Underdogs having their day in East Sussex League cups

Division One teams are setting the early pace in the top rung of the East Sussex Football League's April/May Competitions.
The JC Tackleway sporting newly sponsored shirtsThe JC Tackleway sporting newly sponsored shirts
The JC Tackleway sporting newly sponsored shirts

Sidley United II lead the way in group A of the Premier/Division One tournament with six points from their opening three matches, while Sedlescombe Rangers II top group B with six from two games.

Alex Williams and Harley Ransom got the goals as Sidley won 2-0 away to Premier Division outfit Robertsbridge United on Saturday.

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Sedlescombe picked up a 2-0 success away to Premier Division outfit Rock-a-Nore, meaning they are the only team in the top competition yet to drop a point.

Rye Town, also of Division One, are second in group B after Sam Henham and William Brown scored in a 2-1 victory at home to Punnetts Town. Louis Walder replied.

In the same group, Battle Town II collected their first points via a 5-0 success at home to Victoria Baptists.

Crowhurst made it back-to-back draws in group B after their trip to The JC Tackleway ended 1-1. Nathan Smith's strike for Tackleway was matched by Ashley Kidman for the Crows.

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Bexhill Town suffered their first loss in three group A encounters after going down 3-1 away to St Leonards Social. Andy Pegman, Musa Camara and George Farrance netted for Social, while Kevin Barden was on target for Town.

South Coast Athletico claimed their first group A points in style with a 4-1 triumph at home to Bexhill AAC. All of the goals came during the first half and Nick Gamble grabbed all four for Athletico.

Wadhurst United also got off the mark at the second attempt, winning 3-2 at home to Battle Town. Ian Rafati and Dale Vinall were on the scoresheet for Town.

Bexhill AAC II are the only team with six points out of six in the Division Two/Three competition.

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AAC made it back-to-back wins in group B courtesy of a 4-2 victory at home to neighbours Bexhill Rovers. Dominic Sinden (2), Ashley Carey and Elliott Matthews netted for AAC, while Neal Blackham and Casey Ham struck for Rovers.

Hampden Park are on four points in the same group following a 1-1 draw at home to The JC Tackleway II. Stephen Cresswell netted for a Tackleway side which has drawn both its games so far.

Sandhurst opened their campaign with a 4-2 success away to Mountfield United. James Found plundered a hat-trick and Dan Crawley got the other for the Kent outfit.

Hawkhurst United II picked up their first points after winning 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller away to Herstmonceux. Sam Anderson and Leon Fisher netted twice each for the Hawks.

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Three teams are level on four points at the summit of group A.

SC Pass + Move Arrows have the edge on goal difference following a 1-1 draw at home to Northiam 75 II. Tom Cusden's goal for the Arrows was matched by Kelvin Lowes for Northiam.

Little Common II also had to make do with a share of the spoils after drawing 3-3 at home to St Leonards Social II, whose opening game also ended in the same scoreline. Nick Kavanagh (2) and Attilio Field were Common's scorers.

Hastings United Youth are on four points as well after the goals of Dan Kearley (2) and Kieran Stocker earned them a 3-1 win at home to Catsfield. Adam Reilly retaliated.

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AFC Hollington's first match in the competition finished in a 1-1 draw away to 10-man Westfield II. A Jay Edwards goal earned Westfield their first point.

Four sides have won their opening two fixtures in the Division Four/Five competition, three of them in group A.

Welcroft Park Rangers are top on goal difference, but they were made to work for a 2-1 win away to Sovereign Saints II. Jamie Bundy's double proved just enough for Welcroft Park to defeat a Saints side whose goal was scored by Jake Maynard.

Hastings Comets made it back-to-back victories by a two-goal margin with a 2-0 success at home to 10-man Herstmonceux II. Kurt Foster and Brandon Smith were the scorers.

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Hooe also have six points on the back of a 3-1 triumph at home to Hampden Park U23. Kion Cornelius, Callum Holt-Burgess and Grant Wright notched for Hooe, while Jake Lewis scored for Park.

The other match in group A saw Sedlescombe Rangers development and Wadhurst United II pick up their first points after drawing 2-2 with each other. Zak Boutwood and Felix Scotney were Sedlescombe's scorers.

