East Sussex Football League hit by ice and frost – but half of matches survive

Twelve matches involving East Sussex League teams reached a conclusion on a bright but very cold Saturday with temperatures only a few degrees above freezing.

Premier Division leaders Bexhill Town were in action and extended their advantage to 11 points courtesy of a 5-2 win at home to Robertsbridge United.

Bexhill, who have played twice more than second-placed Punnetts Town, have won nine of their 10 league games to date.

Guy Ballard and Lewis Chapman scored for a Robertsbridge side which remains three points adrift at the foot of the standings.

The other scheduled top-flight games - St Leonards Social versus Rye Town and Westfield II against Rock-a-Nore - were postponed.

Sandhurst strengthened their hold on second place in Division One with a narrow 2-1 victory at home to Little Common II.

Strikes by James Found and Jon Bilsby just about earned Sandhurst their fifth league win out of six, despite Nick Kavanagh finding the net for Common.

Sandhurst are now seven points behind leaders The JC Tackleway with two games in hand and three ahead of third-placed AFC Jesters having played one match fewer.

The clash between Wadhurst United and Battle Town II was called off.

Ninfield maintained their three-point cushion at the summit of Division Two on the back of a 3-1 success away to fourth-placed Victoria Baptists.

Gary Bryant's brace and one from Jason Taylor made it 20 points from a possible 24 so far this campaign for the unbeaten leaders, although Michael Smith had given Victoria a first-half lead.

Peche Hill Select moved above Hollington United II into second spot thanks to a 4-1 triumph away to Bexhill Rovers.

Two Travis Parks goals, and one apiece from Harvey Cato and Jonty Lavocah did the damage for 10-man Peche Hill.

The battle of the bottom two ended goalless between Icklesham Casuals and Hooe, meaning Hooe remain a point above Casuals with three games in hand.

Northiam 75's scheduled visit from SC Pass+Move Arrows II was postponed.

Parkfield dropped a couple of points in their quest to close in on Division Three pacesetters Herstmonceux.

A 3-3 draw at home to 10th-placed Ticehurst has left the Eastbourne outfit five points off the pace with a game in hand.

Ethan Gabriel, Almaskhan Jalat and Adam Smith were on the scoresheet for Parkfield, while the goals of Darren Nicol, George Brown and Danny McGahan earned Ticehurst a decent point.

Rye Town II climbed a position to third by virtue of a 7-0 win at home to Westfield III, who finished the match with 10 men.

Ben Reader and Alex Sarkies netted twice each, while Arthur Karapetyan, Oliver Barrow and Colin Burley also struck as Rye moved within six points of Parkfield having played a match fewer.

Catsfield are up to fifth after a 4-0 victory at home to Hastings Comets meant they've picked up 13 points from the last 15 available.

David Burch struck twice, and Harry Atkins and Antony Luke also found the target for the in-form Cats.

The fixtures involving Crowhurst II and Mountfield United, Herstmonceux and Bexhill AAC II, and Orington and Sovereign Saints II all succumbed to the weather.

Westfield IV climbed to second in Division Four via a convincing 6-0 success away to Sedlescombe Rangers Development.

Ashley Jamieson and Warren Pethig bagged two goals apiece, and Bobby Baldock and Jack Stapley also notched as Westfield made it back-to-back wins and clean sheets.

Runaway leaders Welcroft Park Rangers II had their match at Hawkhurst United II abandoned, while Battle Town III versus The JC Tackleway II, Robertsbridge United II against Hastings Athletic and Burwash's trip to SC Pass+Move Arrows III were all off.

Sidley United were edged out 3-2 at home to Ringmer AFC in round two of the Sussex Intermediate Challenge Cup.

Archie Ball and Louis Haffenden put Sidley two-up after an hour before their Mid Sussex League Premier Division opponents turned things around.

Bexhill AAC's home tie against AFC Uckfield Town II, Crowhurst's lengthy trip to Bosham and Punnetts Town's visit from Harting were all postponed.

The JC Tackleway prevailed 4-2 after extra-time at home to AFC Jesters to reach the quarter-finals of the ESFL Wisden Sports Challenge Cup.

Jordan Harley's hat-trick and one from Toby Payne just about did the trick for Tackleway in the second round tie, who will entertain Sandhurst in another all-Division One affair in the last eight. Connor Middleton scored both of the Jesters' goals.

The bright sunshine had thawed the pitch sufficently for the game to take place. Tackleway started brightly and a determined attack ended with a Harley strike giving Tackleway an early lead.

