CHI EXACT REVENGE OVER REDHILL AND RECLAIM TOP SPOT

CHICHESTER CITY reclaimed top spot in the Sussex County League with a narrow 1-0 victory over Redhill at Oaklands Park on Saturday. Previous League leaders, Whitehawk, were in FA Vase Fourth Round action at Bristol Manor Farm and now trail City by two points with three games in hand but may find their ongoing Cup commitments and fixture backlog a factor in the final months of the season. City Assistant Manager, Dave Kelly was pleased with another three points “it’s good to have the points in the bag. Whitehawk have some big games coming up and still have to come to Oaklands. You never know what may happen. We just have to keep going.”

Redhill are another side with promotion aspirations and had beaten City by a similar scoreline in the League Cup just three weeks earlier and again looked lively without the cutting edge to convert their possession and chances into goals.

City’s winner came early on when James Temple out jumped Red’s goalkeeper, Phil Sellek, to head in his fifteenth goal of the season from a Joe Briggs free kick in the 13^th minute.

Marcus Elliott drilled one good effort into the side netting for Redhill in the first half but the visitors will have turned round at half time thinking that was a poor outcome from the possession they had enjoyed.

The Red’s continued to pin City in their own half after the interval but were generally well contained by a City defence that ensured that goalkeeper, Anthony Ender, only had one sharp save to make to claim a shot from Elliott. A succession of corners produced no end product and as the game wore on it was City that created the best chances on the counter attack.

Callum Cutler fired a couple of shots over the bar and a neat flick from Ben Vassallo was cleared off the line by Calvin Headley. Jamie Ford also went close with a header and Temple almost claimed a second as the ball flashed across the goal area evading forwards and defenders alike.

City visit another of the top sides this Saturday when they travel to Peacehaven & Telscombe.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Ender, Minton, Ford, Bryan, Broadbent, Mullen, Long, Cutler, Temple, Vassallo, Briggs.
Subs Used: -
Not Used: James, Lempriere & Maddison
Scorers: Temple

Booked: Mullen, James
Sent Off: -
Man of Match: -
Attendance: 55