Subs: 12 B Radley (on for S loft 82mins), 14 J Watson (on for D Leach 70mins), 15 S Cole (on for D McArthur 77mins), 15 R Saunders, 17 J Saunders
Yellow: None
Red: None
Goals: D Ellis 57 & 77mins, D Clarke 76mins, Own Goal
Final score: 4-2
Rye United Win

Rye U 4 - 2 Southwick

The Pitch held out quite well considering the recent weather conditions mainly
soggy goal mouths and centre circle. Wind and rain drifted in and out all
game.

Rye were wary of these opponents who had beaten the top placed team the week
before but it was Rye who again were to dominate the match. In the first few
minutes Macca took a FK either too quickly or Leach was too slow getting
into position and the ball rolled harmlessly out for a GK.

Luke Woodley and Danny Ellis both already making their mark in the game in
the first 10 mins with lots of inter passing, but it took 12 mins for either
team to create a real chance and this time Ellis’s cross from the right
almost went in high at the far post. The defender having to perform a
jumping backwards header and out for a corner. 2 mins later and Lofty
climbed the highest to head well over from a corner.

14 mins and Southwick saw their first effort go well wide from a FK headed a
good 10 yds wide. Lofty then provided a cross from the right as Rye pushed
well up field. The cross was intercepted by Leach who miss controlled but
it rolled to McArthur who’s spinning shot was dabbed nervously wide by the
keeper.

Ryes first goal on 20 mins was an unavoidable OG. Rye put Southwick under
tremendous pressure and the ball whipped in meant the defender could only
deflect into his own net.

Southwick could only watch as Rye continued to steal the show, Leach having
his shot blocked from an Ellis cross swung in from the left and McArthur
forcing the keeper to dive to his left. On 28 mins Southwick had woken up a
bit and Rye shakily had to clear a shot from the goal that was past the
keeper. Soon it was back to business as usual and McArthur again unlucky
when his touch was too strong when poking past the last man ending in the
ball being shepherded out by the keeper 2 feet from the line. I must point
out at this stage that Southwick were calling for every nudge or knock and
constantly asked the ref to give them decisions that were not there.
On 40 mins Southwick ventured into foreign territory for the third time this
half but their FK was over hit and very wide. Another wide shot came this
time from Rye when Ricky Martin hit wide from great build up play.
The save of the day came when Clarke headed an Ellis cross under the bar and
this was tipped over in a flying save. The ref had blown for a foul by
Clarke for whom the ref seemed to penalize every contact he made as a foul.
On the other hand any foul against him = play waved on as in the next
instance. Clarke had beaten the keeper to the ball and dinked over the
crouching keepers head, only for the keeper to stand up and block Clarke who
then bounced away to the side. All penalty appeals were greeted by the ref
with a wave of the arm to Clarke to get up. Half time Rye 1-0.

Second half and Rye started strongly enough and Ginge hit one over the bar
but it was the visitors on 51 mins that made their mark when awarded a
penalty , Gardner was penalized for pushing Southwick off the ball after Rye
had not cleared properly and were forced into a defensive mishap. Southwick
buried the ball to equalize,surely Rye were not going to throw this game
away.

Rye responded in the 57th minute when the outstanding Ellis determined to
get to a ball that he probably shouldn’t have got to, ran past the defender
and fended him off to square up to the keeper and slam into the net. In
fact he was unlucky not to double his tally when his shot from distance hit
the right post and bounced out behind the rooted keeper and away to safety.
Southwick could only reply with another well wide header from a FK.

Back at the other end Leach was unlucky not to connect to a Luke Woodley
cross. Leach replaced by Watson. Ellis then got a well earnt second when a
clearance from the Rye defence was controlled by Clarke who then passed to
Ellis who had now joined alongside upfront and the 73rd min shot again left
the keeper no chance.
On 76 mins however, a contender for goal of the season was struck by Clarke
,in acres of space, he brought down a GK on his boot and turned and volleyed
in one move from over 25 yds out. Apparently similar to the liverpool goal
scored by Insua.
McArthur replaced by S Cole and Lofty replaced for B Ridgway. A Rye shot
from the halfway line bounced once infront of goal made the keeper jolt
into action to tip past the post knowing he was never going to catch it. Rye
took their feet off the pedal , this coupled with Southwick not giving up
meant that Gardner saving with his feet at the expense of a corner.

Eventually the visitors got the ball over and Gardner was this time in the
wrong position to make a stop and the ball landed in the net the clock
showing 85 mins. Previously Gardner had done well to gather from a strikers
feet bearing down on goal and saved a stabbed shot at the second grab.
Southwick had a FK very central but again hit too wide.

Last action was a Watson chip that landed into the keepers arms after good
work from Ellis pressuring the defence.

To summarise Rye were awesome and again Ellis was outstanding he got my MOM
but surely the talking point was the wonder strike by Clarke. Ricky Martins
name was mentioned to me by Scott Price after the match for particular
mention. Again a whole team performance and no cards for either team.

Shots Rye - 14

Southwick - 7 ( including the row Z ones )