FOOTBALL: County League round-up (April 15)

United had gone ahead with 15 minutes left when Grant Philpott struck after Julian Curnow's header from Mark Pulling's corner was saved by Blues keeper Andy McCarthy.

But with time running out, a long free kick from Rustington's Jon Tucker was headed on by Jason Wimbleton and Andy Boxall was left unmarked to nod home from five yards.

United joint boss Fred Proto said: "It was an even game and a draw was probably fair but we were disappointed with the goal we conceded."

UNITED: Standen; Curnow, P.Proto, Philpott; Hayward, Pulling, Harris, Joseph, Green; Annis, P.Elliott. Subs: Mitchell (Elliott 70), Saunders (Annis 85), Hunt, Wilson, Corkhill.

Lancing manager Martin Gander believes his side rode their luck in their 2-1 win over Midhurst on Tuesday night, also in Division 2.

He said: "We were a little fortunate but think we deserved it on balance. On the back of a couple of defeats, any win is a good one and Luke Green probably deserved a clean sheet.

"At 2-0 up you're coasting, but at 2-1 you're panicking. Although we were never really stretched and battled hard, I felt we were the better side."

Lancers took the lead after 15 minutes when Darren Beard finished off a well-worked move, which involved four players, starting from the edge of Lancing's area.

Lancing then sat back as Midhurst should have equalised before half-time, but a few chances went begging.

Danny Clayton and Darren Boswell both had good chances, before Lee Garnham headed home Lancing's second on 70 minutes. He injured his ankle in doing so, though, and was subbed straight away.

Beard then gave away a penalty, which James Wills netted four minutes later. Midhurst could have had another penalty to upset the apple cart in the closing stages, but their striker chose to stay on his feet and get a shot away, instead of going down.

LANCING: Green; Tuppen, Gander, Ford, Mighall; Beard, Boswell, Skipper, Clayton; Garnham, Hunt. Subs: Loversidge (Hunt 65), Foster (Clayton 70), Early (Garnham 71.)

Before dropping points on Tuesday, Worthing United's impressive march towards promotion from Division 2 continued on Saturday with a 3-1 derby victory over Lancing.

Jack Hayward put United ahead straight from a corner 10 minutes before half-time, and Darren Annis lobbed the keeper to make it 2-0 straight after the restart. Annis then got his second from the rebound after Julian Curnow struck the bar.

Lancers' Darren Boswell, who had hit the bar at 2-0, made it 3-1 late on with a spectacular 30-yarder.

United joint manager Jason Rutherford said: "It was another good win. It was an even game and five more wins should do it for us. We got a bit of luck with the first goal, and I'm also pleased that Darren Annis is over his barren spell. We just need to keep winning to get us home."

Lancers manager Gander said: "We played well, and were the better side in the first half.

"They're a strong side with quality players, although the way we conceded the first goal direct from the corner was disappointing."

UNITED: Standen; P.Proto, Curnow, Philpott; Bean, Benn, Harris, Hayward, Hibberd; Mitchell, Annis. Subs: Joseph, Corkhill, Moody.

LANCING: Green; Tuppen, Gander, Ford, Mighall; Boswell, Beard, Garnham, Griffin; Skipper, Loversidge. Subs: Hunt (Skipper 68), Clayton (Griffin 70), Early.

Storrington manager Ricky Hamilton is targeting a strong finish to the County League Division 2 season after his side turned a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 2-1 win on Saturday against struggling Southwick.

Hamilton said: "It was a good three points and I was pleased with our performance.

"We've done quite well this season, better than last year and, as a manager, that's always pleasing.

"We could have done a bit better, inconsistency has been our downfall but we want to finish strongly by winning our last three games."

Ryan Walton put third-from-bottom Southwick in front on 18 minutes when he stabbed home a deflected shot from Dominic Shepherd.

Swans capped a dominant second-half performance with a Craig Grantham brace. He flicked home the equaliser from a Steve Tasker corner on 60 minutes, and then fired a Steve McCall pass across goal and into the far corner for the winner 15 minutes from time.

Hamilton added: "Southwick looked very nervy and were low on confidence, so once we equalised I felt we would go on to win and so it proved."

Swans host local rivals Steyning Town on Saturday and travel to bottom-of-the-table Midhurst on Tuesday (6.15pm).

STORRINGTON: G.Elliott; Blaydon, S.Elliott, T.Carter. McCall; Davis, Rhodie, Harding, S.Tasker; Ayres, Grantham. Subs: Cook (Blaydon 70), Watton, M.Carter.

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