Tuesday 27 April 2010
RUSTINGTON 0 v 0 LOXWOOD
RUSTINGTON Football Club were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Loxwood on Tuesday evening although Blues' joint manager Kev Short felt his side did enough to take all three points.

A win would have seen Rustington jump into the top half of the County League Division 2 table – a dramatic turnaround since Short and Terry Withers took over back in November, when they were second from bottom, with a relegation battle looking likely.

Short said: "We probably could and should have won the game. We should have nicked it, especially as we had a penalty. It is a bit disappointing as it would have put us on 44 points and into the top half. When we took over we were second bottom so it's nice to be around the mid-table.

We have been on a great run, especially when you look at our run-in. With all the top six to play, we wondered where any points would come from."

Andy Boxall was shown a yellow card on 15 minutes for a dive in the area, although Short believed it was a stonewall penalty.

Blues did get a spot-kick 10 minutes later when the linesman flagged for handball but Boxall hit the post from the penalty.

On the stroke of half-time, Rustington's Chris Darwin beat a defender to the ball but the Loxwood goalkeeper somehow produced a fine save with his legs.

After the break, Blues went close a couple of times from Darwin corners, while Loxwood, who only had a couple of efforts from long range in the first half, could have taken the lead but their striker missed the ball from an excellent cross.

RUSTINGTON v Loxwood: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Wimbleton, Green; Darwin, C.Matthews, Butcher, Boxall, Morten; Butt. Subs: Hudson (Butt 50), Bennett (Boxall 60), Kirkham (Butcher 78), Duffy, Peters.

Report Taken from the Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 24 April 2010
RUSTINGTON 3 v 1 RYE UTD
Rustington manager Kevin Short is targeting a strong finish to the season after his team's 3-1 win on Saturday over a Rye United side, who need only one more win to take the County League Division 2 title.

Short said: "It was a good win, we started well and it was an excellent team performance. Seven points out of nine is a brilliant return considering the teams we've played and I want us to carry on and finish the season strongly."

James Butt, playing in an unfamiliar centre-forward position, put Blues in front but the champions-elect equalised before half-time. 

Substitute James Bennett then made it 2-1 from a Chris Darwin ball in the 70th minute, and then tapped home the third from a Rob Butcher pass two minutes from time.

RUSTINGTON v Rye: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Wimbleton, Green; Darwin, C. Matthews, Butcher, Boxall, Morten; Butt. Subs: Bennett (Butt 62), Duffy (Green 65), Peters, Woodward, S.Kirkham. 

Report Taken from the Littlehampton Gazette

Wednesday 21 April 2010
RUSTINGTON 0 v 0 LITTLEHAMPTON
On Wednesday, Blues were held 0-0 by local-rivals Littlehampton, who had Ross McKay sent off for a second bookable offence in the 52nd minute. 

Andy Boxall and Chris Darwin had Blues best chances, while Barney Boutwood fired a good, late chance wide, that could have won it for Golds. 

Littlehampton joint manager John Suter said: "It was a nondescript first half, but after Ross got sent off we dug deep and I think a point was fair. We battled well and could have even nicked it."

Short said: " It was a tight, even game, as you'd expect from a local derby and a draw was fair. We couldn't break them down and they defended well."

RUSTINGTON v Littlehampton: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Wimbleton, Green; Cox, C.Matthews, Butcher, Boxall, Darwin; Smith. Subs: Hudson (Cox 15), Duffy (Matthews 70), Bennett (Hudson 80).

Report taken from the Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 17 April 2010
SIDLEY UTD 1 V 2 RUSTINGTON

A MUCH-changed Rustington Football Club side inflicted a 2-1 upset upon County League Division 2 promotion-chasing Sidley on Saturday, to the delight of Blues' manager Kevin Short.

Short said: "We played well, the result was pleasing and we stuck to our game plan of contain and counter attack, and it worked."

Adam McMinigal put Sidley in front in the third minute, but Blues equalised on 30 minutes through Rob Butcher. 

Butcher started the move with a pass that played in Chris Darwin. Darwin's effort was saved, and Butcher chested down, then volleyed home the follow-up.

