Subs: 12 L woodley (on for R Martin), 14 M Gall, 15 D Cruttenden (on for D Clarke), 16 J Watson (on for P tuppenney), 17 J Saunders

Yellow: None

Red: None

Goals: S Cole 8mins, R Martin 15mins, D Clarke 39mins, D Leach 45mins, Cruttenden 46 mins

Final Score: 0-5

Rye United Win

Midhurst & Ease 0-5 Rye U

A Glorious sunny afternoon and a very hard pitch greeted Rye when they
visited the bottom placed opposition. Recent results from the home side had
indicated that they had improved from earlier in the season although too
late to save them from relegation. And this proved the case with Rye
cruising to another clean sheet win. Danny Ellis unavailable and with some
player bans looming ahead Rye needed the 3 points from this game.

Midhurst could have caused more problems than they did, and on 3 mins
Midhurst won a FK but wasted it and this was to be the pattern of their
play.

At the other end Leachs shot was defended out for a throw which when taken
was directed at Ramsey who shot wide.

Rye's first goal came from a thumping shot on 10 mins after Paul Watsons lob
over the defence bounced nicely in front of Cole to run through and fire
home.

Next action was a shot by Midhurst that had Gardner calling for it and then
scrambling it away for a corner. Rye however got back into the groove when
on 17 mins Maccas audacious chip from wide rebounded off the cross bar and
bounced nicely onto Ricky Martins head who was running in towards goal.

Later Clarke fired wide from Paul Watsons low FK which he crossed into the
box. Clarke going close again from a long range effort and Tupps headed wide
from a corner.

What looked like an overhit Midhurst corner that evaded everyone ended up
being hit well over the bar into row z by an unmarked player running in.
This was followed by a scuffed effort that spun kindly to Gardner and had
the striker had more composure it could have been a goal. At the other end
Tupps great work and cross was narrowly missed by Leachs head in front of
goal.

Midhursts best chance probably was when the ball was pumped forward from a
defender high up the pitch and Gardner just managed to catch the ball at
full stretch as it nearly bounced over him. Anyway this was a small
distraction as Rye managed to score another on 40 mins when another slide
rule Macca pass set up Cole out wide to cross behind the keeper for Clarke
to tap in over the line.

This was immediately followed by identical misses from Leach and Macca
shooting over the bar in front of goal on the edge of the area.

On 44 mins Midhurst should have done better when Gardner tried to liven
things up when he failed to gather at the edge of the area and only
succeeded in palming the ball to set up a Midhurst striker, his shot was
only stopped short of the mark by a sliding block from a Rye defender.

However the balance was restored when in added time over the 45 Leach
managed to capitalise on a mix up between defender and keeper who didnt
clear the ball away. Leach somehow manged to close down and fired home from
in side the area. Rye went in at half time 4 – 0 up.

Second half and Dom Cruttenden who came on as a sub fired home on 46 mins.
Midhurst replied with a shot dipping over the bar. In fact Midhurst had a
better second half having a bit more possesion although mainly in neutral
ground.

Maccas cross on 68 mins aimed at Sam Cole was caught one handed by the home
keeper, and Leach had a shot blocked with Macca screaming for the ball in
front of goal.

Midhursts next corner was headed at target and Gardner ended up making a
point blank save at the expense of a corner. The subsequent corner brought
Gardner into action again and Midhurst saw their effort tipped by the Rye
keeper onto the bar and finally away to safety.

At the other end Leachs lobbed shot went wide after being forced wide
himself from rounding the keeper with a nifty dink. Sam Cole fired wide
after build up play possibly involving a touch from every Rye player. The
game ended with Midhurst bringing a comfortable diving save from Gardner.

Well done everyone

Shots Rye 16

Midhurst & E 8