Seven is heaven for Chichester and Selsey Ladies - Midhurst ground Swans

Chi & Selsey Ladies 7 Hounslow Women 0

FA WNL southern prem

Chichester and Selsey signed off for the lockdown with a resounding win against a Hounslow side who were no match for an energetic green army.

Chichester had the visitors back-peddling early but couldn’t turn the pressure into goals and let the red and blacks off the hook a few times.

It took half an hour for Chichester to make their pressure tell when Ariana Fleischmann got a touch to convert a corner.

A few minutes later they had a second from the excellent Natasha Wild.

After Gemma Staple missed an open goal, Fleischmann set Gemma Staple free down the right and lay the ball into the path of Jane Yeates who drew an excellent save from keeper Cadimhe O-Reilly. But the ball fell to Wild who fired home.

Right on half-time Yeates produced a typical striker’s finish. Gemma Simmonds placed a lovely ball over the top for Yeates to run on to and stab the ball past the keeper.

Chichester had the ball in the net after the break through Staple, only for an offside flag to deny them.

But it wasn’t long before Chichester did add to their tally and it was Yeates who nabbed it with a ferocious close-range finish

To their credit the visitors battled on but Chichester continued to find gaps in the weak defence and Staple was next to score, just after the hour.

Sophie Phelps provided an exquisite pass, putting Staple in on goal and she rounded O’Reilly and slotted in.

In the final quarter of the match Phelps grabbed a goal with a smart finish at the back post from a corner from Megan Fox to make it 6-0.

Phelps could have netted a hat-trick minutes later when her powerful header smacked the bar.

A huge roar greeted the final substitution of the day for Chichester as the much-missed Emma Alexandre finally made her return to action with the first team after a long spell out injured.

It was a heartwarming moment to see such a key player getting the opportunity through extraordinary hard work to get back to doing what she loves.

In injury time sub Sarah Saunders rounded things off with a seventh goal.

ALAN PRICE

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Storrington 0 Midhurst 3

SCFL division one

Andy Ewen praised his team – and the Storrington groundstaff – after their trip to facr the Swans survived the weekend’s rain.

“We must give credit to the Storrington ground staff for getting the game on. The pitch was very heavy,” Ewen said.

Midhurst attacked from the off and took the lead in the 19th minute with a well-worked goal as Kieran Carter put in a great cross that was met by Marcus Bedford, whose first-time shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

Jake Skater was quickest to react to put the Stags 1-0 up.

Midhurst then became sluggish and Storrington had a strong spell at start of second half, forcing some last ditch defending.

The Stags saw this out and got to grips and got their second din the 59th minute when a corner from Carter was headed goalwards by Lewis Hyde and stabbed home by Marcus Bedford.

Stags had a further chances before adding a third in the 68th minute as Bedford was put through and smashed home from 18 yards out.

Ewen said: “In the first half we weren’t really at it – we lacked quality and composure on the ball and were slow to react to the second ball.

“ A few stern words were said at half-time, the lads responded and fully deserved the win. Two clean sheets on the bounce is very pleasing.

“Marcus has really pleased me since joining us; that’s eight goals in seven starts for him – he’s back playing with a smile.

“We’ve also added Lewis Hamilton to the squad – he will give us some extra quality.”

Stedham FC

There’s a change to the management at Stedham FC.

After three seasons at the club, first team manager Jamie Angel and assistants Peter Riding and Kylie Homewood will be relinquishing their duties.

A statement said: “The club would like to extend huge gratitude to these men who have given up hours of their time to ensure training sessions are planned, delivered and matchdays run smoothly.

“Jamie had led the club to finishing second in WSFL Championship South and subsequent promotion to the Premier Division.

“Jamie’s work commitments mean he spends three days a week in Kent and having a young family at home it was time to take a step back from the rigours of running a football team on a voluntary basis.

“The new first team manager will be Tom Chaplin and he will be assisted by Adam Playford. Both are PE teachers and graduated from Chichester University.

“Tom has a wealth of experience in the county league working as assistant manager to first John Suter and later Dave Berkowitz while at Midhurst & Easebourne FC’s first XI.”

Chaplin said: “ I’m looking forward to the challenge of managing Stedham FC and in Adam as my assistant I am pleased to have a trusted friend and passionate football coach alongside me.

“I am under no illusions of the task ahead as this is new territory for the club finding themselves in the West Sussex premier.

“I am confident with a number of experienced ex-county league players I know from my Midhurst days, blended with the younger players already at the club, we can have a positive campaign.

“Naturally I will be looking to recruit new players to increase competition for places in both the first and second XIs as this will drive up performance levels at training and matchdays.”

Any players looking to join the club should - after the new lockdown - attend training on Wednesday evenings at Midhurst Rother College (7pm to 8.30pm) – old and new faces welcome.

The club boast some of the best facilities around with an immaculate pitch and a lovely pavilion.

UNDER-15s

Felpham Colts Yellow 0 Bosham U15s 4

Bosham visited Felpham off the back of two wins against opposition at the bottom end of the league. On paper, third-placed Felpham looked a tougher proposition.

The home team went closest in the first five minutes, keeping Bosham keeper Cameron Davey on his toes.

Bosham grew into the game and pressure from Theo West forced errors.

After some positive play, Bosham scored from a corner by Lewis Fairchild which was dispatched by Issac Semedo.

Soon West was fouled in the box and put away the penalty himself.

Bosham made the most of an indirect free-kick as Semedo got his second.

In the second half the woodwork came to Feplham’s aid several times before Bosham finally got their fourth with an excellent team move.

Charlie Fuidge played the ball wide to Fergus Green, who skipped past the defender to put in the perfect cross for Harry Richards to head home from six yards.

This was a well-deserved victory and a special mention goes to Davey and the defence who looked solid all game.