Reds nick nine-goal thriller at the Villa

It was a mixed week for Bosham as they edged a nine-goal Villa thriller then lost to AFC Varndeanians.
Bosham on the attack against AFC Varndeanians / Picture by Chris GregoryBosham on the attack against AFC Varndeanians / Picture by Chris Gregory
Bosham on the attack against AFC Varndeanians / Picture by Chris Gregory

Here are the reports plus news of Selsey, Sidlesham and Midhurst in division one of the Southern Combination.

Montpelier Villa 4 Bosham 5

Southern Combination division two

An 89th-minute goal from Neil Redman enabled Bosham to win a thriller at Falmer, sealing a victory that looked lost despite the Reds having led 4-0.

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Bosham started brightly and after only five minutes had their noses in front through the excellent Alex Barnes.

Dave Storey headed the ball into the path of Marco Giambelardini who bore down on goal. His shot was saved by keeper James McKenney but it fell to Barnes who lifted the ball over the keeper and in.

Storey and Louis Bell both went close then on 20 minutes Barnes was on hand to get his second. This time he received the ball just inside the opposition half and went on a mazy run through tame challenges before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Montpellier were improving and Nick Boutal went close with a point-blank header that Kieran Magee managed to tip over.

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Before the break the Reds had a third through captain James Wilson. Pat Bulbeck surged down the left and sent in a searching cross. Wilson snuck into the box unchecked and volleyed home.

Shortly after the interval Wilson grabbed his second to make it 4-0. Giambelardini put the ball on a plate for his skipper, who fired goalwards – and a slight deflection took the effort past McKenney.

Then Bosham, inexplicably, took their foot off the gas, giving Villa a chance to fight back.

Captain Dave MacNeill urged his side on and gave them a lifeline as he headed home at the near post. For Bosham, Matt Docherty hit the bar with a superb volley from long distance.

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Bosham became nervy and disjointed and the Villains took advantage to score three times to draw level.

George Hatton, Sam Terry and Boutal all found the net as the Villains sensed what would have been a sensational victory.

Redman and Jim Ruston came on late as they looked to come away with a point and, after a period of late pressure, Villa panicked at the back from a late corner and Redman poked in through a crowd of players.

Aaron Blackwell saw red before the end for the Villa and Bosham held firm.

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Bosham: Kieran Magee, Andy Probee, Matt Docherty, Pat Bulbeck, Dave Bryant, Callum Fewell, Marco Giambelardini, James Wilson, Louis Bell, Alex Barnes and Dave Storey. SUBS: Neil Redman, Jim Ruston and Mark Desi.

ALAN PRICE

Bosham 1 AFC Varndeanians 3

Combination division two

Bosham lost 3-1 to AFC Varndeanians at Bognor to dent their title hopes against fellow contenders.

Prolific Varndeanians frontman Jack Langford opened the scoring after three minutes. Dave Bryant’s effort, officially credited as an own goal, drew the Reds level.

Varndeanians retook the lead shortly after the restart through Ahmed Shaker.

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Bosham were dealt a sucker-punch with 15 minutes to go, with Langford notching his second.

* In division one, Midhurst claimed a valuable point with a 0-0 draw at Mile Oak.

A Lindon Miller goal was all Selsey had to show from a 5-1 loss at Little Common on Saturday – before they lost 3-2 at Oakwood on Tuesday.

Sidlesham lost 1-0 to champions Haywards Heath.

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