Chichester City can’t fell Sevenoaks – Lancing stun Three Bridges - Bosham and Brook welcome record crowd

From kick-off, writes Peter Hutchings, Chichester seized the initiative and played incisive football with Rob Hutchings, Isaac Bello and Ethan Prichard causing havoc down the left.

Sevenoaks and former Rocks keeper Amadou Tangara was forced into a good save from Bello after 60 seconds, which resulted in a corner.

Two minutes later Bello broke clear again and should have opened the scoring and Rob Hutchings might have done better after a defence splitting run.

The football cliché about not taking your chances proved true again when, against the run of play, Sevenoaks took the lead in the 11th minute.

Ben Pashley misplaced a pass, the only mistake he made all game, and it was seized on by the Oaks centre forward Rowan Liburd who put the hosts ahead.

Although the absence of Joe Clarke impacted the physicality of the City midfield, Joe Moore, Emmett Dunn and Conrad Honore continued to cause problems.

Chi’s defence had little to do and the calm presence of Curtis Da Costa continued to impress.

Towards the end of the first half the home team begun to press and Kieran Magee produced a couple of smart saves.

The second period began with Chichester pressing high, with Sevenoaks happy to sit back and play on the break.

Sevenoaks grew into the game and Chichester continued to press. At the midway point Chichester lost Honore to what looked like a hamstring injury, and he was replaced by Olly Munt.

Ethan Prichard looked a disconsolate figure as he worked hard to create a breakthrough – frustrated with both himself and the referee.

A combination of resolute Oaks defending and poor Chi decision-making meant that it remained 1-0 as referee Lawrence Torz-Brown signalled nine minutes of added time.

Half chances came and went, but in the 94th minute Rob Hutchings sent a 30-yard diagonal cross to the far post. Unfortunately, however, the incoming Munt was unable to convert.

It was no surprise when Tangara was named MOM.

Chichester are sixth in the table, two points off second spot with games in hand.

It would appear Ramsgate and Cray Valley are the standout teams in the league, but Chi are more than capable of challenging.

This was a great game for the neutral, and yet again an opposition manager said Chichester were the “best footballing side in the league”.

However, the conundrum for the City management and players is how good performances are turned into positive results.

The positives – Chi are playing good football, dominating games, creating chances, have a great team spirit and have only conceded three goals in eight league games.

City host Mertsham in the league on Saturday at Bognor.

Lancing 4 Three Bridges 0

Isthmian south east

by Dave Wilmott

Three Bridges arrived at Culver Road as hot favourites to cement their place at the top of the table. The statistics were overwhelmingly in their favour. Played 9 (league games), scored 27, points 23. Lancing had found scoring to be difficult with only 8 scored in 7 games. But as Greavesy used to say “It’s a funny old game, Saint.”

Lancing were without the suspended Kyle Sim. Jack Meeres was back, having recovered from injury and Sam Bull partnered him at centre back. Not having been available for Sheppey, it was good to see leading goal scorer Lukas Franzen-Jones back.

Bridges started on the front foot and it was looking ominous for a little while as Talloh slipped the ball behind the Lancing defence for Lawson to run on to. But he fired straight into the arms of Louis Rogers. Ethan Archer, who was to prove Bridges most potent weapon, picked up the ball from deep, ran towards the box but his finish was well above the cross bar.

Lancing appeared nervy during the opening 10 minutes or so, as demonstrated by a Charlie Gibson attempted clearance, which cleared the fence behind the goal. This was matched immediately afterwards when Bridges laid the ball from the corner to an awaiting player who also put his effort out of the ground at a similar height.