Chichester defeated a highly motivated Eastbourne side in a very competitive game in difficult conditions.

The visitors played some remarkably good football straight from the kick off on a rock hard, sloping pitch in a very strong wind and with less than five minutes gone had established a two goal lead. Paris Hutton scoring twice, the second, a superb left footed drive from distance. Eastbourne eventually settled and Chichester's defence had to work hard to keep the lively Eastbourne strikers quiet.

Abbey Shrubb then scored twice to put city four up at the break. The first an excellent header from Abbie Crook's free kick, the second, a predatory six yard box finish.

Eastbourne used the strong wind in the second period to give the Chichester rear guard a thorough examination, but the defence and in particular Ruth Acott in the City goal were equal to the challenge and recorded their ninth clean sheet of the season. The only goal of the second half, a clinical left footed half volley from outside the area that gave Abbey Shrubb her ninth hatrick and took her season's tally to forty.

TEAM: Acott, Chamberlain, Spicer, Maher (R), Wiseman, Maher (A), Sherwood, Clark, Horne, Hutton, Crook.
SUBS:  Shrubb 
SCORERS: Shrubb(3), Hutton (2)
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester confirmed their position as Sussex Champions with their thirteenth straight league victory. A much improved Worthing side made United work hard for this victory. Paris Hutton was instrumental in most Chichester attacks in the first half and opened the scoring, reacting quickest to head in Chantelle Clark's cross. Hutton then doubled the lead just before half time, slotting home Rosie Maher's through ball. In the second half Abbey Shrubb scored twice and Amber Maher completed the scoring heading in Shrubb's corner at the far post.

The U16 Girls, who are sponsored by Scottish and Southern Energy are in only their second season at Chichester. The side has played some very attractive football throughout the campaign and so far scored a remarkable sixty six goals. However, as with all good sides, the team is strong throughout, highlighted by the fact that only seven goals have been conceded. Chichester have also scored a further 18 goals in reaching the County Cup Final. The final, which takes place on Sunday 15th April sees Chichester take on Southdown F.C. from Burgess Hill at Shoreham F.C.

A club spokesman said that the girls have worked very hard this season, particularly in training and thoroughly deserve to be league champions. This success, together with the U12 and U13 girls teams also doing well in their respective divisions, is a reward for the commitment of the club in establishing the women and girls section.

The Chichester City United U16 squad are: Ruth Acott, Amber Maher, Rosie Maher, Abigail Crook, Elizabeth Morgan, Stephanie Madden, Imogen Horne, Sian Spicer, Abbey Shrubb, Paris Hutton, Laura Sherwood, Alice Hendy, Samantha Wiseman, Eleanor Robinson, Laura Chamberlain and Chantelle Clark.

REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Twelve straight victories have secured the Sussex league title for the U16 Girls before the end of February and with three matches still to play! The team, in only their second season at Chichester has played some very attractive football throughout the campaign and so far scored a remarkable sixty one goals. However, as with all good sides, the team is strong throughout, highlighted by the fact that only seven goals have been conceded. Chichester have also scored a further 18 goals in reaching the County Cup Final. The final, which takes place on Sunday 15th April sees Chichester take on Southdown F.C. from Burgess Hill at Shoreham F.C.

The girls have worked very hard this season, particularly in training and thoroughly deserve to be league champions. This success, together with the U12 and U13 girls teams also doing well in their respective divisions, is a reward for the committment of the club in establishing the women and girls section.

The Chichester City United U16 squad are: Ruth Acott, Amber Maher, Rosie Maher, Abigail Crook, Elizabeth Morgan, Stephanie Madden, Imogen Horne, Sian Spicer, Abbey Shrubb, Paris Hutton, Laura Sherwood, Alice Hendy, Samantha Wiseman, Eleanor Robinson, Laura Chamberlain and Chantelle Clark.

REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester progressed to the County Cup Final following an outstanding team performance at Lindfield.

