Chichester close with defeat - but look forward with optimism

The curtain came down on Chichester's Sussex League division one campaign with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of fourth-placed Hassocks, Phil Gault claiming a nap hand for the visitors.

Gault brought his tally to 34 goals for the season, striking in the sixth, 33rd, 48th, 61st and 75th minutes before Scott Dormer grabbed a late consolation. Two of the Hassocks goals were from the penalty spot.

City joint boss Alex Twitchen said: “We played well during certain periods of the game but not consistently enough across the 90 minutes. Nevertheless the attitude and commitment of the players was again fantastic and they were a credit to the club.

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“Now it’s time to draw a line under this season and plan for a new campaign with a sense of optimism and the desire to build a squad that can compete with the best teams in the league,” he added.

Having finished bottom of division one, Chichester must now wait for the final verdict on the County League’s constitution for 2012-13 to find out if they’ve definitely been relegated.

Meanwhile Neil Sherlock, the other half of the new management team, reflected: “The level of commitment at the club is excellent and all the players know we’re a squad not just a team.

“Saturday’s game was an example of that by players varying from 16 to 42 yrs old and all doing themselves and the club proud.

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“We’ve gone from not being able to field a side to bringing 20 players to away games. Not one of them knew if they were playing but still made the trip, which shows fantastic attitude.

“We will continue to play our football and develop the ability and knowledge and the attitude of all players.”

CITY: Winter, Boughton, Madle, Chaplin, Stevens, Smith, Northeast, S Cotton, M Cotton, Dormer, Brookes. Subs: Prior, Forry, Heath.

CHESTER BROWTON

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