Blues' winner came from Darwin on the counter-attack midway through the second half.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Wimbleton, Green; Darwin, C.Matthews, Boxall, Butcher, Gibbs; Smith. Subs: Bashford (Gibbs 20), Cox (Smith 65), Woodward.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Tuesday 13 April 2010
WORTHING UTD 1 V 1 RUSTINGTON

ANDY BOXALL headed home a last-minute equaliser for Rustington Football Club on Tuesday evening in their 1-1 draw with Worthing United in County League Division 2.

Jon Tucker played a long free kick into the penalty area, Jason Wimbleton headed it on and Boxall was on hand to nod home from five yards for his sixth goal of the season.

Second-placed United had gone ahead with just 10 minutes left when Grant Philpott scored after Blues keeper Andy McCarthy had saved Julian Curnow's header.

Other than that chances were few and far between and Blues manager Kevin Short said: "It was a very even game and both sides had just two or three half-chances.

"We deserved a point at least. We defended really well, although it was disappointing defending for their goal – although they probably thought the same about ours. It's a good point against a good side. If we'd played like that all season, we wouldn't be fourth from bottom."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Wimbleton, Neal, Green; Boxall, Hudson, Adams, Gibbs; C.Kirkham, S.Kirkham. Subs: Cox (S.Kirkham 20), Butcher (C.Kirkham 60), Matthews (Adams 80), Woodward.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 10 April 2010
CLYMPING 3 V 0 RUSTINGTON
Clymping remain on course for a top six finish in County League Division 2 after a 3-0 home win over local rivals Rustington on Saturday.

The victory delighted Clymping player-manager Dominic Di Paola, who said: "It was a good performance and we played really well. We had a few players out and it's nice to win one of our derbies. We've not done too well in them this year, so it was a good result. 

"We dominated most of the game, although they could have had a penalty at 1-0, but it was one of those decisions which could go either way." 

Joe Shelley put Clymping ahead on five minutes, before Rustington had a penalty shout turned down when Andy Boxall went down under a Danny Hand challenge.

Billy Rayner doubled Clymping's lead from a Joe Stokes cross on 35 minutes and Stokes got the third on 62 minutes from a Billy Rayner pass. Dave Gaskin went close to a fourth but hit the bar.

Rustington manager Kevin Short said: "It was a poor performance and disappointing from us. We had some players pull out in the morning before kick-off and that disrupted our preparation and made a big difference. 

"Credit to Clymping, though, they deserved to win. With the penalty shout, the referee made the decision 50 yards away, so how he could see it I don't know."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; C.Matthews, Smith, Neal, Butcher; Gibbs, Hudson, Woodward, Bennett; Boxall, Adams. Subs: Bashford (Bennett 10), Withers, Green. 

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 27th March 2010
SEAFORD 0 V 2 RUSTINGTON
Rustington manager Kevin Short believes his side are two wins away from securing their senior status after their 2-0 success at Seaford in Division 2. 

Short said: "We can't say we're safe for definite, but I think two more wins should do it. We defended well and created plenty of chances. It was very pleasing and is something to build on. 

"We've got two local derbies coming up, against Littlehampton and Clymping, so to secure survival by winning those would be nice."

James Bennett put Blues ahead from a Chris Darwin free-kick in the 20th minute, and after Bennett had a penalty saved, Matt Woodward made it 2-0 with his first touch from a Darwin pass on 85 minutes. 

Short added: "We were strong defensively and stifled them, I was pleased with the performance." 

Rustington's match at Lancing on Tuesday evening was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; C.Matthews, Wimbleton, Butcher, Green; Morten, Darwin, Bennett, Hudson; Boxall, C.Kirkham. Subs: Adams (Kirkham 50), Woodward (Morten 78), Cumber. 

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 20th March 2010
RUSTINGTON 2 V 5 LANCING
Rustington manager Kevin Short bemoaned his team's defending in their 5-2 defeat at home to Lancing in County League Division 2. 

Blues, who ended the game with nine men, went 2-0 behind before half-time through a Darren Boswell double. 

