DAVIES MISSES LATE CUE

Micky Phillips, now 43 and part of the Littlehampton glory years of the 1980s and '90s, was called out of mothballs when Jez Long recently returned to East Preston.

And, playing in his umpteenth Littlehampton v Arundel local derby on Boxing Day, he produced stunning saves to give his side their fifth point of a dismal season and almost their first victory.

In fact, a disappointing match that had much endeavour but little good football on a cloying pitch and so few scoring opportunities, should, in the end, have resulted in a Littlehampton win.

They had battled hard all the way but without creating a single clear chance. Then, with the 90 minutes up, substitute Jan Miller split Arundel with a deft through pass and striker Steve Davies was clear.

He rounded goalkeeper Andy McCarthy and, amazingly, spoiled his Christmas break completely by failing to pot the white into an empty net.

More details in Littlehampton Gazette on January 2.