FOOTBALL: County League weekly round-up

Clymping were leading 1-0 at the break but when the teams came out to resume for the second half, they were told one of the assistant referees could not continue.

Clymping offered their committee member, Gavin Weller, as a replacement but United rejected the appointment, so the tie was abandoned.

United joint manager Jason Rutherford said: "It was ridiculous, a farce really. We weren't happy with the choice of replacement, but the referee never even asked us what we wanted to do.

"We wanted to play on but you just can't have someone from Clymping running the line. The referee just assumed we wanted the game abandoned, which was ridiculous and everyone was confused.

"If a spectator had offered to do it, I wouldn't have had a problem."

Clymping player-manager Dominic Di Paola said: "It was their get out of jail card. The replacement lino, Gavin, was perfectly neutral and although he's one of our committee members, he's a good linesman and an ex-Ryman League referee.

"I'm disappointed with them and I felt they made a meal of it. The referee consulted both sets of management, we were fine with it, but they weren't.

"They didn't fancy their chances, so thought the best option was to replay it. It was a complete farce and spoiled what would have been a good game. The good news is that the original linesman was fine, but they've messed up."

Paul Young had headed Clymping ahead on 15 minutes.

There has been no official decision from the Sussex County League yet but it is likely the game will be replayed.

The league's assistant secretary, Paul Beard, said: "We've had a report through from Clymping and the referee but we are awaiting for a response from Worthing United.

"We understand that the linesman was taken ill at half-time and an agreement couldn't be made on a replacement.

"League rules state that clubs must make an agreement on a replacement to take over. At the moment, it is subject to an investigation and the committee will then make a decision."

WORTHING UNITED: Standen; Hunt, Curnow, Elliot, Philpott; Hibberd, Carter, Corkhill, Joseph; Green, Annis. Subs: Georgiou, Hayward, Geary.

Lancing manager Martin Gander was left bitterly disappointed as his side exited the Division 2 Cup after a 1-0 defeat at Loxwood in the third round.

Gander said: "I'm not disappointed with the performance, it's just a case that we've gone out of a competition we could have won.

"They're a physical side and we never really got in behind them.

"There's something missing and, although it was an even game and we did all right, it's disappointing. We need to get back to winning ways and for Saturday at Storrington, Nick Green is suspended and Danny Clayton has got a knock, so Rob Partridge and Dan Griffin are likely to come in for those two."

Darren Boswell struck the bar and Lee Garnham had an effort saved in the best of Lancers' chances. Clayton also went close but a second-half strike from Fredrick Bowles was enough for Loxwood.

LANCING: Green; Mighall, Ford, P.Proto; Boswell, Green, Sims, Garnham, Beard; Clayton, R.Loversidge. Subs: Partridge (Clayton 65), Griffin (Garnham 70), Tuppin (Sims 85), Borrer.

Storrington boss Rick Hamilton says his team are finally starting to believe in themselves following a stylish 3-0 win over Oakwood in Division 2 on Saturday.

Goals from Liam Humphries, Craig Grantham and Kristian Harding made sure of the points, and the Swans could even afford to miss a second-half penalty.

Hamilton said: "The players are good enough. We keep telling them they are good enough on the day and I think, playing the way we have (three wins from the last four league games), we are slowly getting some belief together.

"There is a belief that, if we get a couple of results together, we can make a mark."

Adopting an attacking philosophy to combat Oakwood's 3-5-2 formation, Storrington hit the ground running and went 1-0 up within four minutes.

John Rhodie and Richard Ayres combined to feed Liam Humphries, who darted in from the left-hand side and lashed in a neat finish.

It remained that way until the break, although it could easily have been two each. Humphries missed out on scoring a second when his cute lob was hacked off the line by an Oaks defender, while, at the other end, Oakwood made a hash of a one-on-one before Gary Elliott made a excellent save to keep out a goalbound effort.

To be ahead without really taking the game by the scruff of the neck pleased Hamilton, even more so as he watched the Swans grow stronger in the second half.

Grantham added a second on 65 minutes with a near post finish after centre back James Blaydon had played a long range one-two with Steve Tasker, and Harding killed the match off with the third, scoring with aplomb from Richard Ayres' pass.

There was even time for Humphries to see his spot-kick superbly saved after Grantham had been tripped in the box.

STORRINGTON: Elliott; Davis, Blaydon, Carter, Sleat; Tasker, Rhodie, Ayres, Humphries; Harding, Grantham. Subs: Chilvers, Tidman, Watton.

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