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| Saturday 25 January 2003 East Court FC 4 Cuckfield Town III 1 AFTER a series of cup matches, East Court FC returned to league action and maintained their place at the top of the Mid Sussex Football League division 7 with victory over Cuckfield Town III on Saturday (January 25). The early exchanges were dominated by East Court but they failed to create any clear cut chances against a stubborn Cuckfield defence. But they did take the lead when a cross from the left found James Salter, who took a touch before firing past the keeper. Indeed Salter could have had a second moments later after excellent work from Billy Denyer resulted in his cross finding the East Court forward but the shot went just wide. Salter then grabbed his and East Court's second goal with a magical finish. Martyn Bishop won the ball on the left and his pass found Salter, who from just inside the area curled the ball into the bottom corner. Cuckfield pulled one back when a forward nipped in front of East Court player-manager Daniel Medcalf and curled the ball beyond the despairing dive of home keeper Paul Bishop. In the second half Cuckfield pushed forward in search of the equaliser but were prevented from doing so by the midfield of captain Simon Nickols, Mark Nolan, Carl Buckler and Denyer. On the rare occasions they did get through the defence of Martyn Bishop, Nick Palmer, Medcalf and Dave Nolan cleared any danger. Dave Nolan was replaced by Andrew Wright, who had a chance within minutes of coming on. His pace took him past the Cuckfield defence but his shot flashed just wide. East Court then grabbed a third when Denyer intercepted the ball on the edge of the Cuckfield box and slotted the ball past the keeper. The home side added a fourth when after a series of passes the ball was picked up by Salter and his cross was met by the head of Denyer for his 19th goal of the season. Further chances were created with Nickols and Ross Kelly having efforts saved by the Cuckfield keeper. In between Cuckfield had a chance to pull another back when Medcalf was adjudged by the referee to have made a backpass but quick closing down from the East Court wall meant the shot flew wide. Team: P.Bishop, C.Buckler, M.Bishop, D.Nolan (A.Wright), D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, J.Salter, M.Nolan |