Defeat at East Grinstead on Saturday meant that Chichester City United have taken just one point from a sequence of three consecutive away games.

City did well to hang on for a point at Horsham YMCA against the unbeaten league leaders a fortnight ago and were unlucky at Ringmer but were definitely second best against an ordinary East Grinstead outfit.

Once again manager Adie Girdler was faced with enforced team changes with Paul Thomas and Matt Osborne absent and Scott Murfin suffering a knock and unable to start. Neil Murfin took over the captains' armband and Russ Hardwell, Belal Miah and Omidede Dedegbe all came back into the side.

On a heavy pitch City made an ideal start with a goal as early as the eighth minute as Dedegbe got clear and steered his shot just inside the far post as home goalkeeper Dave Tidy advanced off his line.

Dave Wright also went close with a free header from a corner on the right but East Grinstead started to enjoy more of the play and Lee Hanson glanced his header across the face of the City goal.

With the home momentum building there was no surprise when East Grinstead drew level on 23 minutes as Kris Trevor sprang the offside trap. Whether Trevor was onside when the ball was played through we shall never know but the home striker went on to take the ball round Barry Squires and angle his shot through a retreating City rearguard.

Maybe City were still sulking two minutes later when Paul Davies rose unmarked at a corner to head firmly past Squires and a one goal advantage had changed to a one goal deficit in virtually no time at all.

Grinstead had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards only this effort was ruled out for offside and Squires took a heavy knock in the process of trying to break up the attack.

Dedegbe got away again before the interval but this time raked his shot the wrong side of the post as City turned round 1-2 down.

An extended break saw the referee withdraw from the contest feeling unwell to be replaced by the senior linesman and another volunteer official recruited from the crowd but it made little difference to City as they continued to struggle to find any form. John Price returned from injury to replace Ben Hitchman and Scott Murfin came on late in the afternoon in place of Dedegbe but Tidy was seldom tested.

One strong effort from Neil Murfin warmed Tidy's hands and a Hardwell cross just eluded Scott Tipper yet there was little to suggest City could get back on terms and with three minutes left the home side extended their lead. Substitute Dave Gellatly had already let fly with two speculative efforts but this time battled hard to create space in the penalty area and eventually blasted his close range shot into the roof of the net.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Squires, Hardwell, Jackson, Wright, Hitchman, Hickman, N. Murfin, Thomas, Dedegbe, Tipper, Miah
Subs: Price and S. Murfin (both used)

Chichester Scorers: Dedegbe

Attendance: 87