FIRST TEAM MATCH REPORT

'GOAL'DEN DEBUT AND DOUBLE BRACE SEALS WIN

Rustington executed a professional display at Finches Field to thrash Pease Pottage, Andy Smart finding some much needed form contributing with a double, Brett Neal with a cameo brace, and a debut goal from Arundel signing Andy Boxall in his first start. Neal returned to the side after illness at Steyning. James Butt was also installed at right back in the place of Richie Hellen.

From the off, Pease Pottage were easily exposed down the left flank, and took the early lead after just three minutes. Lee Gibbs playing a lofted pass into the feet of Andy Smart, who from an acute angle, finished with ease to give the Blues a superb start. A pattern of play was emerging after just 10 minutes, with the Villagers defense looking particularly frail. A couple of minutes later, a corner found Russell Tomlinson at the far post with the header finding the side netting.

A similar move from the opening goal ensued on the quarter hour mark, Smart was released again from what seemed a better angle, unfortunately this time the shot going wide. It took twenty-one minutes for Pease Pottage to significantly attack the Rustington a goal, a nice move involving Mo Shuga and Richard Watts results in a goal-line block from Brett Neal.

It wasn’t long until the second came, after a short corner, Chris Green supplied a cross into the box that found Brett Neal, although Neal miskicked with his first effort, it enabled him to find space and time with the defenders bemused to fire the second effort into the net with a comprehensive effort from 12 yards. Three minutes later a similar play developed with Andy Boxall almost getting on the end of a goal mouth tussle. Rustington were dominating proceedings especially on the setpeices, Pease Pottage outplayed on every area of the pitch. Sean Duffy was finding joy down the right, a cross finding the advancing Neal and Tomlinson, who just missed the header. The excellent wingplay held consistent up to the half time mark, but there was one more goal to come before the break - Smart was alert to get the throw in early to find Andy Boxall in acres of space and time to finish and open his account for Rustington.

The second half is similar to the first, with Rustington continuting to thake charge, overhead kicks were providing through balls to the strikers. Joey Cumber almost letting Smart through early in the second half. Chances came thick and fast, for Sean Duffy, Boxall and Smart. After what appeared to be an injury to Boxall, he was replaced by Steve Kirkham. An excellent perfromance assisting Gibbs on the left was Chris Green, he was able to find anothe accurate pass to Gibbs, a square ball would have seen Duffy increase the lead, but opted for the shot that was easy for the Pease Pottage keeper.

McCarthy was alert when required, saving superbly from the Pease Pottage substitute, Darren Norris with a wonderful fingertip save, and with fifteen minutes to go, Jamey Bashford and Richie Hellen replaced Lee Gibbs and Andy Smart. The fourth goal came after 78 minutes - Smarty able to walk into the box via the byline and provides a ball who finds Brett Neal with a tap in, the resulting celebration would have made Olga Korbut proud. Kirkham compounded the misery in the last minute, providing a great looping ball to Andy Smart all alone on the left hand side and smashes his shot into the net.

A clinical victory for Rustington, who will be pleased with winning ways and a confidence boost before the next serious challenge, a tie at home against Southwick for a semi final place in the Division 2 Cup.

Blues boss Gareth Davies was delighted with the performance more so than the result ‘It was a good performance of the back of a disappointing two weeks for us, hopefully it can kick us into some form as we enter a massive December for the club, the pre season target of 40 pts is getting nearer and we have already exceeded our expectations for the season before Xmas’