East Sussex Football League: Rye Town reclaim top spot as most games beat the rain

Five of Saturday's league and cup games were postponed, but 18 were completed despite all the wet weather of the preceding 72 hours.

One of the casualties was the clash of the Premier Division high-fliers between Punnetts Town and in-form Westfield II.

That gave Rye Town the chance to go back to the top of the table and they duly took it with a 2-1 win at home to Sandhurst.

Goals from Sam Cooper and Charlie Stevens took Rye's points tally to 22 from a possible 24 and put them three clear of Punnetts. Jon Bilsby netted for Sandhurst.

Crowhurst climbed back above Sandhurst into the top four courtesy of a 4-0 home victory against Hawkhurst United.

Bavon Abala, Sean Baldwin, Henry Barnes and Arron Scrace were on the scoresheet as the Crows chalked up a first win in three league outings despite having a player sent off.

The JC Tackleway moved into the top half after making it three wins in a row by triumphing 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at ninth-placed St Leonards Social.

A Grant Cornelius hat-trick and two from Jordan Harley ensured Tackleway narrowly came out on top, despite Sam Richardson (2), Liam Miles and Che Davis scoring for Social.

Tackleway went above Hollington United, who were thumped 5-1 away to a Bexhill AAC side which is now just a point behind them with three games in hand. Will Spice got Hollington's consolation.

Sidley United jumped above Hawkhurst and out of the bottom two on the back of a 3-2 success at home to neighbours Bexhill Town.

Archie Ball's brace and one from Simon Corke secured Sidley's second win in four matches after losing all of their previous four. Jake Hemsley grabbed both of Town's goals.

Ninfield's unbeaten start in Division One was ended by a 1-0 loss in a closely-contested affair away to Peche Hill Select.

A solitary Jacob Shelton goal was enough to bring Peche level with Ninfield on nine points from four matches, although Ninfield have the edge by one goal on goal difference.

Herstmonceux are just ahead of both of them on goal difference, albeit having played an extra game, after their 3-1 home triumph over Battle Town II.

Dan Gregory, Archie Guest and Hamit Toska found the net to send Herstmonceux up to second in the standings - six points behind leaders Jesters Town. Jamie Smith scored for Battle.

Sixth-placed Little Common II registered their second win of the campaign, seeing off Hollington United II 3-0 away from home.

Attilio Field's brace and an Edward Rose strike have given the Commoners a six-point cushion over the two teams below them in the standings.

Rye Town II shot up from fourth to first in Division Two thanks to a 3-1 victory at home to previous pacesetters Northiam 75.

Tom Barlow's brace and a goal from substitute Owen Brown put Rye above their victims on goal difference with a game in hand.

Dominic Clarke's finish couldn't prevent Northiam suffering a second straight defeat after beginning the season with a six-match unbeaten run.

The top six teams are remarkably covered by just three points and Victoria Baptists are one of them following their 5-2 home success over Robertsbridge United.

Two James Bellett goals, and one apiece from Alex Costello, Aaron West and Sam Killeen took the Baptists up to fifth - just two points behind table-topping Rye. Guy Ballard and Owen Palmer netted for the Bridge.

Wadhurst United celebrated their first win of the season at the eighth attempt as they saw off Sedlescombe Rangers II 4-2 at Washwell Lane, despite finishing with 10 men.

The finishing of Harry Bateman (2), Charlie Bateman and Ryan Watkins hauled Wadhurst out of the bottom two and put them level on points with their opponents.

Division Three top dogs Parkfield's trip to Mountfield United was postponed, meaning Orington versus Westfield III was the only match played in the fourth tier.

And seventh-placed Westfield made it back-to-back league victories in resounding style with a 6-0 success at Bexhill Road.

The finishing of Alex Southall (2), Alfie Apps, Ryan Southall, Sam Way and Alexander Marcou dashed fifth-placed Orington's hopes of a third win on the bounce.

The sole Division Four fixture saw Hastings Athletic and Hastings Comets contest an entertaining 4-4 draw in the Bexhill Road derby.

Joel Hennessy and Steven Rowlands scored twice each for seventh-placed Athletic, while Ben Tudor (2), Danny Croft and Luke Darvill found the net for sixth-placed Comets.

Division One team SC Pass+Move Arrows scraped past Division Two's bottom side Sovereign Saints II 5-4 on penalties to reach round two of the ESFL Wisden Sports Challenge Cup.

The game itself finished in a 3-3 draw, with the goals of Marc Compton, Wayne Green and Cameron Parks for hosts Saints matched by Harvey Cato, Jamie O'Mahoney and Josh Richardson for Pass+Move.

The Arrows will host divisional rivals Battle Town II next month for a place in the quarter-finals.

The tie between unbeaten Division Two outfit Bexhill Rovers and Jesters Town succumbed to the weather.

