Lavant whack Wisborough... Pirates hunt down Predators

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Lavant 6 Wisborough Green 0

West Sussex League

premier division

After a week off Lavant were back in the groove as they hit top-flight new boys Wisborough Green for six.

Lavant started on the front foot and were very quick to exploit their opponents’ weakness with both full-backs looking vulnerable and Aaron Hancock having a fine game down the Lavant right.

Sadly Lavant failed to capitalise on their early dominance and frustration set in with a more direct approach being adopted. This made defending comfortable for Wisborough as the physicality of their centre-halves was too much for lone front-man James Sandford.

With ten minutes to play in the half Lavant finally broke the deadlock, a well-flighted corner from Hancock finding Sandford at the back post to nod home for a deserved lead.

The second half saw Lavant start with the intent to kill they game off and the first 20 minutes saw them deliver four goals. First Peter Caveney was felled in the area and picked himself up to dispatch the resulting spot-kick.

Next James Brooks capitalised when another Hancock corner was partially cleared to him and his header looped beyond the keeper.

Hancock got on the scoresheet to make it 4-0 as a cross-come-shot was helped on its way by the Wisborough keeper after he tried to palm over the bar.

Lavant made a few changes but the scoring didn’t stop. Ash Hawkes showed good footwork in the opposing area, took a tumble and slotted away Lavant’s second penalty.

Hawkes completed his double with a ferocious left-footed volley on the turn to round off the scoring.

Lavant: Court, Gabb, Augustus, Lyttle, Wright, Stevens, Brooks, Hawkes, Hancock, Caveney, Sandford. Subs: Cieszynski, Haggar, Grace.

Predators 1 Nyetimber Pirates 5

West Sussex League premier division

Phil Turner is just nine goals short of a century for Nyetimber Pirates after he grabbed four as they thrashed Predators 5-1 at the Predadome.

The two clubs have enjoyed a number of explosive battles over the years including a cup final decided by penalties, but Predators are now without a number of key players from last season.

The Pirates had won their last 13 in all competitions. Boss Ted Griffin brought Rob Linkhorn and captain Michael Frangou back into the side.

Pirates were comfortable throughout the first half and were three up at the break after Turner terrorised the Tigers with a first-half hat-trick. He missed a penalty which was saved by Munt in the Predators goal.

Predators had a spell of dominance in the second half and pulled one back a minute after the break with former Pirates striker and WSFL nomad Michael Woolston giving them hope.

Predators pressed for a second but were stifled by the back four, in particular the impressive Sean Williamson who had one of his best games in a Pirates shirt.

MoM Andy Cox, who has been on fire this season soon, put the game out of sight again on 58 minutes, grabbing his sixth of the campaign.

Turner finished off the scoring when he made it 5-1 on 80 minutes, giving him his 11th of the season.

There was a first-team debut for Nathan Stonelake, brought on along with another former Tiger Karl Westbrook. Both crossed the Aldwick divide in the summer.

The Looters have the chance to go top this weekend, when they play Petworth at Pagham FC (2pm), as leaders Lavant, who have played two more games, are in cup action.

Pirates: Pye, Williamson, Linkhorn, Horn, Hamm, S Towers, Urquhart, Chester, A Cox, Turner, Frangou. Subs: Westbrook, Pasterfield, Stonelake, D Towers.

East Dean 1 Stedham 4

WSFL championship

East Dean started brightly and could have gone 1-0 up, but a James Ford header went narrowly wide.

Ford had another attempt, from which the keeper pulling off a great save to keep the score at 0-0.

Finally, Dean took the lead – Ford’s header was initially saved before Zach Dray tapped in on the line.

The defence were solid and limited Stedham’s chances.

The second half was different. Both sides had opportunities but couldn’t find the net until Stedham were awarded a penalty that was converted.

They followed up with another two goals. Karl Clark went close to pulling one back for East Dean, but his half-volley was just wide.

Towards the end Stedham grabbed their fourth.

East Dean: Ferre, Bessey, N.Freeman, Clark, Pett, Gardner, Peach, Cooper, Sedgewick, Ford, Dray. Subs; A.Freeman, Barlow, Humphreys, Millard, Kearvell.

– BEN PETT

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