Subs: 12 D McArthur (on for S cole 48mins), 14 S Price, 15 L Ridgeway, 16 D Cole, M Norris
yellow: R Martin 35mins, S Loft 45mins, M Gall 90mins
Red: None
Goals: D Leach 15mins (Penalty), D Clarke 55mins
Final Score: 2-1
Rye United win

Rye U 2 - 1 Selsey

Another glorious day for football weather and pitch almost perfect. Once
again McArthur was sidelined but this time was at least on the bench. Also
with John Saunders in the Rye goal the third goalie this season.

Rye's trade mark start on the 1st minute saw Ellis shoot over the bar, but it was
Saunders who was called upon and saved the ball that was passed to the striker
who was fortunately offside.

Again on 10 mins Ellis swung in a devilish Free kick
that swung out of reach of advancing players. Saunders came and punched but
again the ball fell to Selsey and the shot was headed by tupps off the line.

The game turned when on 14 mins Selsey were forced on the back foot and had
to deal with 2 quickfire shots, resulting from great midfield play. The
first struck a defenders leg and out for Radley to hit a thunderbolt that
was deemed to strike a Selsey hand. Such was the ferocity of the shot any
goalkeeper would have been proud to have stopped it.

Unfortunately a red
card was shown and the ref pointed to the spot. 15 mins Leach put the
penalty away. Rye nearly doubled the score straight away when Selsey Keeper
had to tip away a Rye corner and then Leach looked to have done enough when
he brought the ball down behind enemy lines. He had just the keeper to beat
but he possibly had too much time as his shot was easily saved.

Saunders still had to deal with the next 2 attacks first he caught a cross
and then punched away a corner. Luke Woodley crossed with only Clarke in the
box. However Clarke managed to connect with a thunderous header that went
wide and had it gone in would have been a contender for goal of the season.
Tupps tried to join in on the action and his shot from distance didn’t have
enough pace to trouble the keeper.

Again Luke Woodley hit a cross that Leach struck but this was blocked point
blank by the keeper. Ellis broke free down the left and stabbed a cross over
with the outside of his right boot running past everyone including his rye
attackers waiting in the box. Selsey had the last say when Saunders tipped
onto his own bar with a reflex save, he again punched away the resulting
corner keeping Rye's lead intact for the whistle.

Second half saw the introduction of McArthur for the sacrifice of Sam Cole.
Lofty who had been quietly dealing with most events at the back nearly
scored with a flick at the far post. Ellis came close when he ran in to
head strongly and unopposed just over from a Luke Woodley cross . It was
Clarke who doubled the lead on 55 mins when a ball through midfield wasn’t
dealt with by Selsey and Rye set up Clarke to hit from outside the area. The
keeper not in position expecting a pass back from Selsey watched as Clarke
volley home.

Selsey with their 10 men nearly replied a moment later when a long range
shot hit the angle of post and bar. Leach replied with a shot but again the
Selsey keeper ( their best player IMO) saved down low. Selsey on 63 mins
were rewarded when a ball over the rye defence was squared in front of goal
and Wimble took his chance well. Leach then fell foul to 3 consecutive off
sides proving Rye were still up for more goals. Saunders relied on his knee
cap to stop a Selsy shot when presented with a striker bearing down on goal
unchallenged.

McArthur still appearing to be struggling with his injury hit a dipped
curler that forced an acrobatic save from the selsey keeper. Ellis then
somehow managed to cross the ball right onto Clarkes boot but his near post
effort flicked across the whole goal and out.

Saunders still had work to do and in the 85 min he made a brilliant one
handed top corner save to deny Selsey a replay. Luke Woodley had now
switched to the right and his cross was just over Leacs head and ended up
with Selsey on the attack. Rye were still wanting to score more and gave the
ball away when in the opponents goal area. The last action saw Rye shaking
their heads when a last ditch Selsey free Kick saw all the team flood the
box including the keeper and the eventual shot was just a foot wide. The ref
blew up for time.

To Summarise Rye are very dangerous going forward but still invite
opposition to have a go and score even if they have 10 men. Rye deserved the
win and Leach and Clarke loking more dangerous with every game.


Shots RYE - 15

SELSEY - 7

Cards yellow Rye - Loft, Martin ,Gall

Yellow Selsey – 3

RED Selsy - 1