MIKE OPENS THE HATCH

RUSTINGTON on Sat-urday gained their first league win since October, although the statistic is not as bad as it sounds.In that time, Rustington have played just six league matches, drawing four and losing two, but their main interest has been in cup competitions.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2005, 11:17 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:10 BST

They have won all 11 of their cup games this season, nine of them have come since their last league win and since Gareth Davies took over as manager in the first week of October they have won 10 knock-out matches.

Mike Hatch's first goal of the season was enough for Rustington to beat Wadhurst on Saturday. Hatch scored with just eight minutes to go, after coming on as a substitute only six minutes earlier.

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Hatch fired the ball home from the impressive Sean Duffy's cross.

Rustington dominated the opening exchanges, but were grateful to keeper Matt Greives for keeping the scores level when he saved well from Liam Bull.

The closest Rustington came in the opening half was when Craig Cox just failed to get on to Duffy's cross, after Terry Withers' cross-field pass.

Rustington began to dominate at the beginning of the second half. Richie Hellen fired an effort over, and the ball got stuck under Andy Smart's feet when he was about to shoot.

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After the goal, Rustington comfortably held on with central defenders Hellen, Russ Tomlinson, and Mike Blackall impressive.

James Highton came on as substitute for the final 18 minutes after completing his 65-day ban.

Rustington are at home to bottom-club Upper Beeding on Saturday.

Defender Kev Clayton could return to the squad after injury.

RUSTINGTON: Greives; Duffy, Tomlinson, Blackall, Hellen, Withers; Challen, Oakes, Morten; Smart, Cox. Subs: Rowland (Oakes 45), Highton (Cox 72), Hatch (Smart 76), Zerban, Hooker.