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| Saturday 18 September 2004 East Court FC 2 Fairfield 0 East Court's first home game in Mid Sussex Division five saw them make hard work of a game they should have wrapped up with ease. The home side created some good chances in the first half with Carl Buckler hitting the post being the best of all, but did not quite do enough and both teams were level at the interval. With a slight downhill advantage in the second period and the wind behind them, East Court were camped in the oppositions half for the majority of the period. Chris Butler making his first appearance in goal was never troubled and kept his first clean sheet. Ten minutes in, Ben Sunderland, the replacement for Paul Brice at half time, scrambled home the first goal after much persistence. The linesman and the referee gave the goal as even though it did not end up in the back of the net, it was deemed to have crossed the line. Much pressure could not be turned into the vital second goal and East Court knew that the one goal lead was fragile. Lee Champion's header was cleared off the line and efforts from Ross Kelly and Billy Denyer both were saved well. Substitutes Adam Shillibeer and Tom Greig came on for Martyn Bishop and Carl Buckler in the second half as East Court looked for the second goal. It eventually came five minutes from time; Sunderland threaded a ball infield to captain Simon Nickols who freed Andy Wright down the right. His cross was perfectly placed into the path of Greig who sealed the game for Court. Team: C.Butler, A.Wright, C.Buckler (A.Shillibear), M.Bishop (T.Greig), D.Medcalf, N.Palmer, S.Nickols, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, P.Brice (B.Sunderland), L.Champion |