Swan sink as Rangers get season going swimmingly at last

Lining up with a new 5-3-2 formation for the Chichester & West Sussex Sunday League division-one clash, they took the visitors by surprise and on 15 minutes took the lead, Jeff Holland turning in Matthew Robb’s cross despite appeals for offside.

Andrew Dean was unlucky not to add to their lead, Swan keeper Dixon making a superb save down low to his right.

FC Swan began to come back into it as the first half wore on. MacIver did superbly to clear off the line from a goalbound effort.

Swan started the second half brightly and as the half wore on laid siege to the Rangers goal. However the Rangers back-line, marshalled superbly by Christopher Heller and with superb performances by Alexander MacIver and debutant Daryl Long, were superb.

Rangers could have sealed the game on the counter-attack. Alex Tonks, superb at right wing-back, unleashed a long-range effort that was tipped over by Dixon.

For all the visitors’ possession, Luke McLaren was called into action only twice. First he made a superb save low to his right and then he pulled off a great reaction save from point-blank range. Lewis Hamilton blazed over from close range with the visitors’ final chance.

RANGERS: McLaren, Tonks, Wheeler (Davis 60), MacIver, Heller, Long, Holland, Dean, Stock (Smith 70), Robb, Clarke. Sub not used: Negus.

Elmer 2 Butlins 1

Division three

A tense top-of-the-table encounter saw Elmer come from behind in the final 15 minutes to secure a hard-fought victory.

A match well refereed by Paul Barratt saw a number of robust challenges very early as both teams endeavooured to gain superiority.

The lightning pace of Ayron Beaumont on Butlins’ left wing caused Elmer’s Kainu Lewis a few problems but a stirling effort by the Elmer defence kept chances to a minimum.

Elmer enjoyed a period of domination so it was somewhat against the run of play when defensive confusion between the Elmer keeper Kevin Nanson and central defender Luis Gonzalez resulted in the unfortunate Gonzalez putting the ball into his own net after 25 minutes.

Elmer had to play with ten men for the remainder of the half after Tom Bann carried an awkward shoulder injury from a heavy fall after a challenge from Nick Tipper.

The second half started with Jamie Hambidge replacing Bann and Alex Peach moving into centre midfield. Taking time to settle into the new formation, Elmer struggled to create clear openings. But you’d be hard-pressed to remember Nanson being called upon to make a meaningful save.

Kyle Belcher was sent on to replace Lewis on the hour.

Ronnie Lewry picked up a loose ball in the Butlins area and set up Matt Hope for an equaliser on 76 minutes.

Butlins and their travelling army of more than 40 fans were shaken and top scorer Nathan Sadler secured the three points for the hosts with just four minutes remaining.

Despite heated and ambitious offside claims, the goal stood to send Elmer’s own fans wild with delight.

Pirates 6 West Dean 2

Southdown Rosebowl

Kerry Hardwell scored his second hat-trick of the season as Nyetimber Pirates eased through to the semi finals against depleted West Dean.

New boy Joe Williams had his first start after receiving international clearance from the US FA.

Pirates found themselves 1-0 down after a West Dean free-kick bounced through the Pirates’ wall and skipped past Pirates keeper Jamie Walter into the bottom corner.

Nyetimber equalised through Tom Williamson but were behind after another free-kick wasn’t dealt with in the box as it bounced straight in.

Next it was turn of the other Williamson brother Sean to grab his fith of the season and make it 2-2 at the break.

Pirates boss Welling made a triple subsitituion early on in the second half which saw Ballard, Griffin & Burton join the midfield pack.

The substitutions changed the game as Joe Williams capped his man-of-the-match performance with a debut goal after heading in a Kerry Hardwell cross.

Hardwell twice scored with his head to put them 4-2 up after Joe Williams delivered two perfectly-placed crosses.

Hardwell completed his hat-trick after a goalmouth scramble left him with just the keeper to beat.

PIRATES: Walter, Carter, Urqhart, Palmer, Tribe,

S Williamson, T Williamson, Williams, Vevers, Bishop, Hardwell. Subs: Griffin, Burton, Ballard.