WEST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION

Saturday 17th February 2001

MIDHURST 0:1 UPPER BEEDING
(ht: 0-0)
 

Upper Beeding moved ominously into second place in the West Sussex Premier
on Saturday, with a 1-0 victory at title chasing Midhurst.

The fixture was always going to be tense and it took Beedings' Jamie Ireson
just under two minutes to find his way into referee Winters' note book after
a strong challenge on Mickey Steele.

Matt Do was first to go close after seven minutes when he skipped past Dave
Checkley, but his rasping drive was well tipped over by the impressive Alex
Wadey in the Midhurst goal. From the ensuing corner Mark Salter played a
neat one, two with Lee Strange and his cross was met again by Strange,
forcing Wadey into more heroics.

Wadey, again foiled Strange before Doo had the ball in the back of the
Midhurst net only for a linesman's flag to disappoint.

Stuart Barry thought that he'd opened the scoring after 30 minutes when his
delightful chip beat Wadey but also the post.

Midhurst came back late in the half when Derek Kirkwood fed Mickey Pearce,
only for the ex-Bognor man to shoot weakly at Scott Redfern.

Beedings response was immediate with Doo feeding Strange on the right.
Strange cut into the box, drew Wadey and pulled the ball back to Barry whose
delight in finishing was inexplicably cut short by the linesman's flag.

Immediately after the break, Redfern was called upon to keep out Steele. His
distribution found Mark Salter in space on the left who, in turn, fed
Strange.

Strange side stepped Checkley before delightfully chipping the ball over the
advancing Wadey to open the scoring.

Mickey Steel and Addie Konieczny were finding it particularly hard work
against the in form Gary Salter and Steve Barber as Beeding continued to
push forward with Dave Smith and Strange going close.

Midhurst thought they had equalised on 70 minutes following good work from
Pearce, whose cute through ball found Derek Curwood on the edge of the box.
His powerfully driven shot looked destined for the corner until Redfern, at
full stretch, somehow turned the ball around for a corner.

Paul Barker replaced a tiring Doo after 76 minutes as Midhurst to, made
changes in an attempt to chase the game.

Strange should have sealed the game with fifteen minutes remaining when he
beat Wadey, one on one, but his shot hit the post. There was still time for
Stuart Barry to again be foiled by Wadey as the tiring young strikers' shot
was easily saved when clean through.

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; J. Ireson, S. Barber, G. Salter; G. Edmonds, D.
Smith, M. Doo, J Burgess (capt), M. Salter; S. Barry, L. Strange.

Substitutes: P. Barker ( Doo 71")
S. Gretton (n.u.)
 
 

West Sussex Football League
Division four (Central)

Upper Beeding Res. 9-0 Southwater III

If Upper Beedings' first team had a good result on Saturday, it was nothing
in comparisson with their Reserve sides 9-0 demolition of second placed
Southwater III. Beeding leap - frogged their promotion rivals with goals
from Joel Bennett (4) Jamie Toombes (2) Sam Witherden, Mat Gray and Player
Manager Garry Oxley.

Oxley has been forced to step down from his Management post due to work
commitments. Beedings Club Manager Mick Barry has appointed Steph Gretton as
the new player manager with Adrian "Percy" Parsons continuing as assistant