Sandford shines at Lavant go top - Deans held - Unicorn on charge

The visitors didn’t make plain sailing of the game as much as the scoreline suggested given their profligacy in front of goal.

In the opening 15 minutes Lavant could and should have been two or three goals to the good but poor finishing and some good stops kept the game 0-0.

For all that dominance it was Lavant that were almost behind with Matt Lyttle being caught in possession, the Holbrook forward racing and squaring to his strike partner forcing Ash Court into an outrageous save.

Holbrook then carved Lavant open a further time again calling the inform Court into action.

With 10 to half-time Lavant finally broke the deadlock, good play down the left flank and a goalmouth scramble saw Sandford scuff home.

The second half could not have started better for Lavant, a mis-hit clearance from the Brook keeper found Sandford, who managed to hold off the defender to run through and slot home clinically.

This prompted a change in shape from the home side and this very much suited the visitors. Sandford soon after this completed his hat-trick with the goal of the game. Great wing play from the returning Peter Caveney led to him finding Sandford who rolled his defender and finish in style in the top corner.

Lavant weren’t done yet as Jon Wright with a marauding run put in a cross to find Sandford to smartly finish with his fourth in a MoM performance.

Lavant: Ash Court, Matt Grace, Paul Jones, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, James Brooks (c), Charlie Mclaren, Ollie Haggar, Peter Caveney, Aaron Hancock, James Sandford. Subs – Will Cieszynski, Richard Gabb

East Dean 3 Stedham 3

West Sussex League

Championship div south

On the back of last week’s cup exit, East Dean were hoping to bounce back with three points in the league at Stedham.

Again, they found themselves a goal down inside ten minutes after failing to clear their lines. Shortly after, Stedham gained a two-goal lead.

James Ford and Ben Pett went close for East Dean, but couldn’t half the deficit.

Just before half-time Stedham went three up. A stern team-talk at half-time lifted the away side.

After nice play starting from the back, Ford had the opportunity to pull one back. Mike Shewell added a second, neatly slotting home.

The third was coolly tucked away by Aaron Freeman from the penalty spot after Ford was fouled in the box.

Both sides pushed for a winner but had to settle for a draw.

East Dean: Ferre, Barlow, James, N Freeman, Humphreys, Sedgwick, Clark, Shewell, Pett, A Freeman, Ford. Subs: Gardner, Richards.

FNK 2 Unicorn Utd 6

C&WSL Ken Baker Cup

Alex Barclay and Tom Simmons bagged hat-trucks as Unicorn United cruised to victory against FNK in the Ken Baker Memorial Cup.

Barclay had a hand in every goal and bagged his hat-trick after the break to make it 5-1. He was then brought down in the FNK area but sportingly gave the spot-kick to his team-mate to allow him to complete his own treble.

It was a fine return for Simmons after a spell on the sidelines with injury.

FNK fought back after the interval to keep the score honest, netting twice, to draw praise from Unicorn manager Dennis Barclay.

“We raced into a 4-0 lead and looked comfortable after 45 minutes,” he said. “But all credit to FNK for having a right go at us in the second half and made a game if it.

“It was a a good win and we are looking forward to a decent run in the competition.”

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