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| Saturday 02 November 2002 East Court FC 12 Hartfield II 0 AFTER being without a game the week before, East Court FC stormed to the top of division 7 of the Mid Sussex Football League after thrashing Hartfield on Saturday. With the resignation of former manager Jim Seeds, East Court switched to a 3-5-2 formation and the tactic paid off. The home side quickly found their feet and took the lead when James Salter headed over Lloyd Mercer after the Hartfield keeper had saved his initial shot. It was soon two when Ross Kelly headed down a corner and Billy Denyer slammed the ball into the back of the net. East Court made it three from another corner. Simon Nickols hit the post with a header and Denyer was on hand to slot in the rebound. Nickols then got on the scoresheet when he sent a looping header over two Hartfield defenders standing on the line and into the roof of the net. Mark Nolan came close to adding a fifth but his 45 yard volley sailed just over the bar. However, East Court did make it five just before half-time when Kelly's delightful chip came back off the crossbar and Salter tapped in the rebound. In the second half East Court started where they left off. Dave Nolan whipped in a teasing ball which eluded Denyer but hit a Hartfield defender and went in. A Hartfield player was then booked after a late and reckless tackle on Salter. But the East Court forward picked himself up and grabbed his hat-trick after hitting a shot from 25 yards past Mercer. After an excellent team move Nickols grabbed his second of the game. The ball was knocked around in midfield, then Kelly beat a couple of defenders and his sliding cross was tapped in by the East Court captain. Kelly deservedly got on the scoresheet when he tapped home after Denyer's initial shot had been saved. Nickols sealed his hat-trick after Dave Nolan swung a cross in from the left and Nickols blasted his volley into the net. Dave Nolan added number 11 and Hartfield were then reduced to ten men when one of their players attempted to kick the ball at an East Court player and it hit the referee. Hartfield pushed forward but could not manage to beat the defence of Nick Palmer, Daniel Medcalf, Dave Nolan and Andrew Wright. The one effort they did have on target was pushed away by Martyn Bishop, deputising in goal. Just before the end Denyer grabbed his hat-trick when he beat the offside trap, rounded Mercer and slotted into an empty net. Team: P.Bishop, A.Wright, C.Buckler (O.Wright), D.Nolan, D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, J.Salter, M.Nolan |