Ferring continue run after enforced nine-week break

The recent bad weather has meant no football for the Ferring side of late, as they returned to action after an enforced, nine week lay-off.

The visitors shook off some early rustiness and went on to record a comfortable win to leave them without a defeat in their last four matches.

A strange start to the game saw captain Matt Searle not allowed to start the match by the referee for having a stud in his ear.

He could not remove the offending jewellery and was subsequently substituted after just 10 minutes.

Dan Heward took over the armband and had an outstanding game as replacement captain as Ferring began to dominate the match.

Sean O’Reilly squandered an excellent opportunity to give Ferring the lead before he made amends just before the break with a bullet header from a Ross Fraser corner to put Ferring in front.

However, Rottingdean started the second half the better team and levelled on 50 minutes after a defensive error, but the away side responded almost immediately as Barney Boutwood met a Fraser cross with an unstoppable volley from close range.

They had to wait until the last minute of the match for the clinching goal, though. A long ball from defence eluded everyone in the Rottingdean back four and Boutwood ran through before calmly slotting the ball home.

Ferring manager Pete Matthews said: “It was a good result, seeing as the players were a little bit rusty. We’ve got a good team here and we’re confident we can keep this run going.”

Ferring are at home to Barnham on Saturday (2pm).

FERRING: Bonnetti; Fraser, Lyne, A.Heward, D.Heward; Cave, Towers, Searle, Matthews; Boutwood, O’Reilly. Subs: Gettings (Searle 10), Gibbons (Cave 50), Cameron (Towers 65).