FOOTBALL: County League round-up (October 18)

Matt Geard fired YMCA ahead after only eight minutes, but Chris Clark equalised from Julian Curnow's knock-down seven minutes into the second half.

Geard spectacularly thumped YM back ahead from 25 yards on 71 minutes, before Wick substitute Scott Murfin crossed for Pearce, who netted against his former club with six minutes remaining.

Wick assistant manager Vic Short said: "We played reasonably well and it was a good result.

"I'm pleased with our attitude after twice going behind. Phil Turner had two or three good chances to win it for us, but I thought it was a good performance."

Rustington were brought back down to earth at Mile Oak in Division 2 after their 3-0 win against Ringmer in the RUR Cup last week. Blues lost 2-0 following a lacklustre performance, which also ended their five-match unbeaten run.

A dire match looked destined to end scoreless until Danny Curd's cross was met by Titus Paterson with 14 minutes left. Just as the celebrations subsided, Curd made it 2-0 when he fired past Blues keeper Andy McCarthy.

With chances at a premium, Rustington had dictated possession and went close on 22 minutes, but Steve Kirkham's volley was well-saved by Oak keeper Aaron Stenning.

Russ Tomlinson was then unlucky not to put Rusting-ton ahead on the stroke of half-time when his shot went narrowly over.

Rustington manager Gareth Davies was angered by his team's performance and said: "We were shambolic. There can be no excuses for a performance like that.

"We are good at home and awful away. If we are going to win anything this season we need to address it.

"The players need to take responsibility for performances like that. It was the worst we've played in a long time, and it was unacceptable."

In Division 3, Clymping were beaten 2-1 at home by Little Common, who leapfrog them into second in the table.

Adam Linch put Little Common ahead on 24 minutes, before Clymping levelled when Joe Shelley headed home Peter Brackley's free kick from 10 yards just past the hour mark.

Jake Wood restored Common's lead with 10 minutes left and Brackley and Shelley then both missed excellent equalising chances.

Clymping player-manager Dominic Di Paola said: We were very good in the first 15 to 20 minutes, but after that we weren't very good at all.

"We dominated the second half, but lacked the final quality needed.

"We missed a lot of chances and Little Common punished us for it.

"They probably had three chances all game and scored two of them, so it was very disappointing.

But, overall, it was a poor performance"

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