Four of the six scheduled Hastings & District FA Lower Divisions Cup first-round encounters were played and they produced 22 goals between them.

Crowhurst III, who are second in Division Four, overcame bottom-of-the-table Division Three side Welcroft Park Rangers II 4-2 away from home.

Joe Millar's brace, and one apiece by Josh Naylor and Liam Oxley gave the Crows a sixth win in a row across all competitions. Steven Cherryman and Vinny Rembridge retaliated.

Bexhill AAC II, of Division Three, ended a run of three consecutive losses by triumphing 6-0 away to Battle Town Development, from Division Four.

Leo Oliver led the way with a hat-trick, and Jayden Douglin, Luke Cave and Charlie Morgan also notched on a comfortable afternoon for AAC.

Catsfield, who are unbeaten in Division Three, ran out 5-0 winners at Division Four team Robertsbridge United II.

Two goals apiece from Jacob Jones and Antony Luke, plus a Tom Andrew finish, ensured the Cats continued their strong start to the season.

Division Three also got the better of Division Four, albeit more narrowly, as Sedlescombe Rangers Development prevailed 3-2 at home to Burwash.

Tom Ackerley's hat-trick proved just enough for Rangers as Daniel Murrell's two goals couldn't save Burwash from a first loss of the campaign.

Hawkhurst United II versus Icklesham Casuals and Ticehurst against The JC Tackleway II were the two games called off.

In the quarter-finals, AAC will host Hawkhurst or Icklesham, Catsfield will entertain Ticehurst or Tackleway and Crowhurst are at home to Sedlescombe.

Standings (played-points) - Premier Division: Rye Town 8-22 (+11 goal difference), Punnetts Town 8-19 (+19), Westfield II 7-18 (+14), Crowhurst 8-17 (+15), Sandhurst 9-15 (+4), The JC Tackleway 10-15 (-1), Hollington United 10-13 (-2), Bexhill AAC 7-12 (0), St Leonards Social 9-7 (-11), Sidley United 8-6 (-13), Hawkhurst United 9-6 (-20), Bexhill Town 9-(-)1 (-16). * = points adjusted

Division 1: Jesters Town 5-15 (+18), Herstmonceux 5-9 (+5), Ninfield 4-9 (+3), Peche Hill Select 4-9 (+2), SC Pass+Move Arrows 6-9 (-2), Little Common II 6-6 (-8), Battle Town II 4-0 (-9), Hollington United II 4-0 (-9). Rock-a-Nore withdrawn.

Division 2: Rye Town II 7-14 (+12), Northiam 75 8-14 (+9), Crowhurst II 7-13 (+4), Bexhill Rovers 6-12 (+10), Victoria Baptists 7-12 (+4), Hooe 7-11 (+2), Sedlescombe Rangers II 7-6 (-2), Wadhurst United 8-6 (-9), Robertsbridge United 5-3 (-8), Sovereign Saints II 6-3 (-22).

Division 3: Parkfield 6-15 (+8), Catsfield 6-14 (+10), Ticehurst 6-10 (+3), Mountfield United 5-8 (-1), Orington 8-8 (-6), Bexhill AAC II 6-7 (+5), Westfield III 5-7 (+3), Sedlescombe Rangers Development 6-4 (-16), Welcroft Park Rangers II 6-2 (-6).

Division 4: The JC Tackleway II 7-19 (+22), Crowhurst III 6-15 (+16), Burwash 6-14 (+12), Battle Town Development 7-9 (-1), Robertsbridge United II 6-8 (-7), Hastings Comets 6-7 (-6), Hastings Athletic 7-6 (-4), Hawkhurst United II 6-1 (-19), Icklesham Casuals 5-0 (-13).

Fixtures - Saturday October 28 (2pm unless stated)

Premier Division: Bexhill AAC v Bexhill Town, Hollington United v Westfield II, Sandhurst v Crowhurst, Sidley United v Hawkhurst United, St Leonards Social v Rye Town, The JC Tackleway v Punnetts Town.

Division 1: Battle Town II v Peche Hill Select, SC Pass+Move Arrows v Herstmonceux.

Division 2: Rye Town II v Sedlescombe Rangers II, Victoria Baptists v Sovereign Saints II.

Division 3: Welcroft Park Rangers II v Bexhill AAC II.

Division 4: Crowhurst III v Hastings Athletic, Icklesham Casuals v Hastings Comets.

Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup, 1st round (1.30pm): Catsfield v Mountfield United, Hawkhurst United II v Jesters Town, Little Common II v The JC Tackleway II, Ninfield v Orington, Northiam v Sedlescombe Rangers Development, Robertsbridge United II v Ticehurst, Westfield III v Burwash.

Hastings & District FA Junior Challenge Cup, 1st round (1.30pm): Bexhill Rovers v Robertsbridge United, Crowhurst II v Wadhurst United.