Rye in controversial abandonment

Referee Darren Eaton called-off the Sussex County Football League Division One fixture at half time “for the players’ safety due to the deteriorating conditions”.

Neither manager was happy with the decision, Rye boss Scott Price describing it as “bizarre”. For the record, the game was evenly poised at 1-1 at the time.

Liam Upton had given Rye a 16th minute lead with a tremendous strike from outside the box into the far top corner only for Redhill to equalise eight minutes later.

Elsewhere, Bexhill United moved back into the Division Two promotion places via a 2-0 win at home to Rustington. Captain Scott McDonald scored both the goals.

Westfield ended their five-match winless run in some style with a 4-1 victory at Clymping.

Hastings United’s trip to AFC Hornchurch in the Ryman Premier Division, Sidley United’s match at home to Ringmer in Sussex Division One and the Sussex Division Two clash between Steyning Town and Little Common were postponed.

Full reports on the matches which did go ahead will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played-points) – Sussex Division 1: 1 Three Bridges 24-52, 2 Crawley Down 20-51, 3 Pagham 26-49, 4 Peacehaven & Telscombe 25-44, 5 Hassocks 27-44, 6 RYE UNITED 18-41, 7 East Grinstead Town 22-38, 8 Chichester City 24-38, 9 Selsey 27-37, 10 Redhill 24-36, 11 Arundel 24-34, 12 Ringmer 26-34, 13 Crowborough Athletic 29-31, 14 Hailsham Town 23-29, 15 SIDLEY UNITED 25-29, 16 Wick 24-28, 17 Lingfield 22-23, 18 Shoreham 26-22, 19 St Francis Rangers 22-16, 20 Eastbourne United AFC 26-7.

Sussex Division 2: 1 Lancing 19-51, 2 AFC Uckfield 21-46, 3 BEXHILL UNITED 24-45, 4 Worthing United 21-42, 5 WESTFIELD 23-40, 6 Mile Oak 21-37, 7 Littlehampton Town 28-37, 8 Storrington 24-36, 9 Rustington 21-33, 10 Seaford Town 21-31, 11 Loxwood 20-31, 12 East Preston 26-30, 13 Southwick 22-29, 14 LITTLE COMMON 24-28, 15 Midhurst & Easebourne 23-20, 16 Oakwood 23-12, 17 Clymping 26-12, 18 Steyning Town 21-9.