James Bennett pulled it back to 2-1, following a one-two with Andy Boxall, but Lee Early extended the lead before Rustington's Jon Tucker was sent off. 

Boswell's hat-trick made it 4-1, and Blues' Chris Darwin then became the second player to be sent-off for foul and abusive language.

Despite being two men down, Blues got another goal back through Boxall but Lee Garnham got Lancers' fifth in the 77th minute.

Short said: "Our forward play was very good but we were awful at the back. 

"It could have been anything and for the neutral it was a good game to watch. 

"It was a bit of a nightmare from our point of view. It was a quite bizarre game and frustrating for us. But Adam Woodward and Steve Bennett made their first-team season debuts for us, which was good."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Smith, Neal; C.Matthews, J.Bennett, Hudson, Boxall, Darwin; Wimbleton, S.Kirkham. Subs: S.Bennett (Neal 60), Woodward, Adams (Matthews, Hudson 70). 

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 13th March 2010
RUSTINGTON 1 V 1 EAST PRESTON
REFEREE Barry Cox took centre stage on Saturday when Rustington and East Preston served up a dour 1-1 draw in County League Division 2.

Such was the lack of footballing action, it was almost inevitable that the officials' decisions would trigger the main talking points among the frozen spectators.

On 66 minutes, it appeared that Kevin Clayton had slotted the ball home to give EP a 2-1 lead. The home side protested and, after a lengthy discussion between Cox and his assistant, the goal was over-ruled for an offside decision which the assistant linesman had not initially flagged for. 

The visitors were clearly outraged by the decision, but shortly afterwards they were the benefactors of another questionable decision. EP player-manager Paul Curtis scythed down Lee Gibbs on the edge of the area. A red card would have been a fair outcome as Curtis was the last man, but instead Cox merely gave the EP defender a firm talking too.

The final act of questionable referring came with 10 minutes remaining. Rustington's Jon Tucker and EP's Mark Burgess were involved in an off-the-ball incident, where it appeared that Tucker had stamped on Burgess. 

Burgess' retaliation earned him a second yellow card and an early bath, while Tucker can consider himself lucky not to have joined Burgess – earning just a yellow card, which incensed the visiting support. 

There were also some footballing moments in a match not aided by a challenging playing surface and gusty winds. Despite EP forcing half a dozen corners in the first 10 minutes, it was Rustington who gained the first clear sight of goal, but Jason Wimbleton's 11th-minute header was ruled out for offside. 

EP took the lead on the half-hour mark when referee Cox pointed to the spot for a handball. Jay Huet, probably the best player on the pitch, coolly sent Andy McCarthy the wrong way.

They nearly bagged a second five minutes later, but Josh Sutcliffe's drive from the edge of the box was well held by McCarthy. 

Rustington got back on level terms in the 42nd minute when EP keeper Maciek Kason spilled a corner and Wimbleton forced the ball home on the line.

The second half lacked clear-cut opportunities with Blues' Gibbs having the two best chances to snatch a winner. His swerving shot on 47 minutes landed narrowly wide, then with 15 minutes left, his shot cannoned off Kason's legs and to safety. 

The match marked the first-ever John Withers Memorial Trophy match to commemorate a founder member of East Preston Football Club, who passed away in December.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Smith, Tucker, Neal; Boxall, Wimbleton, Hudson, Gibbs, Green; Bennett, S.Kirkham. Subs: C.Kirkham (Wimbleton 60), Morten (Boxall 76), C.Matthews.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 20th Feb 2010
RUSTINGTON 4 V 0 MIDHURST
RUSTINGTON edged closer to County League Division 2 safety on Saturday with a 4-0 win over rock-bottom Midhurst. Blues, one of only two sides to lose to Midhurst in the league this season, went ahead on 15 minutes, when James Bennett converted a Lee Gibbs free-kick. 

Steve Kirkham hit a quickfire double to make it 3-0 by the half-hour mark, and Ryan Hudson added the fourth 20 minutes from time. 

Blues finished the game with just 10 men after Chris Darwin limped off after all three substitutions had been made. 

Boss Kevin Short said: "We played really well and that's one defeat in five league games now.

