FOOTBALL: Weekly County League round-up

Wick are now four points behind leaders Chichester and three below second-placed Whitehawk, who have played two games fewer than Wick.

Wick manager Vic Short said: "It was an enjoyable game, played at a high tempo and it was a very testing encounter for us.

"We've got a lot of travelling coming up and some tough away games. We're targeting the John O'Hara and RUR Cups and I feel our squad is good at the moment.

"We've got a good blend of youth and experience and a big squad, which is important at this time of year, as there are always people on holiday or working and the side becomes unsettled.

"In the league, we're going to push on and see what happens but Whitehawk will be tough to catch."

George Gaskin's deflected shot gave Wick the lead on 22 minutes before Aaron MacMillan levelled for Grinstead just before half-time.

Scott Murfin was brought down and converted the resultant penalty to restore the lead on the hour, but Wick were pegged back again when Matt Crane drilled home from long range, and, despite a frantic last 15 minutes, the game ended all square.

WICK: Bryant; Torode, N.Murfin, Sharman, Sutcliffe; Turner, Pearce, Clayton, Swain; Gaskin, S.Murfin. Subs: Huggett (Gaskin 65), A.Biggs (N.Murfin 75), Sleep, Sayers.

Clymping's 5-0 demolition of basement side Midhurst in Division 2 saw them climb two points and four places clear of the relegation zone as the bottom of the table remains as tight as ever.

Everyone wanted a piece of the action at home against Midhurst and the goals came from five different scorers. Aaron Meehan and Dave Gaskin netted in the first half before Paul Brown, Richy Moss and Jan Miller were on target after the break.

Clymping boss Dominic Di Paola is again hoping this could be the turning point, with a boost of confidence, and said: "I've said it before but this just shows it's there if we want it. It was a decent performance and shows we can pull ourselves clear.

"It was quite comfortable and although they battled and worked hard, without sounding disrespectful, they aren't a great side despite being a nice bunch of lads.

"We could have scored a lot more and Michael Oakley only had one shot to save in 90 minutes."

Meehan got things underway after 17 minutes when he finished from Billy Rayner's pass and Gaskin hit the second from Joe Stokes' through ball.

Brown then struck after Meehan missed a penalty on 50 minutes.

Brown then turned provider as Moss headed home his cross, and Miller capped the scoring in style with an acrobatic overhead kick with 10 minutes left.

CLYMPING: Oakley; Stokes, S.Di Paola, Young, D. Di Paola; Rayner, Shelley, Castro, Gaskin; Meehan, Moss. Subs: Brown (Rayner 25), Miller (Meehan 65), Ghent (Moss 75).

Littlehampton crashed out of the Sussex Senior Cup after going down 3-1 in a second-round replay, at home to Sidley, and joint manager John Suter said: "We played 4-5-1 in the first half, which was maybe the wrong thing to do.

"We changed to 4-4-2 at half-time and played a lot better in the second half.

"We battered them and I thought that at 2-1 down we would go on to force extra-time. On another day, we would have done, but I thought we were unlucky in the end."

Allan McMinigal put Sidley ahead in the 12th minute, and Jason Taylor scrambled home his side's second seven minutes before half-time.

Matt Russell and Nathan Peacock both went close as Golds dominated the second half and Barney Boutwood reduced the deficit on 55 minutes.

Jerry Manning and Niall O'Hagan had efforts saved before Matthew Darby netted Sidley's third seven minutes from time, and that was to prove decisive.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Stoner; Sayers, Crawford, McKay, Hazell; Charman, Russell, O'Hagan, Peacock, Manning; Boutwood. Subs: Wollers (Peacock 78),Ward, Young.

Arundel's home match against Selsey in Division 1 on Tuesday evening was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

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