Lavant lash in three in battle of unbeaten teams

Home striker Stuart Loversidge had to pull out seconds before kick-off and the resulting reshuffle meant Lavant started slowly and Faygate dominated the first quarter-hour.

Lavant came into it and full-back Chris Coe spurned a chance to give them the lead.

Now Lavant were controlling the match and hard work by Mike Bartley on the right set up Dave Knight to open Lavant’s account with a well-finished goal on 28 minutes.

A minute later, defender Matt lyttle doubled the lead with a 65-yard lob which United keeper Martyn Jepson helped into his own net.

In the second half, the visitors threw every ounce of energy into trying to get back into it. Lavant’s passing game, however, kept them in charge and a diagonal ball from left-back Matt Hine found right-winger Louis Weller, who skipped his defender and crossed for Bartley to head home on 72 minutes.

A repeat performance a minute later saw Bartley miss by inches.

The home side lost concentration in the last ten minutes, allowing United’s Sam Freeman to clip Lavant’s bar.

Lavant lost possession to the powerful Phil Williamson, who set up Tom Clarke to grab one back on 84 minutes.

A disputed goal by Clarke a minute from time left Lavant to endure a nailbiting finish but they held on and remain top of the division.

LAVANT: Sanson; Coe, Lyttle, Wright, Hine; Weller, Knight, Brooks, Neville; Seacombe, Bartley. Subs: Price, Grace (Loversidge).

Fernhurst Sports Football club lie fourth in the West Sussex League division two south and are sporting a new kit this season, in the colours of long-time sponsors Pace FuelCare.

Fernhurst play league games at home at Fernhurst Recreation Ground. This Saturday they host Stedham United.

Regis Veterans 5 Wittering Utd 6 (aet)

Centenary Cup second round

After eight consecutive wins and playing opponents two divisions below them, Wittering Utd were the clear favourites in this tie.

But Regis flew out of the blocks, snapping into tackles and making direct runs into the heart of the defence. Regis were rewarded for their endeavour in the eighth minute, their attacker finding space in the box to fire a shot past Ash Rochester with the help of a small deflection.

After a half-time roasting Wittering were determined to do better but Regis were soon back on the attack.

Alan Sheppard’s tap-in levelled it at 1-1 and two minutes later Darran Cox was found by Jimmy Kewell and put Wittering ahead.

Wittering seemed to be cruising when Cox scored again a minute later after good work from Tom Kelly.

With ten minutes to go, it was back to 3-2 after sloppy defending was punished - and it was 3-3 a few minutes later, the Regis striker being given too much space in the box.

Wittering were behind again with three minutes left from an unstoppable 25-yard free-kick. Sheppard’s powerful header past the keeper levelled the scores at 4-4 deep in injury time.

In extra time, Wittering looked slightly the fitter side. Sheppard completed his hat-trick and sub Ben Cox smashed an unstoppable half volley past the shellshocked keeper for Wittering’s sixth.

A couple of minutes before the 120 were up, a Regis forward slotted home to make it 6-5.

WITTERING: Rochester, Green, Joe Haskell, O’Brennan, Cairns, Kelly, Kewell, J Jefkins, Sheppard, D Cox, McCoy. Subs: B Cox, Jon Haskell.