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| Saturday 08 February 2003 Fletching 2 East Court FC 4 EAST Court FC marched into their second semi final of the season when they defeated Fletching in the Mid Sussex Football League Stratford Cup on Saturday (February 8). The away side took the lead after just two minutes when a shot from Mark Nolan was pushed wide by the Fletching keeper. The resulting corner from Martyn Bishop was heading into the goal but it was punched off the line by a defender. He was sent off and the resulting penalty was confidentially slotted home by Ross Kelly. East Court grabbed a second when after a scramble in the box a Fletching player knocking the ball past his own keeper. The away side were cruising but a mistake from East Court keeper Paul Bishop gifted Fletching a goal and a way back into the game. Shortly after Fletching came close to equalising but the shot was well-turned away by Paul Bishop. East Court added a third when Billy Denyer's corner was headed home by Martyn Bishop for his first goal for the club. Just before half-time Martyn Bishop scored his second of the match when he won the ball on the left wing and his 25 yard shot went in off the crossbar. In the second half Fletching pulled another goal back when a cross shot eluded keeper Paul Bishop and dropped in. Fletching pushed forward but the defence of player-manager Daniel Medcalf, David Nolan, James Nickols and Nick Palmer kept them at bay. In midfield Denyer, captain Simon Nickols, Martyn Bishop and Mark Nolan were making important challenges to break up any attacks. Kelly worked hard up front with Ben Sunderland, who had chances to wrap the game up but could not quite find a finishing touch. A Fletching player was booked for a late challenge on Medcalf and despite the pressure East Court held on for a place in the semi-finals. Team: P.Bishop, S.Tester (J.Nickols), D.Nolan, M.Bishop, D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, B.Sunderland, M.Nolan |