Subs: 12 L Woodley (on for Ellis), 15 N Godden, 16 B Ridgway (on for Leach), 17 D Cruttenden (on for Clarke), 18 J Saunders

Yellow: S Cole, S Ramsay

Red: None

Goals: D Leach

Final Score: 0-1

Rye United Win

Southwick 0-1 Rye

The Southwick pitch looked in good condition but quite hard. Rye started well and it
looked again like Rye would get another handfull of goals especially when
McArthurs cross in the 2nd minute hit the angle of post and bar. Southwick
then had a FK which they took too quickly even for their own players and the
ball carried to Gardners arms.

Another Southwick FK and the ref was blowing for any incident or contact,
this time it was for handball against Loft but to be fair to the ref he did
check his whistle worked every few minutes.

Rye struggled to make any headway until on 17 mins a piece of possession
football ended in shots by S Cole and R Martin from a sustained attack.

Southwicks best chance of the half , and as it turned out the game, was when
they broke free down the left and a good cross ended in the shot easily
gathered by Gardner.

The first corner of the game came on 25 mins when S Coles cross had to be
dealt with and put behind. However from this corner Rye gave possession away
and Southwick were on a break away until B Radley made a perfect timed
tackle to give the hosts a corner.

Things were starting to liven up a bit and Rye won another corner and Lofts
effort was blocked but fell to Ramsey who hit wide.

Ryes Goal came on 37 mins when a McArthur cross from the right was met by a
flick back header from Leach, again after another period of Rye turning the
heat up.

S Cole again delivered a superb cross from the left but a defender managed
to intercept inches from D Clarkes head.

Rye actually won a FK in the 42nd min when Ellis was tapped running towards
the box. McArthurs FK though was well short of expectations as it went
tamely across the turf and gathered by a kneling home keeper.

Rye were unlucky not to add to their tally when McArthurs cross field ball
was headed down by Clarke for Leach to collect but the flag was up for off
side. The first half ended with Rye applying still more pressure with
another S Cole cross.

Second half and it was Southwick who had the first chance in the opening
moments when after breaking away a cross from the left went across goal and
out for a GK, with 4 Southwick players waiting in the box.

Ellis replied at the other end with a fine shot just over after exceptional
passing play from Ryes midfield.

Loft was called into action at the back for Rye and he duly cleared the ball
a couple of streets away. The next southwick move saw a dink over Lofts head
this time and luckily for Rye the striker misfired and the shot spun wide.

On 54 mins the rye players were appealing for a corner after Loft headed
against a defender and out but the ref gave a GK. It looked likely that a
Rye player was to be carded but the ref just waved his arms about.

After an exchange of Fks and corners Ryes brilliant winger S Cole had a shot
that unluckily deflected straight to the static keeper.

Rye hadnt finished yet and took control midway through the half. McArthur
latched onto the home keepers miss hit cross goal clearance. McArthur shot
but the keeper got back and saved with his stretched out body, the ball
bouncing up and behind him. Fortunately for the keper he was able to catch
the ball before it went over the line whilst still lying on the floor.

McArthur followed this effort with Ryes best chance to double the score when
he and Leach got behind the defence and Leachs shot was saved by the keeper
but fell nicely to McArthur alongside him. McArthur somehow managed to shoot
across goal past an unguarded net and out for a GK, when it looked easier to
score.

Leach then hit a fierce shot that the keeper spilled out to the side but Rye
were not near enough to profit from the keepers error. Leach looked like he
may be through on a 1 on 1 but this time the ball over the top was cleared
on the edge of the area off Leachs toes by the Keeper.

Last action of note was when Mcarthur burst into the area after chesting the
ball in to the path of his run. He had Clarke alongside unmarked but chose
to shoot and it was blocked and out for a corner. Loft had an ambitious shot
from the resulting corner but after that, the last 8 mins or so , Southwick
thought after Ryes inability to finish them off they may be able to grab a
point. Southwick tried to probe but Ryes defence mostly dealt with any real
threats before any real danger ensued. That is except for the ref who still
persisted in gifting them set plays from his perpetual whistle. I can still
hear it now.

In the end another 3 points and a clean sheet. Well done lads.

Shots Rye 14

Southwick 4