AFC Hollington II followed up their 8-0 victory of the previous weekend with a 7-0 win away to Magham Down as they set a blistering pace in group B.

Tom Whelan helped himself to four of the goals, Jules Phillips grabbed a couple and Robert Burns also got in on the act.

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Parkfield and Ticehurst are both on four points after drawing 0-0 with each other.

Icklesham Casuals got off the mark at the second attempt courtesy of a 3-1 success at home to West Hill United.

Chris Osunsami (2) and Sam Norman netted for the Casuals, while Will Thwaites was on target for West Hill.

Orington made their bow in the competition with a 3-3 draw away to Welcroft Park Rangers II. The goals of Lee Taylor, Marley Smith and Tom Roberts for Welcroft Park were cancelled out by Adam How, Andrew Swindles and Aaron Lillycrop for Orington.

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As for this Saturday's fixtures, clubs have been requested to arrange with each other alternative kick-off times to avoid clashing with the funeral of Prince Philip at 3pm. Where an alternative time cannot be agreed, matches will be rescheduled for a later date.

Standings (played 2 matches unless stated) - Premier/Division 1, Group A: Sidley United (3) 6pts (+2 goal difference), Bexhill Town (3) 4 (-1), Battle Town 3 (+2), St Leonards Social 3 (+1), South Coast Athletico 3 (0), Wadhurst United 3 (-1), Bexhill AAC 3 (-1), Robertsbridge United 1 (-2).

Group B: Sedlescombe Rangers II 6pts (+3), Rye Town 4 (+1), Battle Town II 3 (+4), Rock-a-Nore 3 (+1), Punnetts Town 3 (0), Crowhurst 2 (0), The JC Tackleway 1 (-1), Victoria Baptists 0 (-8).

Division 2/3, Group A: SC Pass + Move Arrows 4pts (+4), Little Common II 4 (+3), Hastings United Youth 4 (+2), Catsfield 3 (+2), St Leonards Social II 2 (0), AFC Hollington (1) 1 (0), Northiam 75 II 1 (-3), Westfield II 1 (-4), Old Town Lions (1) 0 (-4).

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Group B: Bexhill AAC II 6pts (+3), Hampden Park 4 (+2), Sandhurst (1) 3 (+2), Hawkhurst United II 3 (0), Bexhill Rovers 3 (-1), The JC Tackleway II 2 (0), Herstmonceux 1 (-1), Robertsbridge United II (1) 0 (-2), Mountfield United 0 (-3).

Division 4/5, Group A: Welcroft Park Rangers 6pts (+9), Hastings Comets 6 (+4), Hooe 6 (+3), Sovereign Saints II 3 (-5), Wadhurst United II 1 (-6), Sedlescombe Rangers development 1 (-8), Herstmonceux II 0 (-3), Hampden Park U23 0 (-4).

Group B: AFC Hollington II 6pts (+15), Ticehurst 4 (+4), Parkfield 4 (+2), Icklesham Casuals 3 (+1), Battle Town III (1) 3 (+1), Welcroft Park Rangers II 1 (-8), Orington (1) 1 (0), West Hill United 0 (-4), Magham Down 0 (-11).

Saturday's fixtures - Premier/Division 1, group A: Battle Town v St Leonards Social; Bexhill AAC v Robertsbridge United; Bexhill Town v South Coast Athletico; Sidley United II v Wadhurst United. Group B: Crowhurst v Battle Town II; Punnetts Town v Rock-a-Nore; Sedlescombe Rangers II v The JC Tackleway; Victoria Baptists v Rye Town.

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Division 2/3: AFC Hollington v St Leonards Social II; Catsfield v Little Common II; Old Town Lions v Westfield II; Northiam 75 II v Hastings United Youth. Group B: Bexhill Rovers v Herstmonceux; Robertsbridge United II v Mountfield United; Sandhurst v Hawkhurst United II; The JC Tackleway II v Bexhill AAC II.

Division 4/5: Hampden Park U23 v Sedlescombe Rangers development; Herstmonceux II v Sovereign Saints II; Wadhurst United II v Hastings Comets; Welcroft Park Rangers v Hooe. Group B: AFC Hollington II v Parkfield; Battle Town III v Welcroft Park Rangers II; Orington v Ticehurst; West Hill United v Magham Down.

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