FIRST TEAM MATCH REPORT

Rustington   0 - 3    East Grinstead Town

Champions East Grinstead gave a masterclass of the counter-punch at Jubilee Saturday afternoon as the Blues drew the curtain on their first senior league season with a defeat. Victory for Lingfield meant they claimed runner up spot ahead of Rustington with Peacehaven level on points and an inferior goal difference in fourth. Steve Kirkham replaced Andy Boxall up front, and Sean Duffy was brought back into the starting lineup at right back with Ryan Morten occupying the central midfield in the two changes from the team that trounced Crawley Down last week.

Members of the press hardly had a chance to write the teams down as Rustington almost struck early – Andy Smart and Kirkham let loose in the opening ninety seconds. The Blues continued a good passage of opening play, particularly down the flanks, Richie Hellen and James Butt building from the back, with Joe-Lewis Cumber and Kirkham stretching wide to trouble the defence. The Wasps, starved of any territorial advantage in the first quarter of the game then struck. East Grinstead won a free kick just inside the Blues half on the right flank. Ben Burns, the man who gained the free kick – advanced into the area, a well delivered cross was only parried by McCarthy, but Burns followed up to belt the Wasps into the lead.

Unperturbed, Rustington went on to find the equalizer, Duffy supplied a quality ball through to Butt , who saw his well struck shot saved by Lee Whibley. Kirkham, Cumber and Smart all linked well but Cumber’s cross was just too high for Smart to prod in from close range. On 27 minutes, more fine work was spoilt – a free kick on the edge of the area was lined up Ben Burns – his fantastic curler coupled with poor organization of the wall and McCarthy’s placement could have prevented the ball nestling in the top right corner of McCarthy’s goal, nevertheless – the Wasps had a two goal advantage. Towards the half-hour mark Rustington were beginning to lose their concentration and East Grinstead began to sweep up the route one mentality that was creeping into the Blues game. Andy Smart, Ryan Morten and Joe-Lewis Cumber all contributed to moves towards the end of the half, but the Wasps were not done either, Adam Dart picked out a screaming run from Michael Belli who shot well only to be denied by a good reaction save from McCarthy.

The second half started badly for the Blues, Michael Belli picked up the ball well and leaving McCarthy in no man’s land – messily finished to extend the East Grinstead lead. This sparked a triple substitution for Rustington, Davies bringing on Russell Tomlinson, Andy Boxall and Craig Cox for Brett Neal, Andy Smart and Steve Kirkham. Both teams continued to play good football – Adam Bibb leading well from the back setting up play from the back to Gibbs and Cumber. As the game settled to an air of end-of-season pace, the referee began to lose control with a couple of two footed tackles missed riling both benches. Another half chance from a Duffy cross almost found Craig Cox and East Grinstead’s Dan Sullivan assist almost led to Belli claiming his brace, but after one final shot from Lee Gibbs, the game drew to a close.

A somewhat anti-climactic end to the season for the Blues, however the complete overall season performance completely overshadowed today’s defeat. An exemplary first senior season with a cup-final this week will hopefully bring a piece of silverware the entire Rustington organization deserve.

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