Bexhill Town and Rye Town trade blows in East Sussex League title race

Second-placed Rye firstly won 7-0 away to Robertsbridge United on Saturday with two goals apiece from substitutes Georges Gouet and Sam Hesmer after Sam Cooper, Charlie Stevens and Sammy Foulkes had all netted once.

But leaders Bexhill responded with a much-needed 1-0 victory away to fourth-placed Westfield II on Tuesday evening.

That left Bexhill five points ahead having played four more matches, although Rye were due back in action against Rock-a-Nore on Wednesday evening.

Bexhill and Rye, incidentally, will face each other in the Macron Store Hastings Cup final at Westfield this coming Saturday.

Third-placed Punnetts Town recovered from 2-0 down in the first 15 minutes to run out 5-3 victors away to Sidley United.

Casey Ham and Alex Burrows netted twice each and Calvin Foster once for Punnetts. Logan Copley, Lewis Wade and an own goal were on the scoresheet for Sidley.

Both of those sides were also in action the previous Wednesday.

A Joe Page goal condemned Punnetts to a 1-0 loss away to Westfield II, while Sidley triumphed 2-1 away to neighbours Bexhill AAC via the finishing of Andy Atkin and Steve Mote.

Westfield then prevailed 6-1 at home to Rock-a-Nore on Saturday. Page (2), Conor McManus, Ben Radley, Kyle Young and Lee Paine were their scorers.

AAC responded by winning both games in their double header against St Leonards Social on Saturday to climb to sixth.

The first match ended 2-1 and the second 3-1. Terry Smith scored for Social in the opener and Sam Richardson got their goal in the return.

Sandhurst need to win their final league game of the season to be crowned Division One champions.

Robert Briley plundered a four-goal salvo as the Kent outfit eased to a 7-0 victory away to Little Common II. James Found bagged a brace and Jon Bilsby also netted.

The JC Tackleway kept their hopes alive by winning 3-0 at home to third-placed SC Pass+Move Arrows.

Kale Hakos, Toby Payne and Lewis Finch scored for the Old Towners, but they have now finished their league programme and their title hopes hinge on Pass+Move avoiding defeat against Sandhurst this Saturday.

Ninfield took a step closer to the Division Two title courtesy of a 5-0 success at home to an Icklesham Casuals side which is now all but certain to finish in the bottom two.

Jo Trigwell's hat-trick and one each from Mark Franks and Jack White left the unbeaten leaders needing two wins from their remaining three matches to be crowned champions.

Second-placed Peche Hill Select remain a point behind Ninfield having played an extra fixture after receiving a walkover at home to Bexhill Rovers.

Hollington United II are still four points behind Peche in third place, albeit with a game in hand, following their 2-0 triumph at home to fourth-placed Victoria Baptists.

Taylor Beale and Ben Phipps scored for Hollington, whose final two encounters are away to the two sides above them.

Division Three leaders Herstmonceux were beaten for only the second time in the league all season as they lost 2-1 away to second-placed Rye Town II.

Darren Warne and Rob Levett hit the back of the net for Rye, who are 11 points behind their victims with three games in hand. Jake Barker claimed the Herstmonceux goal.

Rye overturned a half-time deficit to win by the same score at home to seventh-placed Catsfield the previous Wednesday.

Jules Phillips and Brendon Doughty struck to swing the contest in Rye's favour after David Hawes had put the Cats ahead.

Catsfield responded by winning by a David Burch goal to nil away to Hastings Comets on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Crowhurst II and fifth-placed Sovereign Saints II contested a pair of 2-2 draws in their double header.

Adam How's double for 10-man Crowhurst in the opener was matched by Marcus Parrett and Cameron Apted.

Apted and Nick Barden notched for Saints in the later encounter, with Terry Robinson and Arron Scrace on the scoresheet for the Crows.

Sixth-placed Orington collected four points from their double header against Bexhill AAC II, winning the initial contest 1-0 via Frank Fuller's strike before the next fixture ended goalless.

Eighth-placed Ticehurst picked up all six points on offer from their double header against Mountfield United, winning the first match 1-0 and the second 3-1.