Petworth, Midhurst, Stedham and Chichester U23s in winning form

East Dean 2 Petworth 3

WSFL Championship

East Dean were beaten by the odd goal in five at home to Petworth.

Dean started the game with a three four three formation. Josh English coming in between the sticks. Freeman, Clark and Houghton made up the back three.Dan Richards, Ceri Marsh, Dom Buckley and Ben Pett the midfield and Joby Oram, Connor Clark and James Ford as the front three.

East Dean started slowly and were on the back foot for much of the first 20 minutes. Pressure told and Petworth took their chance to go 1-0 up through McManus.

As the half ended, Dean were starting to get back in it with Houghton going close with a diving header and James Ford having a chance from the edge of the box.

After half-time, Hagger and Hounsome came on for Dan Richards and Joby Oram. The Dean immediately started to look brighter but then found themselves 2-0 down through a Warren goal.

Dean continued to get themselves on the ball and some excellent midfield play by Hounsome, dribbling past a couple of players, ended with a delightful flick over the top to Hagger, who finished beautifully across the keeper into the bottom corner.

Dean grabbed a fortunate equaliser after a Josh English clearance was put into his own net by the Petworth keeper. It looked like the game was going to end as a draw but Petworth managed to grab a winner late on with a looping Scutt shot over English in the Dean goal.

* Petworth Reserves beat Henfield Reserves 2-1.

East Dean v Petworth picture special.

Chichester City and Worthng share friendly spoils.

Chi City U2s 6 Pagham U23s 0

Chi City’s under-23 team hit neighbours Pagham for six as football returned to Oaklands Park after the latest lockdown.

Callum Overton, a first team player on his way back from a nasty injury, bagged a hat-trick against the Lions.

Things started evenly and there was a chance for the visitors early on when a nice dribble into the box ended with a low drive that fizzed wide of Steve Mowthorpe’s upright.

Chichester responded and went ahead in the 20th minute as Overton, latched on to a cross. Overton was clinical once more just five minutes later and fired a rebound into the back of the net to double the lead.

Mowthorpe did well to save smartly with his feet eight minutes before the break.

Chi were full of confidence in the second half and Cam Russell made it 3-0 six minutes in with a super volley and the hosts added a fourth moments later.

Chichester were dominant as they increased their comfortable lead when Overton coolly grabbed his third goal of the game from the penalty spot just after the hour mark.

Luke Wallis wrapped things up with a late goal after good work by Hayden Thelwell.

LIAM GALLAGHER

* Chichester and Selsey Ladies lost 4-0 at Watford in the FA WNL southern premier on Sunday.

Bosham beaten by St Francis.

Midhurst 2 Wick 1

SCFL division one

Andy Ewen was delighted with his side’s 2-1 win over Wick in their first game back.

He said: “It was pleasing to get back playing competitive football – the lads have really worked hard over Lockdown 2, maintaining their fitness levels.

“We’d managed to get a friendly in at Liphook United, where the whole squad had a run out.”

Against Wick, the Stags were hit on the break with George Codyplaying in Dan Simmonds, who was bought down by Stags skipper Harry Farr for a penalty from which Kieran Howard beat s keeper Josh Bird in the 17th minute.

Midhurst responded immediately with Kieran Carter firing into the top corner.

The second half was feisty but Wick keeper Jordan Matthews had a moment of madness in the 56th minute, kicking the ball straight to Jake Slater, who from 25 yards out sent a delicate chip over the keeper and in.

Wick piled on the pressure, but strong defending, two good saves from Bird, and a clearance off the line secured the Stags’ win.

Ewen said: “The lads really stuck together; the commitment and desire was there to see. We also looked dangerous on the break with Marcus Bedford and Lewis Hamilton both having good chances.

“It was a pleasing three points against a good experienced side but it will mean nothing if we can’t back it up at home to Worthing Saturday.”

Stedham 1 Southwater 0

WSFL premier division

Stedham’s new first XI management duo of Tom Chaplin and Adam Playford got off to a winning startby overcoming a stubborn Southwater 1-0 in the West Sussex premier.

Chaplin and Playford were able to name a squad of 16, and debuts were handed to new signings Keith Martin and Jack Abel, while other recruits Ryan Hyde and Loui Bicknell had to settle for a spot on the bench.

The first half was a tight affair with few clear-cut chances but the home side broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.

A foul on a Stedham player resulted in a free-kick 22 yards from goal and Liam Dreckman struck a left-footed drive that proved too powerful for the keeper.

After the break the home side were thwarted by Harry Lambert in the Stedham goal.

Chaplin and Playford utilised the whole squad in the second half with every man playing their part in securing the victory.

MoM was Jack Pattison who worked tirelessly in midfield.

Chaplin said “I was pleased with the overall performance, particularly keeping a clean sheet. We were resolute every time Southwater came knocking.”

Playford added: “Credit to the lads, they have been training in numbers and applying themselves really well and here they got their reward.”

Chaplin added: “It was a positive start for Adam and me, but it is just that, a start, we now need to follow that up this week at Rudgwick before we break for Christmas.”

The second XI secured an excellent point against Trojans, Callum Thompson picking up the MoM award and Staurt Day scoring.

n The club would like to extend huge thanks to The Wheatshef for generously sponsoring the new first XI kit this season, which made a winning debut on Saturday.

Pictured is Chaplin with the new strip.