Subs: 12 L Woodley (on for R Martin), 15 J Watson, 16 D Cruttenden (on for D Clarke), 17 B Ridgeway, 18 M Norris

yellow: S Cole, M Gall, D McArthur

Red: None

Final Score: 2-0

Loxwood win and go into Final 

Loxwood 2-0 Rye U

A very firm pitch and a bitter cross wind made this a night not to remember
and left Rye thinking on what could have been if they had taken their
chances.

Loxwood started with an attack that Clarke and Ellis did well to thwart deep
in their own half followed by Gardner having to cut out a cross at full
stretch on the ground.

However it was Rye who on 8 minutes started to push the ball around and
Radleys cross fell to Gall who could only sidefoot his effort straight into
the keepers arms. Radley again pushed forward and combined with Ellis but the
cross went out for a GK. Rye sustained pressure which meant Loxwood were on the
backfoot for a 10 minute period as Rye carved them apart. McArthur finding
1, 2s easily with Ellis inside the area. Another chance went by when a
Radley cross was deflected to the keeper with McArthur only feet away, the
ball spinning widly from the defenders touch. Leach this time shot from
distance but was easily caught by the keeper, at this stage most Rye players
had been involved in an attack.

Trouble was neatly avoided by a Sam Cole clearance after Ramseys back header
didn't make it back to Gardner and was intercepted. At the other end McArthur
saw a deflected shot on target gathered by the keeper.

On the 27th minute Loxwood managed to load the penalty area for a lofted FK,
Rye having to defend twice and still it fell to Loxwoods Aston who shot very
wide.

Matters were resumed when Gall's cross was hit first time by leach who's left
foot effort was blocked as it left his foot. Then Loxwood managed to pump
the ball forward and Gardner called for it and duly claimed it only to be
taken out by Loxwoods centre half (no:4), clearly too late to go unpunished.
The loxwood player surprisingly received only a yellow card but it was he that
scored when Rye panicked and concceded a corner that was headed home at
the far post on 40 mins.

The half ended with McArthur again finding time to play another give and go
this time with Clarke but the move was easily halted. Half time and Rye were
1 goal down after loxwood only having 2 efforts at goal.

Second half and Loxwood again had the first punch this time the cross
resulted in a shot caught by Gardner. Marc gall on the attack again headed
towards goal and the keeper having to jump to catch under the bar.

Loxwood found some gaps appearing now as Rye were pushing forward and Loft
has to slide to clear off the line on 56 mins. McArthur tried to even things
up when his long range shot was pushed round for a corner but the resulting
set piece was blocked yet again by a solid Loxwood defence.

The turning point probably was when McArthur FK on 65 mins seemed to take
everyone by surprise at it trundled across the turf and Ramsay was the
quickest to react and sidefooted wide of the startled keeper and struck the
post from about 5 yards out. It looked like it wasnt going to be Rye's night
but Rye showed determination as Ellis, who had been fairly quiet up till now,

turned defence into attack. Ricky Martin subbed for Luke Woodley on about
75 mins just in time to see a McArthur screamer from distance go marginally
wide.

The game was settled with Loxwoods next venture into foreign territory on 77
mins when a through ball caught out the Rye defence and their striker lobbed
Gardner near the edge of his area.

On 81 mins Rye hit the woodwork again when McArthurs FK slid down the far
post with no Rye players that far over to benefit ( by this time Rye had 3
up front and the Keeper). Leach also did well a few moments later when his
shot forced a flying save from the loxwood keeper.

Rye fought till the very end and McArthurs injury time FK whipped in just
over Rye heads was allowed to bounce and again flew out just too high to be
headed at goal.

The whistle blew and Rye had lost to an unadventurous Loxwood side who
created 4 chances all game. Much debate as to who the better team was, as
two opposing styles on show today but I'd rather watch Rye's attacking
football anyday.

Shots Rye 16

Loxwood 4


yellows Rye Gall, McArthur

Loxwood 3