Blues show bouncebackability to floor the Crows

Selsey bounced back from their derby defeat to Chichester City with a 2-1 win over Crowborough thanks to goals from Jake Lafferty and Graham Bush.

With the visitors placed three league places higher than Ian Martin’s side, Selsey were looking for a good performance, and the win saw them stretch 14 points away from the relegation zone in the division-one table.

It avenged their 2-1 defeat against the Crows earlier in the season.

Joe Miles has gone travelling, leaving Max Thoms to fill the gap in central midfield, and he flashed a ball across the face of goal early on as Ed Bowers struggled to find space for his shot.

The bright start soon faltered, though, as Crowborough’s Ed Willoughby let fly from 25 yards and found the net on 13 minutes. Graham Bush tried to bite back for the home side but his shot was saved, and then James Parsons headed wide.

Calum Britton drew a save from the visiting keeper after Sam Joyce was called into similar action to keep out Mike Culverhouse, and was relieved to see Scott Treleaven fire weakly wide when unmarked.

But Martin’s half-time words proved effective, as did his decision to bring on Lafferty as a substitute, when he steered the ball home on 65 minutes to get Selsey on level terms.

And only three minutes later they were ahead.

Britton’s corner was met by Bush, who had spurned a chance earlier in the half, but this time he planted a firm header into the Crowborough net.

The lack of clinical finishing bemoaned by Martin of late was evident again as Selsey failed to kill off the game, and they were thankful to Stuart Morey for several saving tackles.

Crowborough struggled to find their rhythm in the second half and when they did get into Selsey’s half they were well marshalled by Morey and Marc Hinshelwood.

Now the Blues can take confidence in the win, and can now push on with a win in their next match, possibly boosting them into the top half.

A period of games against teams around them in the table in the coming weeks begins with Hailsham Town’s visit this Saturday.

SELSEY: Joyce, Fallick, Haggar, Hinshelwood, Morey, Thoms, Britton (Souter), Morey, Bush, Bowers, Parsons (Lafferty). Subs not used: Barnes, Dobbs, Chard.

MARK ALLAWAY