Jesters had several players with county league experience, and they came into the game – and the failure to mark Middleton at a corner led to him heading the equaliser.

Tackleway pressed forward but Jesters always looked dangerous on the counter, and from one such break Middleton again was on hand to score and give Jesters a 2-1 lead at the break.

The second half saw Tackleway continuing to press for the equaliser, but the Jesters defence stood firm. In the last five minutes that man Harley came to the rescue with the equaliser.

In extra time Tackleway had the bit between their teeth and in the first period Payne restored their lead – and as the game drew to its close it was fitting that Harley claimed his hat-trick.

SC Pass+Move Arrows booked their place in the Macron Store Hastings Cup quarter-finals by dint of a 4-0 triumph at home to Sedlescombe Rangers II.

Frazer Discala's brace, and one apiece from Jack Booth and Curtis Coombes ensured Division One outfit Pass+Move overcame Division Two side Sedlescombe. The Arrows will visit Sandhurst next.

This coming Saturday's fixtures will be the last before the league's festive break.

Standings - Premier Division (played-points): Bexhill Town 10-27 (+19 goal difference), Punnetts Town 8-16 (+14), Crowhurst 9-15 (+16), Rye Town 6-15 (+9), Westfield II 6-10 (+2), St Leonards Social 9-10 (-16), Hawkhurst United 10-9 (-10), Sidley United* 8-8 (-9), Rock-a-Nore* 9-7 (+2), Bexhill AAC 6-6 (-1), Robertsbridge United 9-3 (-26). * = points adjusted

Division 1 (played-points): The JC Tackleway 8-22 (+29), Sandhurst 6-15 (+6), AFC Jesters 7-12 (-1), SC Pass+Move Arrows 5-10 (+6), Wadhurst United* 9-6 (-5), Little Common II 9-6 (-15), Battle Town II 6-1 (-20). * = points adjusted. South Coast Athletico withdrawn

Division 2 (played-points): Ninfield 8-20 (+12), Peche Hill Select 8-17 (+7), Hollington United II 8-14 (+6), Victoria Baptists 8-13 (+6), SC Pass+Move Arrows II 8-12 (-3), Northiam 75 8-10 (+4), Sedlescombe Rangers II 9-9 (-2), Bexhill Rovers 8-9 (-4), Hooe 7-7 (-6), Icklesham Casuals 10-6 (-20).

Division 3 (played-points): Herstmonceux 11-28 (+24), Parkfield 10-23 (+10), Rye Town II* 9-17 (+10), Crowhurst II 6-15 (+9), Catsfield 9-14 (0), Orington 8-12 (+2), Sovereign Saints II 8-11 (-4), Bexhill AAC II 9-10 (-9), Mountfield United 9-9 (-3), Ticehurst* 7-7 (+6), Hastings Comets 8-2 (-16), Westfield III 10-1 (-31). * = points adjusted

Division 4 (played-points): Welcroft Park Rangers II 10-28 (+29), Westfield IV 9-18 (+12), Battle Town III 10-15 (+8), Burwash 9-15 (+1), Sedlescombe Rangers Development 9-15 (-4), Robertsbridge United II 8-12 (+1), The JC Tackleway II 10-10 (-2), Hawkhurst United II 8-10 (-9), SC Pass+Move Arrows III* 9-8 (-15), Hastings Athletic 10-4 (-21).

Saturday December 17 fixtures (kick-off 2pm unless stated) - Premier Division: Bexhill AAC v Rock-a-Nore, Hawkhurst United v Punnetts Town, Rye Town v Crowhurst, Sidley United v Westfield II.

Division 1: Battle Town II v AFC Jesters, Little Common II v SC Pass+Move Arrows, Sandhurst v Wadhurst United.

Division 2: Bexhill Rovers v Sedlescombe Rangers II, Hollington United II v Icklesham Casuals, Ninfield v Peche Hill Select, Victoria Baptists v Northiam 75.

Division 3: Catsfield v Ticehurst, Crowhurst II v Orington, Hastings Comets v Rye Town II, Parkfield v Mountfield United, Westfield III v Bexhill AAC II.

Division 4: Burwash v Hastings Athletic, Robertsbridge United II v SC Pass+Move Arrows III, Welcroft Park Rangers II v Hawkhurst United II.

Sussex Bluefin Junior Challenge Cup, 2nd round (1.30pm): Barnham Trojans II v Sovereign Saints II, Herstmonceux v Horsham Trinity, The JC Tackleway v Southwater Royals.

Macron Store Hastings Cup, 2nd round (1.30pm): SC Pass+Move Arrows II v Robertsbridge United.