Elmer get a scare at Westbourne ... Rangers pull their Socks up

Westbourne Club 4 Elmer 5

Chi & W Sussex Lge div three

Table-topping Elmer were given a huge scare by spirited Westbourne, who were unlucky to lose to a last-minute penalty.

In a match affected by wet conditions, it looked business as normal as Elmer raced into a two-goal lead in the first 13 minutes through Andy Cooper and Nathan Sadler.

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With two victories over the hosts already this season, Elmer should have pushed on from their fine start. But Westbourne scored next, stealing the ball from a poor Elmer throw-in, advancing swiftly up-field and dispatching the ball past a stranded Carl Lawrence.

Stung by this, Elmer found form again and man of the match Steve Nanson restored the two-goal advantage with a header from close range five minutes before the break.

But Westbourne found new belief and spirit and they were rewarded on 52 minutes when Lawrence made his first handling error of the game, leaving a Westbourne man to score into an empty net.

Just ten minutes later, Westbourne were level when their burly centre-half rose highest to power in an unstoppable header from a corner.

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Elmer’s Alex Peach and Matt Hope drove their team forward and stand-in skipper Peach was rewarded when his stunning long-range effort found the top corner on 70 minutes.

Again Elmer should have pushed on but Westbourne’s seemingly unbreakable spirit was again in evidence when they scored on 78 minutes to make the score 4-4.

Both teams had chances but the game was decided in the 90th minute when Hope was upended in the area, referee Griffiths pointed to the spot and Cooper coolly scored from 12 yards for Elmer to claim the points.

Longsocks FC 4

Pagham Rangers Reserves 7

Division three

Rangers reserves made a slow start and were behind after a mix-up in defence enabled a Longsocks striker to slot past Richie with relative ease.

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This seemed to wake up Rangers and after forcing the home keeper into numerous saves, they equalised when Billy Jennings’ superb run and cross was easily despatched by Jay Banham.

Jennings was provider again minutes later when his superb through-ball was latched on to by Ryan Sageman, who finished coolly to put Rangers in the lead.

Longsocks levelled when a shot from just inside the box squirmed past Richie in the Rangers goal and the hosts were ahead again before half-time. A defensive error allowed Longsocks in to slot past the exposed Richie.

There will still time for Jennings to miss a first half penalty, shooting wide of the far left upright.

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The second half began slowly but a stroke of fortune saw Rangers draw level.

Jennings’ effort from outside the box deflected in off Ryan Sageman, and this was the springboard for Rangers to take control.

Banham put the visitors ahead before Sageman complete his hat-trick with a poacher’s finish.

Longsocks set up a grandstand finish when they pulled a goal back after 82 minutes but further goals from Sageman and the excellent Garry Clarke gave the score a more realistic look.

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