 0 Sidlesham 4

Sussex League division three

Sidlesham continued their good vein of form on their visit to Ferring.

The pace was set by the visitors and from the off they looked dangerous. Tom Kelly and Reed tormented the Ferring back four but it was the ever-impressive John Philips, who broke the deadlock from a short corner which he rifled in from just inside the box.

It was pretty much one-way traffic for the rest of the first half but it was the move of the match which saw Sidlesham extend their lead.

The resolute Sids back four smothered a Ferring attack which created a counter-attack on the right, Tom Bayley outmuscled the Ferring left back to whip in a pinpoint cross for Kelly and he slid in to meet the cross on the volley and leave the keeper helpless.

The visitors started the second period in the same manner with Carrigher and Grantham seeing plenty of the ball and Grantham delivered a delightful cross to the back post, where the ever-present Leggat produced a sensational volley on the half-turn to make it 3-0.

Ash Rochester produced the save of the match from a rare melee in the Sidlesham box with a Ferring striker drawing an instinctive block from him.

Philips capped his man-of-the-match performance with a neat solo effort which gave Sidlesham their fourth and put the game out of sight.

SIDS: Rochester, Grantham, Carrigher, Leggat, Cowell, J Jefkins (Millens), Bayley (Williams), T Jefkins, Phillips, Read, Kelly (Smith).

Rottingdean 3 Bosham 0

Sussex League division three

A quickfire hat-trick from Zak Bolingbroke stunned Bosham and ended the Reds’ winning streak.

Bosham had a string of injuries for the management to deal with and several players took their chance to step up to first-team duties, including Tom Couzens and Jordan Taylor.

Early on, Rottingdean applied the pressure with their pace causing problems. Couzens was finding life tough at left-back and the red and black stripes seized on that.

Ross Smith was in fine form in midfield for the hosts and approaching the half-hour Rottingdean went in front – and were to score three in as many minutes.

The Bosham left was exposed again with Bolingbroke easily striding clear and slotting home past Hasted to ease the red and blacks into the lead.

The lead doubled with a sublime header from Rottingdean’s top scorer from a lovely cross by Smith.

And the treble was complete as another ball into the area was not cleared. From near the edge of the box, Bolingbroke powered a header goalwards and Hasted was left rooted to the spot.

Rottingdean could have scored more with Bobby Pannett going close and Bolingbroke a constant danger.

All Bosham could muster in the first half was an effort from long distance by Joe Hancock that rattled the bar.

The second half saw an improvement from Bosham but a lack of quality was glaringly obvious – but the Reds tried their best to find an avenue back into the game.

It was a despondent side who left the pitch at the final whistle.

Bosham remain top by two points and go to Billingshurst this weekend.

BOSHAM: Hasted, Probee, Redman, Couzens, Edgington, Hartley, Carter, Giambelardini, Don, Docherty, Joe Hancock. Subs: Eaton, Taylor.

ALAN PRICE