Blues sunk at home by Steyning

Blues started the game slowly and fell behind after just four minutes when Dave Harris’ free kick was headed home by Phil Williamson for the striker’s 18th goal of the season.

Rustington drew level on 35 minutes when brothers Steve and Chris Kirkham combined well, which allowed Chris to neatly lob Steyning keeper Matt Evans.

That was the way things stayed until half-time but Steyning soon went back ahead just 10 minutes into the second half. A cross found Murat Aslan, whose miss-hit shot looped over Charlie Gammons in the Rustington goal.

Blues began to work harder but, on a boggy pitch, still looked lethargic and Steyning were denied a third by the offside flag when Williamson put the ball in the net.

Steyning soon added a third, though, when they capitalised on some poor defending and Craig Knowles fired home on 78 minutes, with Blues appealing for offside.

Rustington manager Ryan Morten said: “It was very disappointing. Sometimes you can carry three, maybe four players, who play badly but when the whole team plays badly then you have no chance at all.

“We were not competitive at all, and that is the minimum that I ask of the lads. Yes, it is difficult after having a long wait between games, and you do lose momentum, but it is the same for every team, so that is not an excuse.

“It was a bad day all round and one we need to draw a line under and move on.”

RUSTINGTON: Gammons; Beaney, MacIver, Corbett, Green; Heater, Bennett, Boxall, Darwin; S.Kirkham, C.Kirkham. Subs: Leach (Heater 70), Butcher (Beaney 75), Wood, Cox, Morten.