 |
| Saturday 25 October 2003 East Court 2 Chailey 4 A SPIRITED East Court went down 4-2 to Chailey in their top-of-the-table clash in the Mid Sussex Football League division 6 on Saturday (October 25). Chailey started the more positive and took the league directly from a corner which somehow crept in at the near post. They again tested East Court keeper Andrew Mackie who kept out the effort with the aid of an upright. The away team were on top but went down to 10 men after just 15 minutes. A Chailey player kicked out at one of East Court's and as the referee went to book him he first swore and then spat at the official and was promptly sent off. It gave East Court the boost they needed and they started to play some great free-flowing football. They equalised when Martyn Bishop laid the ball off to Ben Sunderland and his cross-shot ended up in the top corner. Two minutes later they were ahead when a Chailey player's attempted clearance from Carl Buckler's cross ended up in his own net. East Court started the second half in the same way they finish the first and Bishop's header was cleared off the line although the East Court player believed he had scored. Chailey started to get back into the match and equalised mid-way through the half with a well-worked move. They continued to create chances and Mackie did well to turn away another effort. In the final 10 minutes East Court still looked good for a point but Chailey had other ideas and regained the lead. As East Court pushed forward in search of an equaliser they were caught by another sucker-punch when Mackie's attempted clearance hit Jonny Crittell and bounced back into the net. It was cruel luck on East Court who start their defence of the Malins Cup when they visit Maresfield III on Saturday (November 1). Team: A.Mackie, A.Wright, T.Greig, J.Nickols, D.Medcalf, Jo.Crittell, B.Sunderland, M.Nolan, N.Clarkson-Tooze, M.Bishop, C.Buckler. Unused Subs: P.Bishop, N.Dawson, C.Whiting |