The recent close league encounter between the sides at Oaklands meant that both teams went into the tie optimistic about reaching the final. The early stages saw attacks at either end. Only the crossbar saved Chichester from going behind as the large crowd got behind Lindfield. Chichester immediately responded and a shot flashed just over.

The visitors began to gain the initiative with their ability to keep the ball and the attacks soon began to stretch the home defence. Chantelle Clark, who had a wonderful game combined with Abbie Crook and Paris Hutton on numerous occasions to create glorious scoring opportunities for her colleagues.

Once Chichester took the lead, they proceeded to dominate the game and score five times in each half. Abbey Shrubb helped herself to five goals and there was one each for Crook and Elizabeth Morgan. Goal maker Clark turned goalscorer as she deservedly registered her first hat trick for Chichester with a precise left foot volley from a Shrubb cross.

Lindfield, who contributed to a very entertaining game but unfortunately found the visitors in top form, scored a deserved consolation goal towards the end. Chichester can now look forward to the final at Shoreham F.C. in April.

TEAM: Wiseman, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Hendy, Madden, Clark, Morgan, Crook, Shrubb, Hutton.
SUBS:  Acott, Sherwood, Robinson 
SCORERS: Shrubb(5), Clark (3), Crook, Morgan
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester picked up another three points at third placed Billingshurst in a game of commitment, endeavour and some breathtaking attacking football.

Billingshurst, who went into the game having been beaten only once in the previous eight matches, had to defend desperately as Chichester attacked from the start. Wingers, Samantha Wiseman and Abbie Crook were in the thick of the action in the early stages as Chichester switched play to unlock a strong and well organised home defence.

A goal seemed inevitable as the pressure mounted and following a couple of narrow misses, Abbey Shrubb scored twice with sweet left footed strikes. Mid way through the half Elizabeth Morgan increased the advantage as Chichester threatened to run riot. Billingshurst stuck to the task and continued to defend in numbers keeping Chichester at bay as the first half ended.

The visitors made it four at the start of the second period. Alice Hendy collected a crossfield ball and picked out Chantelle Clark who timed her run to sweep the ball home. Amber Maher then continued her run into the box to meet Laura Sherwood's cross to apply the finish and then Abbie Crook completed the scoring.

Crook having previously been denied by the crossbar, found time and space in the box, and although the keeper brought down the City attacker, the ball had enough momentum to cross the line despite a valiant attempt to clear by the Billingshurst defender.

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Wiseman, Sherwood, Madden, Clark, Morgan, Crook, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Horne, Hutton, Hendy 
SCORERS: Shrubb(2), Morgan, Clark, Maher(A), Crook
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester played some very attractive football at Worthing and made it ten wins from ten league games in the process.

For once, City were out of the blocks early and cruised into a three goal lead in ten minutes. The Worthing keeper made two fine saves before Abbey Shrubb fired home the first and then quickly added the second. The passing and movement was exceptional as the visitors appeared to create a scoring opportunity with each attack. Paris Hutton and Chantelle Clark then got on the scoresheet with similar goals, shots from outside the box that flew into the top right hand corner of the net. Hutton's second goal highlighted the exceptional teamwork of the Chichester side. The inspirational Stephanie Madden won a tackle in midfield, continued her run and crossed for Eleanor Robinson to unselfishly lay off to Hutton who smashed the ball home. Shrubb then completed her hat trick as the half drew to a close.

Worthing's approach to the second half deserved praise as they fought hard to keep the Chichester attack at bay. The home side, following a couple of half chances, pulled a goal back with a strike from distance that gave keeper Ruth Acott no chance. Chichester immediately raised their game though to score once more as Clark broke clear on the left and calmly side footed her second goal.

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Crook, Sherwood, Clark, Morgan, Horne, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Robinson, Madden, Wiseman 
SCORERS: Shrubb(3), Hutton(2), Clark(2)
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

A very determined Lindfield made Chichester work hard for this victory at Oaklands.

