Chichester City’s September giveaway continued as they conceded a trio of soft second half goals to gift all three points to League leaders, Crowborough Athletic.

A week earlier a similar second half lapse had undone some good work in the first half at Oakwood and once again poor defensive communication allowed their opponents to score the simplest of goals.

An even first half saw City create most of the chances yet the Crows probably wasted the best two opportunities when substitute Chris Ransome and Liam Bull both missed the target from close range. At the other end Drew Crush cleared off the line from Russ Hardwell and Scott Murfin just failed to pick out Hardwell with his cross after outpacing the visitors defence. Calum Cutler shot over the bar and Adrian Brockway was denied by a brave challenge from Crows ‘keeper Rob Gordon.

And so into the second half all square and all to play for until the 53^rd minute when a mix up in the City defence left Bull with the sort of easy tap in that strikers dream about when the ball drops on your foot as you stand on the goalline.

Cutler then fired wide of the visitor’s goal after creating a shooting chance and Scott Murfin was crowded out by weight of numbers.

But worse was to follow for City with a freshly reshuffled defence as Peter Houkes and Neil Murfin allowed Bull to nip in between them for his second tap in of the afternoon.

Still reeling City conceded a third within a minute. This time Ross Treleaven surged down the right to fire his shot past Houkes to make sure the points were heading East.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Houkes, Foster, Guarnaccio, Johnson, Jones, Brockway, Hardwell, Ward, Cutler, Murfin N., Murfin S
Subs: Turvey & Fennemore (both used), Case (not used)
Scorers: -

Attendance: 55