Ringmer consolidated their position at the top of the County League with a 2-0 home win over Chichester City United on Saturday.

Ringmer manager, John Crumplin, has assembled a strong squad from the length and breadth of the county and even had two Polish national league players amongst his substitutes as this latest victory stretched their lead at the top to six points over reigning Champions Horsham YMCA.

City can testify that the home side are a strong all round outfit and from the moment the visitors took a 13^th minute lead the visitors were chasing the game. A cross from the left undid the City defence and Darren Tidey crashed in the opener.

It could have been worse six minutes later as James Smith’s lunge upended Gareth Green but Chris Dicker’s penalty cannoned off the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

City were really under the cosh at this stage defending the bottom goal on the famous Ringmer slope and Scott Tipper even dropped back so far that he cleared off his own goalline before the visitors began to reassert themselves.

Matt Smith wasn’t far away with an overhead kick at the other end and Tipper now operating in more familiar territory was bundled off a Neil Murfin cross and saw another effort scrape the outside of the post.

Turning round a goal down wouldn’t have seemed such a bad thing but right on half time Ringmer extended their lead as new signing Gavin Jones from Three Bridges surged through the middle brushing off challenges to make it 2-0.

City were soon on the attack again at the start of the second period but Ross Standen made an important close range save from James Smith to maintain the home advantage. And that’s the way it stayed as Tidy just failed to make contact with a ball that fairly zipped across the face of the City goal and Gary Smart made good saves from Green and Julian Curnow.

The visitors held their own in this period but seldom really looked likely to get any joy against some resolute defending and the game ended with Jones creating space for himself at the other end only to crash his shot high over the bar.

So Ringmer nudged another three points closer to their first County League title in 35 years and City remain 7^th.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Smart, Miah, Smith J., Smith M., Guarnaccio, Chamberlain, Ward, Murfin N. Moore, Tipper, Vongas.
Subs: Murfin S., Adrian Brockway, & Gauntlett (all used), Evans (not used)
Scorers: -

Attendance: 49