The visitors, currently in second place behind United in the table were keen to avenge the early season defeat, started at a fast pace and soon became the first side to score at Oaklands when a long ball over the defence was converted.

Chichester, looking a shade rusty following a three week lay off,could have gone further behind but keeper Ruth Acott made a fine save. Eventually Chichester managed to establish some midfield control. Abbey Shrubb had the ball in the net following a clever pass from Paris Hutton, but the striker had strayed into an offside position. However, it wasn't until the introduction of Chantelle Clark that the home side began to play. Clark quickly equalised, swapping passes with Shrubb and then outpacing the defence to slot home. Five mintutes before the break Chichester took the lead, a good move down the right resulted in Shrubb's deep cross being headed in at the far post by Clark.

Chichester increased the lead at the beginning of the second half with an excellent move. Samantha Wiseman released Clark who's crossfield ball found Imogen Horne in space and the athletic winger slipped the ball inside to Shrubb who finished in style.

Chichester had several chances to score again. The closest was a screamer from Clark which rattled the crossbar denying her a deserved hat trick.

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Crook, Wiseman, Madden, Morgan, Horne, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Robinson, Chamberlain, Sherwood, Clark. 
SCORERS: Clark(2), Shrubb
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester produced another powerful display to beat one of the divisions strongest teams. The score line perhaps flattered City as Eastbourne looked the better side in the early stages. However, once again the home side's ability to maintain possession of the ball enabled them to dominate once the visitors inevitably began to tire.

Eastbourne created two good chances in the first five minutes but well timed tackles from Sian Spicer and Rosie Maher kept the score level. Chichester then created chances themselves with Abbey Shrubb twice being denied by the excellent Eastbourne goalkeeper. Shrubb gave City the lead with a powerful drive and a second soon followed as Elizabeth Morgan forced the ball in from Abbie Crook's corner. To Eastbourne's credit they got themselves back into the game and forced several corners. Three times the visitors goalkeeper made diving stops to deny the lively Paris Hutton, and it took Chichester until the stroke of half time to extend the lead as Shrubb scored her second.

The benefit of Chichester's strong squad was evident in the second half as the visitors began to tire. Shrubb's third goal and twenty fourth goal of the season was the team's fiftieth of the campaign. Alice Hendy grabbed the fifth, the inspirational Stephanie Madden then scored with a wonderful run and shot high into the roof of the net. Abbie Crook completed the scoring in the dying seconds after the superb Eastbourne keeper had to leave the field following a nasty clash with one of her own defenders.

TEAM: Acott, Spicer, Maher (A), Maher (R), Wiseman, Madden, Morgan, Crook, Horne, Hendy, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Hutton, Robinson. 
SCORERS: Shrubb(3), Morgan, Hendy, Madden, Crook
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester cruised through to the semi finals of the Sussex Cup against a Worthing side who tried very hard to contain the pace and power of the visitors.

Chichester took a while to get going as Worthing defended in numbers to keep the score level. Chantelle Clark and Abbie Crook were very prominent in the early stages and crosses into the box from both players caused probems for the home side as Abbey Shrubb and Amber Maher came close to opening the scoring.

The impressive Worthing goalkeeper foiled City several times with fine saves before Shrubb opened the scoring from close range. Elizabeth Morgan fired an unstoppable second and Shrubb completed a first half treble with strikes into the corners of the net.

In the second half Shrubb headed a fourth before swapping places with keeper Samantha Wiseman who timed a run to perfection to score her first of the season at the far post. Stephanie Madden surged forward and fired home the seventh, leaving Amber Maher to complete the scoring with a clever chip from outside the box.

TEAM: Wiseman, Chamberlain, Spicer, Maher (R), Maher (A), Madden, Morgan, Clark, Crook, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Horne, Robinson. 
SCORERS: Shrubb(4), Morgan, Wiseman, Madden, Maher (A)
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester recorded their seventh consecutive league victory against a resilient Billingshurst side who visited Oaklands on a five match unbeaten run themselves.

