Results Saturday 06/12/2013

[Ore Exile]

Ore Athletic 4 v Robertsbridge Utd. 0

Ore chalked up their sixth successive league win as they moved to third in the league against a 'bridge side who remain rooted to the bottom of the division. The pitch although it had been rolled was extremely energy sapping and both sides attempted to make a game of it in a very even half where a young 'bridge side worked hard to contain Ore. The first goal arrived in the 28th minute when Steve Thomson arrived precisely at the right moment to climb over the 'bridge defender and head home a far post cross. Half-time arrived with Ore leading one nil and Mason Ponti the 'bridge manager must have been pleased with the way his side had competed and to the onlooker they looked nothing like a bottom of the table side.

Ore were told at half-time to quicken the play and drive at the 'bridge side which is exactly want they did and it paid off in the 55th minute when Grant Cornelius scored to give Ore the breathing space they were looking for. Half way through the second period a tactical substitution was made by Ore to bring Matt Cornelius off the bench into centre midfield and push Terry Payne up top to partner Grant Cornelius. The move worked a treat as the tiring 'bridge defence was unable to cope with the twin strikers and Terry Payne scored a couple of goals in the space of three minutes to put the game to bed. The fourth goal was a delight to behold as at the end of a free flowing move Terry Payne ran through the middle of the 'bridge defence and waited for the 'bridge keeper to go to ground before a delightful chip over him into the centre of the goal.

For Ore it is onward and upward with Terry Payne, Matt Sellick and Steve Thomson bring a host of Ryman and County league experience to an otherwise young side, and the prospects look good for the second half of the season. For 'bridge their manager Mason Ponti looked a bit dejected at the end, but for me if they continue to work hard the results will come, because they do have some talented young players and I was most impressed with Dom Whittaker who didn't deserve to be be on the losing side yesterday.

Next up for Ore a league encounter against an improving Peche side.

[Mason P]

You should beat Peche Hill.

It was a good game on Saturday but the class of players you have showed through in the end. I have a young inexperienced side compared to last year. We have lost 5 or 6 quality players to other teams this year and if you don't replace them then you are always going to struggle in the league. We need to beat Battle and Ninfield and hope results go our way for us to stay up this year. Its going to be close.

Mason

[blueboybird]

Sidley United 1 - 3 Bexhill AAC - Division One

Despite the scoreline, Bexhill AAC were made to work hard for this win. Unbeaten to date and widely tipped to win the Division, Bexhill found themselves struggling to get a foot on the ball in the opening 30 minutes, as Sidley started strongly with ex-captain Dan Spice making his second 'debut' for the team.

Will Dunstall hit the post and Sidley had the ball in the net from an Adam Day free kick, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on the Bexhill goalkeeper.

Against the run of play, Bexhill opened the scoring in the 31st minute from a Billy Trickett free kick which the Sidley keeper failed to read the flight of. At 1-0 down though, Sidley still shaded the first half.

One became two, however, at the start of the second half, as a Sidley defender fell over as he stood on the ball trying to control it, allowing Bexhill striker Lee Roberts to pick up the loose ball, run into the empty space and stroke the ball past the exposed Sidley keeper.

Bexhill added a third in the 53rd minute following a swift break, again a from ball carelessly given away. Sidley pulled a goal back from an Adam Day free kick on 80 minutes, as the Bexhill keeper fumbled the shot, allowing the ball to trickle over the line. Sidley pressed hard in the final 10 minutes, but Bexhill soaked up the pressure to hold on for the win.

Not for the first time this season, Sidley were left to rue their failure to convert chances into goals and eliminate individual errors which always seem to be punished. However, their hard work and team spirit are there for all to see and bode well for the rest of the season, and no doubt every remaining game will be fiercely contested.

Sidley team: Skelton, May, Chandler, Spice, Rose (Miles), Day, Bailey (Walker), Short, M Funnell, T Funnell, Dunstall

[Ore Exile]

Mason,

Just seen your reply, and I appreciate that you have lost several players from last season, but I was impressed with 2 or 3 of your players last Saturday and it is clear that you are going about the task in the right way. I feel that you will get the results you need to climb away from the bottom of the table. As we all know it is often the case that you only need to get a couple of results to boost confidence and then you find that your team can go on a winning run and you find yourselves shooting up the league. I hope this happens to 'bridge sooner rather than later, all the best.

Mick Southon
OAFC