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| Saturday 26 April 2003 Copthorne Rovers II 1 East Court FC 4 EAST Court FC ended their first competitive season in the Mid Sussex Football League on Saturday (April 26) with a comfortable 4-1 victory over local rivals Copthorne Rovers II. The opening exchanges saw both sides have their fair share of possession but it was the home team who took an early lead when East Court failed to clear their lines. The ball fell to a Copthorne player and he made no mistake with his finish. But East Court were soon on level terms when the Copthorne keeper could only parry Ben Sunderland's shot and Ross Kelly tucked home the rebound. Sunderland could have given East Court the lead after being put through but shot straight at the Copthorne keeper. The away side went ahead when captain Simon Nickols put a ball over the top and Billy Denyer beat the Copthorne offside trap and slotted his shot past the keeper. East Court had chances to extend their lead before half-time with Kelly, Sunderland and Denyer going close. Within seconds of the restart East Court grabbed a third with an excellent team move. From the kick off the ball was passed round the midfield before Nickols sent an inch perfect pass between the Copthorne defence to Andy Wright, whose cross was rifled home by Kelly. Minutes later it was four when James Salters' pass found Martyn Bishop and he made no mistake with his finish. Copthorne nearly pulled one back but East Court keeper Paul Bishop saved well. Indeed the away side should have had further goals. Sunderland shot wide, Martyn Bishop rattled the post with a shot and Denyer hit the top of the bar with a free-kick. But East Court took the three points and in the process condemned their opponents to relegation from division 7 of the Mid Sussex League. Team: P.Bishop, A.Wright, T.Greig (C.Buckler), M.Bishop, D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, B.Sunderland (J.Nickols), J.Salter |