TEMPLE AND LEMPRIERE SECURE WIN FOR CHICHESTER

              Joe Briggs (Chichester) and Chirs Maynard (St. Francis) challenge for the ball (picture courtesy of Terry Goulds)

Goals from James Temple and Toby Lempriere were enough for Chichester City to complete the league double over St.Francis Rangers at Oaklands Park on Saturday.

Despite the visitors having a fair amount of the play, Ben Hitchman in the Chichester goal was rarely threatened during the afternoon and the Lillywhites could have easily surpassed the five goals they scored in the reverse fixture back in September.

Joe Briggs came close to opening the scoring for Chi after 19 minutes when despatching a 25 yard swerving shot which just dipped over the bar and James Temple pulled his shot wide on the half hour mark following a neat flick-on from Charlie Marshall.

Chichester’s opener came on 38 minutes when Temple controlled a long range Jason Minton Free-kick on his chest, expertly turned his marked and then smashed the ball home from 20 yards to record his 7^th goal of the season.

Temple should have doubled the lead early in the second half when Benjamin gifted him with an inch perfect cross but the tall centre forward just headed over the bar and he then pushed another shot wide minutes later when clean through on goal.

James Ford was next in line to try and secure Chichester’s victory but his power packed shot was tipped onto the post by Lehkyj in the visitor’s goal following a Cutler corner.

With 75 minutes on the clock the game had to be stopped when one of the referee’s assistants, John Hill, was taken unwell but the game was able to continue when one of the City supporters, Harry Smith, kindly agreed to run the line.

Following the restart Chichester continued to push forward with Cutler rounding the keeper only to see his tame shot cleared off the line, Brockway blasting over from close range, Temple heading just wide and substitute Alec Brown shaving the bar with his 20 yard attempt.

Chichester finally made the game safe with 2 minutes remaining when Callum Cutler reached the byline and pulled the ball back for substitute Toby Lempriere who coolly slotted home to record his first ever senior goal.

Report written by Martin "Vinnie" Smith