Chichester started brightly and used the flanks to try and open up the Billingshurst defence, but the visitors defended deep and got players back behind the ball at every opportunity to restrict the home side to shots from distance. These were comfortably dealt with by the excellent Billingshurst keeper and Chichester became increasingly frustrated as the first half came to an end.

Some positional changes and an increase in tempo put the visitors goal under severe pressure in the second half but still the visitors goalkeeper could not be beaten. One diving save from an Abbie Crook shot was exceptional. Just when it appeared that she wasn't going to be beaten, another good move down the right resulted in a cross which she surprisingly spilled and Paris Hutton was on hand to volley home.

With their noses in front, Chichester really turned on the style for the remainder of the match. Hutton, who had a fine game throughout, stabbed home her second and was unfortunate not to score a third when a clever shot on the turn was inches wide. United's third goal crowned another good performance as an incisive move down the right resulted in Sam Wiseman back heeling the ball into the path of Crook who crossed for Abbey Shrubb to direct a header across the keeper into the corner of the net.

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Wiseman, Madden, Morgan, Clark, Horne, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Crook, Sherwood, Hendy. 
SCORERS: Hutton (2), Shrubb
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Chichester's Hampshire Cup adventure was effectively over fifteen minutes after it began as the visitors from Bagshot cruised into a three goal lead at Oaklands. Curley Park, with several Chelsea players in their side showed just why they are the Surrey County Cup holders as two speculative shots cleared Ruth Acott in the home goal and another well worked goal left Chichester with a mountain to climb. For the remainder of the first half City had to dig deep to stay in the game but were unable to trouble the visitors defence and show the goal scoring form which has taken them to the top of the Sussex league.

Chichester, with Sian Spicer and the Maher twins Amber and Rosie outstanding in defence, slowly began to establish themselves in the second half, but some fine approach play was thwarted by the visitors well practised off-side trap. The closest Chichester came to scoring was a curling free kick from Abbie Crook which was tipped onto the crossbar and an Elizabeth Morgan shot which Chantelle Clark nudged over the bar.

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Crook, Sherwood, Madden, Clark, Horne, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Wiseman, Morgan, Chamberlain, Robinson. 
SCORERS: -
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

TEAM: Acott, Maher (A), Spicer, Maher (R), Crook, Sherwood, Morgan, Clark, Horne, Hutton, Shrubb.
SUBS:  Madden, Chamberlain, Robinson 
SCORERS: Hutton, Madden, Morgan, Shrubb
REPORTER: John Spicer
 

Without a league fixture Chichester entertained one of Hampshire's strongest youth sides in a friendly at Church Road. The athletic visitors certainly gave United their hardest game of the season so far.

Chichester, with the wind at their backs, took the game to Portsmouth in the early stages and Chantelle Clark and Abbey Shrubb came close to scoring, but it was the visitors who took the lead with their first real attack.

Chichester continued to dominate territorily but failed to create any clear cut chances, before Alice Hendy scored from close range from a corner. From being behind United soon took the lead with a cool finish from Shrubb. Ruth Acott then made a fine save from a free kick to deny Portsmouth an immediate equaliser.

It was Portsmouth's turn to make advantage of the strong wind in the second half and force the home side to defend for long periods to keep the lead. Chichester created three glorious chances to move farther in front but some excellent goalkeeping denied Paris Hutton twice and Clark. Just when it looked that Chichester would hold on for victory, Portsmouth scored a deserved equaliser with a neat finish from the edge of the box

The match was a good work out for the home side ahead of some tough league games and it also provided the opportunity for several players to make their first appearances of the season.

Abbey Shrubb converted a penalty after she was brought down to give United the lead after ten minutes. Chantelle Clark made it two soon after and further goals by Shrubb and debutant Elizabeth Morgan gave the home side a four nil lead at the break. Morgan's goal, a superb volley from forty yards.