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| Monday 17 April 2006 Uckfield Town III 3 East Court 4 It took an injury time strike from centre-back Daniel Medcalf kept East Court's hopes for a fourth consecutive promotion alive after a hard-fought game at lowly Uckfield Town III. Results on Saturday meant that East Court came into this game knowing that two wins from their final two matches would secure second spot but for long periods it looked as though that target would remain out of reach. Changes were forced upon the East Court management so Paul Bishop (in goal) and Paul Brice (left wing) came into the side at the expense of Nick Palmer and Andy Wright. Dan Lamprell made a rare start outfield at right back with Carl Buckler occupying the unfamiliar role of left-back. Billy Denyer dropped back into a central midfield role alongside Richard Hayes with Lee Champion moving up front to partner Ross Kelly. The early exchanges were fairly even on an awful pitch but neither side created any real chances. The home side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances, a right wing cross was hit too far ahead of the onrushing strikers but flew over Bishop and dropped neatly into the far corner of the goal. Still East Court were struggling to come to terms with the pitch and it was no surprise when Uckfield scored a second to leave East Court with a mountain to climb. Slowly the visitors got into their stride and they dominated the last ten minutes of the half and managed to claw their way back into the game. Aleft wing corner from Paul Brice was flicked back across goal by captain Simon Nickols and Kelly got his head on it to reduce the deficit. Soon after it was 2-2, Medcalf latched onto a loose ball in midfield and played the ball into the path of Denyer. The ball was slightly overhit but as the keeper came out to collect it held up in the mud and this enabled Denyer to pass the keeper and slot the ball home. There were chances for more goals before half-time, Kelly put in a dangerous cross from the right that left the keeper in no-mans land but no-one could reach it at the far post and then Kelly had a left-wing cross that was deflected onto the near post with the keeper beaten. The second half began as the first half ended with East Court in the ascendancy. It didn?t take long for Brice to put the home side in front. Denyer played him in and Brice bought himself some time in the area and coolly slotted home past the keeper. Hayes came close to extending the lead with a swerving shot from the edge of the area that was acrobatically punched away and Medcalf was unlucky to be denied after a run from the edge of his own area. But it was only a matter of time until Uckfield had another spell of pressure and from a corner it was 3-3. An Uckfield midfielder rose highest of all to head the ball home from the edge of the six yard box. This was the sign for changes as Palmer and Wright replaced Lamprell and Sunderland. Brice moved to the right wing with Buckler on the left wing, Wright and Palmer came on at right and left back respectively. Despite these changes it could have got worse for East Court, Medcalf cleared a shot off the line after Bishop had been beaten and Bishop returned the favour with a fine stop late on after Medcalf had missed a header on the half way line. East Court were still creating chances at the other end however, Denyer fired over when well-placed and was also the unlucky recipient of a bobble as he raced through on the keeper. Brice threw himself at a cross from the left-wing but his header drifted wide from close range, he was also denied by the mud as the ball got stuck under his feet when well-placed which allowed the defence to get back and smother the shot. As the minutes ticked down it became more and more like a cup game with East Court throwing everyone forward and eventually the deserved breakthrough came. Denyer played the ball through for Medcalf to run onto, his first touch took him past the covering defender and with his second he planted the ball wide of the keeper into the back of the net. The last minute or so was spent with Kelly shielding the ball in the corner as East Court recorded a very important victory. Three points at Ardingly next weekend will mean second spot no matter what happens when third placed Fletching travel to Dormansland Rockets. If Fletching fail to win then East Court will win promotion. Team: P.Bishop, D.Lamprell (A.Wright), C.Buckler, R.Hayes, D.Medcalf, S.Nickols, B.Sunderland, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, L.Champion, P.Brice. Unused Sub: C.Butler |