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| Saturday 19 February 2005 AFC Ringmer 2 East Court 1 A CONTROVERSIAL offside decision severely dented East Court's title hopes in Mid Sussex Football League Division 5 in this top-of-the-table clash on Saturday (February 19). The away side dominated possession throughout the match and deserved to grab at least a point. But it was the home team who took the lead after a scramble in the penalty box saw a Ringmer player fire through a crowd of players and past East Court keeper Paul Bishop. But the away team continued to play good football on a difficult pitch with both wing-backs Carl Buckler and Nick Palmer causing the Ringmer defence problems. East Court equalised when captain Simon Nickols 25-yard shot eluded everyone including the Ringmer keeper and crept in the bottom corner. Ross Kelly almost put East Court in front but his header from Billy Denyer's corner was brilliantly saved by the Ringmer keeper. Nickols picked up a foot injury and was replaced by Paul Brice and Kelly took over the captain's armband. Ringmer pushed forward and Bishop twice denied the home team as they looked to regain the lead. The start of the second half saw the visitors camped in Ringmer's half but it was the home team that went back in front when a Ringmer player stole the ball from player-manager Daniel Medcalf and rifled his shot into the top corner. Medcalf pushed forward as East Court went in search of the equaliser and thought they had it after a move involving Medcalf and Denyer saw Nick Palmer lob the Ringmer keeper. A very late offside flag meant the goal was disallowed, much to the disbelief of the away team. Buckler hit the bar in the dying minutes as East Court suffered their first league defeat of the season. Team: P.Bishop, C.Buckler, N.Palmer, A.Shillibeer, D.Medcalf, M.Bishop, S.Nickols (P.Brice), B.Denyer, R.Kelly, B.Sunderland (N.Clarkson-Tooze), L.Champion. Unused Subs: C.Butler |