Hollington set early pace in top flight

Hollington continued their strong start to the season with a 3-1 victory at home to Robertsbridge United on Saturday. Sam White, Glenn Woodhurst and Steve Johnson scored for the early leaders, while Guy Ballard retaliated.

Old Hastonians are in second place after making it two wins out of two with a 2-1 win against St Leonards Social. Sam Richardson scored for Social, but the Stones claimed the points thanks to a Dave Pugh free kick and a solo effort from Charlie Cornford.

Third-placed Hawkhurst United won 2-1 away to Westfield II to make it two wins out of three. Oliver Lawrence and Louis Hazell scored for the Hawks.

Battle Baptists also have six points from a possible nine after edging out Sidley United 1-0. Jules Phillips scored the only goal with a clever chip in the 39th minute as Battle went fourth.

Ore Athletic achieved their second draw out of two after their match against Rock-a-Nore finished 2-2. Toby Payne bagged a brace for Ore against a Rocks side which picked up its first point via a Jack Franklin double.

Sedlescombe Rangers achieved their first victory and in the process inflicted a first defeat on Eastbourne Rangers. Phil Hatch (2), Luke Davies (2) and Will Fowers netted for Sedlescombe in a 5-2 win, while Ben Courtnage and Jamie Strong struck for Eastbourne.

In Division One, Rye Town and Bexhill Town continued their perfect starts by making it three wins out of three.

Rye won 4-2 at home to The JC Tackleway in a match watched by a large crowd as football returned to The Salts for the first time in two-and-a-half years. All the goals came in the second half, with Richard ‘Alfie’ Weller, Francis Walker, Charlie Stevens and a cracking Sammy Foulkes free kick making up Rye’s tally. Joseph Powell and Nathan Bossom replied.

By contrast, Bexhill Town beat Icklesham Casuals 3-0 with all the goals scored in the first 10 minutes. Zak Dangerfield, Ross Cook and Doni Dovla did the damage early for Bexhill.

After back-to-back draws, Little Common II celebrated their first win with a 3-1 victory at home to Wadhurst United. Will Spice (2) and Daniel Estherby scored for Common.

Crowhurst also picked up their first victory after returning from Mountfield United with a 2-0 win. Their goals came from Stephen Greenfield and Robbie Jupe.

Mayfield are three points clear at the top of Division Two and are the only team in the third tier still undefeated. They made it three wins out of three by beating Ticehurst 5-1 thanks to a Callum Matthews hat-trick, and one apiece from Theodore Cunningham and Oli English. Tristan Holman netted for Ticehurst.

Hastings Athletic head a quartet of teams on six points from three games, despite losing 3-1 away to Hastings Rangers, who are the last of the four. Shane Friend (2) and Nick Walker were on target for a Rangers side which converted two penalties, and 17-year-old Curtis Beale was involved in all three goals. Alfie Clement struck for Athletic.

Bexhill AAC are third following a 3-2 win against Burwash. Two Ashley Carey penalties put Bexhill two-up, and although Burwash responded with goals from Kieren Martin and Stuart Gooch, a second half strike by Scott Carey won it for Bexhill.

Westfield III claimed their first points of the season with a come-from-behind 4-1 win at Eastbourne Athletic. Billy-Jo Driver, Marc Barden, Toby Pearce and Zak Hardman scored for the visitors in the second half after Athletic had led at the break through Sean Platel.

St Leonards Social II picked up their first win by inflicting a first loss on Peche Hill Select. Goals from Leon Mende, Lee Finnigan, Darren Hensher and Ashley McCann clinched a 4-1 victory for Social, while David Benson scored the Peche Hill consolation.

Division Three leaders Pebsham Sibex have won all three of their matches and scored 17 goals in the process.

Their latest success was a 6-1 victory against Hollington United II, in which Sam Cherry scored a hat-trick, Sam Butchers netted on his debut and Lee Paine also found the target. Hollington responded through Brady Bowles.

Second-placed Sedlescombe Rangers II are the only other unbeaten team in the division after making it seven points from nine with a 3-0 win at Hailsham Athletico. Gary Underhill, Ben Linklater and Kye Phillips scored the goals.

Bexhill United II got off the mark with a 2-1 win at previously unbeaten Catsfield. Ben Packer and Gary Bryant scored for the Pirates.

Bexhill Rovers joined Catsfield on six points after Ashley Collins and Matt Mulhern scored in their 2-1 victory at home to Battle Baptists II. Thomas Cann retaliated for the Baptists.

Orington and Punnetts Town recorded their second draws in three games after sharing six goals with each other. Patrick Johnson’s hat-trick for Punnetts was cancelled out by the efforts of Paul Savage, Adam How and Grant Matthews for Orington.

Division Four leaders Hawkhurst United II preserved their 100% record with a 4-1 win at The JC Tackleway II. Paul Channer scored a hat-trick for the Hawks after Gregory Daniel’s opener.

Sovereign Saints remain undefeated after a 4-0 home win against Mayfield II gave them seven points out of nine. George Sambrook (2) and Thomas Wilding were on target for second-placed Saints.

Victoria Baptists are third following their second win out of three, a 3-1 victory at home to West Hill United. Paul Harvey, Gary Walke and James Bellett scored for Victoria, while Ayrton Ellis bagged the second goal for a West Hill side which earlier opened the scoring through Godswill Chukwuemeka.

Parkfield picked up the first victory with a 3-1 win over Magham Down, while Bexhill AAC II got their first point with a hard-earned 2-2 draw at home to Sandhurst. Sheamus Kelly and Daniel Morgan scored for the hosts, with Sandhurst responding through Andrew Turner and David Harvey.

Wittersham II and new boys Bexhill Broncos are setting the early pace in Division Five with nine points out of nine.

Wittersham have the edge on goal difference following a 7-1 victory over Battle Baptists III. Wittersham scored through Tom Barlow (2), Billy Hilding, Craig Pierce, Chris Catt, and Gavin Carey, while Ashley Holloway claimed the Baptists’ consolation.

The Broncos are the first team in the entire league to hit 20 goals for the season on the back of a 9-1 victory at Icklesham Casuals II. James Downs (4), Matthew Stephens (2), Ben Sadler, Ashley Stretton and a 25-yard thunderbolt from Andy Darby did the damage for the free-scoring Broncos.

Third-placed West Hill United II and fourth-placed Robertsbridge United II both have two wins out of three. A brace from Harry Hale and Mike Hawley strike helped earn West Hill a 3-1 success against Bexhill Spartans, whose goal was scored by Tom Whelan.

Robertsbridge edged out Northiam 75 II 3-2 thanks to the finishing of Scott Hayward, Daniel Goodsell and Paul Rockett. Sam Munday and Hayden Reed were on target for Northiam.

See our comprehensive sports coverage in the Observer every Friday.

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