It was stalemate at Church Road on Saturday as Chichester City United and Ringmer played out a goalless draw on a chilly February afternoon.

These two teams meet again at Lancing on Tuesday 15th March in the Final of the Sussex R.U.R. Charity Cup when one of them must emerge victorious, but neither side was taking any chances in the dress rehearsal.

Ringmer have a reputation for the meanest defence in the League, but don’t score many either so it was always likely to be a low scoring game. There were very few chances and most of the action was saved until a hectic last ten minutes.

A largely sterile first half saw Barry Squires in the City goal save one effort from Gareth Green but otherwise there wasn’t much for him to do and his counterpart at the other end was equally under employed. One stop at the base of the post from Scott Murfin was the sum total of Ross Standen’s involvement, although Paul Thomas might have done better with Russ Hardwell’s pull back from the by line than to hit his shot high over the bar.

Scott Tipper went close for City at the start of the second half and then headed a Hardwell free kick straight at Standen. Green was also off target for Ringmer at a free kick and a good shooting opportunity for Chris Johnson ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal.

But the momentum was at last starting to build up and the last ten minutes provided some quite entertaining end to end play for those still awake enough to enjoy it. Ringmers’ leading goal scorer Dominic Shepherd flicked an effort just wide of the City post with Squires stranded and then home substitute, Darren Hickman, set up the best chance of the match. Hickman’s strong run pierced the Ringmer defence at last and after slipping the ball past Standen it just needed Tipper to apply a final touch, but even then a Ringmer defender intervened to clear off the line and the chance was lost.

Johnson and Scott Murfin then both respectively missed the target with free kicks, Squires saved from Keiron Perkins and Hickman put another effort just wide.

Ringmers’ trump card might still have been manager/substitute and ex-professional, John Crumplin as he threatened to break down the City right in time added on but this time it was Dave Wright who made the vital tackle that guaranteed his side the point they deserved.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Squires, Hardwell, Jackson, Wright, Price, Robertson, Ward, Thomas, Tipper, Murfin N., Murfin S.
Subs: Hickman (used). Itagaki and Sargent (not used).

Chichester Scorers: -

Attendance: 70