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| Saturday 29 March 2003 East Court FC 4 Maresfield Village III 1 EAST Court FC gained another three vital points in their hunt for the Mid Sussex Football League division 7 title with victory over Maresfield Village III on Saturday (March 29). In the process East Court gained revenge for their only league defeat so far this season, which happened back in November. The home side took the lead after Billy Denyer's corner was flicked on by Martyn Bishop. Before the Maresfield keeper could collect the ball Andy Wright knocked it past the shot-stopper and into the net. It was soon two after Martyn Bishop's through ball found James Salter and he shrugged off the challenge of a Maresfield defender and fired his shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Denyer had chances to extend East Court's lead but shot just wide as the away team's keeper closed him down. Maresfield pulled a goal back after one of their players beat James Nickols to the ball and as East Court keeper Paul Bishop came out, the ball was squared to another player and he clipped his shot into the goal. But East Court regained their two goal advantage straight away when Denyer stabbed the ball to Ross Kelly and he made no mistake from six yards. Captain Simon Nickols had a shot which was turned in by Denyer but the goal was ruled out for offside. Nickols then released Mark Nolan but the Maresfield keeper managed to get to the ball before the East Court midfielder. In the second half East Court played some good football and had chances to extend their lead. Denyer finally got on the scoresheet when Nickols won the ball in midfield and gave the ball to Denyer, who beat three Maresfield players before slamming his shot into the top right hand corner. East Court's top scorer nearly had another shortly afterwards when player-manager Daniel Medcalf put in a cross and Denyer saw his shot well saved by the Maresfield keeper. A corner from Denyer caused havoc in the Maresfield penalty area but shots from Nickols, Nolan and Ben Sunderland, who came on at half-time, were blocked. Duncan Bewley, who had another excellent game, put in a number of excellent tackles - first on the left and then after switching to centre back. Buckler also came on for Salter. Kelly nearly added a fifth for the home side but his free kick was brilliantly turned over the bar by the Maresfield keeper. Team: P.Bishop, A.Wright, D.Bewley, M.Bishop, D.Medcalf, J.Nickols (B.Sunderland), S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, J.Salter (C.Buckler), M.Nolan |