Ryan hits another treble

Captain Russ Tomlinson was ruled out with a knee injury sustained against Pottage so Brett Neal captained Rustington.

After a slow start, Blues struck twice in a minute. Richie Hellen headed the opener from Terry Withers' corner on 19 minutes. Then, within moments, Walton fired home his first.

Uckfield, however, were level by half-time. Rustington keeper Andy McCarthy spilt a cross allowing Joe Tubon to tap home for 2-1. Then, a minute before half-time, Ben Elsey's long-range effort somehow crept past McCarthy into the goal.

With the strong wind behind them, Rustington started the second half nervously and McCarthy made two excellent saves to keep Blues level.

Rustington were getting frustrated until Walton curled home his second from 15 yards on 71 minutes. Five minutes later, Walton completed his hat-trick for his 22nd goal of the season, one more than Andy Smart, who had started the day as Blues' leading scorer.

Adam Bibb made it 5-2 from the penalty spot with seven minutes left before Sean Duffy also got on the scoresheet in the closing stages.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Hellen, Neal, Bibb, Butcher; Duffy, Morten, Butt, Withers; Walton, Couzens. Subs: Webb (Hellen 25), Smart (Couzens 65), Nally (Butt 80), Cox, Robertshaw.

For match reaction from Rustington manager Gareth Davies, see Thursday's Littlehampton Gazette.