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| Saturday 22 February 2003 Hartfield II 2 East Court FC 3 IN A hotly contest local derby, East Court FC edged out Hartfield II in this Mid Sussex League division 7 match on Saturday (February 22). Suspension and unavailability meant East Court were forced to play striker James Salter at right-wing back but the away team started well and could have taken the lead after two minutes. Billy Denyer's cross was met by Ben Sunderland's volley and the ball crashed against the bar and onto the goal line. Despite appeals from the East Court players the ball was deemed not to have crossed the line by the referee. Much of the first half was scrappy but one bit of good play on 35 minutes by the East Court midfield led to Mark Nolan's pass feeding Denyer who beat a couple of defenders before rounding the Hartfield keeper and slotting into an empty net. Carl Buckler worked hard on the left to support Sunderland and Ross Kelly in attack but the away team could not find a way through again in the first half. In the second half East Court again started well and doubled their lead on 53 minutes when captain Simon Nickols' cross-shot was inadvertently turned past his own keeper by a Hartfield player. East Court were on top but Hartfield pulled a goal back when East Court keeper Paul Bishop claimed a ball but was pushed over the line and the referee gave a corner. Despite protests from the away team for a free kick the corner was given and the set-piece was headed home by a Hartfield player. Hartfield nearly equalised on 75 minutes but Jonny Card's volley from the edge of the area was kept out by Paul Bishop. East Court immediately counter-attacked and Martyn Bishop released Denyer who slotted home his second goal of the game. There was time for more drama after another corner from Hartfield ended up in the East Court goal and the home team pushed forward in search of an equaliser. But the team, especially player-manager Daniel Medcalf, Nick Palmer and Martyn Bishop, defended stoutly and East Court held on for three valuable points. Team: P.Bishop, B.Sunderland, C.Buckler, M.Bishop, D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, J.Salter, M.Nolan |