"But we've got to keep winning as there's a danger we could be sucked back in. Midhurst were actually better on Saturday than they were when they beat us, but we've come a long way since then. 

"Our fitness levels are better, the attitude has improved and we're working really hard in training. We also changed the formation and I felt that helped us and made a difference."

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Tucker, Neal, Smith; Boxall, Wimbleton, Hudson, Gibbs, Green; S.Kirkham, Bennett. Subs: Darwin (Green 63), Morten (Gibbs 70), C.Kirkham (Neal 75). 

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 6th Feb 2010
OAKWOOD 2 V 1 RUSTINGTON
Rustington's recent revival ended with a 2-1 defeat at mid-table Oakwood, and Blues boss Kevin Short was left disappointed at his side's performance. 

He said: "We were poor, dreadful, they were the better side and hopefully it's just a one-off. 

"We were fortunate to go in at half-time one up and we didn't play anywhere near as well as we can."

Blues were forced to play midfielder Jason Wimbleton in goal after regular keeper Andy McCarthy was injured in the warm-up. 

Short added: "Jason did nothing wrong, he wasn't at fault for anything but I felt it disrupted us a bit, although that's no excuse."

Blues went ahead through Steve Kirkham's goal just before the break, only for Liam Hunter to equalise on 70 minutes. 

Oakwood were reduced to 10 men when Daniel Attwater was sent-off, but Gerald Manville still nicked the points a minute from time.

Rustington now travel to Little Common on Saturday.

RUSTINGTON: Wimbleton; C.Matt-hews, Neal, Smith, Green; Bennett, Morten, Tucker, Boxall; Smart, S.Kirkham. Subs: Hudson (Neal 15 inj), Darwin (Kirkham 65), Butcher (Matthews 70).

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette 

SATURDAY 30th January 2010
RUSTINGTON 2 V 1 SOUTHWICK
Rustington won for the third league game in succession and eased their relegation fears with a 2-1 win over struggling Southwick. 

Blues joint manager Kevin Short said: "We weren't at it in the first half and they seemed to want it more. At half-time, we told them to raise the level and work harder, and they responded and got the job done."

Dominic Shepherd put Southwick in front on 22 minutes but Blues turned the game around with two goals in quick succession after half-time. 

Steve Kirkham made it 1-1 immediately after the break and Kirkham then got his second 10 minutes later. 

Blues' Rob Butcher was sent off for a second bookable offence but, despite late Southwick pressure, including a superb Andy McCarthy save, Blues held on. Wickers' Grant Bean also saw red late on. 

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Butcher, Neal, Smith, Green; Boxall, Hudson, Wimbleton, C.Kirkham; Smart, S.Kirkham. Subs: Bennett (Wimbleton 60), Tucker (Smart 70), Morten (C.Kirkham 77), C.Matthews. 

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

SATURDAY 23rd January 2010
RUSTINGTON 3 V 0 WEALDEN
Rustington edged clear of the Division 2 drop zone with an impressive 3-0 win over Wealden.

The result left Blues boss Kev Short optimistic for the second half of the season: "We played well and it was an important win.

"We defended well as they looked dangerous at times and we've just got to keep winning and see where it gets us. Although it's only one result, hopefully, this will be a springboard and we can push on towards our aim, which remains to get to 40 points."

Blues started well but it took them until the 55th minute to break the deadlock through an Andy Boxall penalty. Steve Kirkham added the second 11 minutes later after a superb build-up, which involved Boxall, Ryan Morten and Ryan Hudson, who provided the goalscoring pass.

Andy Smart netted the third six minutes from time.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Butcher, Neal, Smith, Green; Boxall, Wimbleton, Hudson, Darwin; S.Kirkham, Smart. Subs: C.Kirkham (Darwin 50), Morten (Wimbleton 65), C.Matthews (Butcher 75), Tucker.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Tuesday 19th January 2010
SHOREHAM 1 V 0 RUSTINGTON
RUSTINGTON Football Club returned to action on Tuesday evening but exited the Brighton Charity Cup 1-0 at division-higher Shoreham.

With neither team having played for five weeks, the game was always likely to be a lethargic affair and so it proved, with the single goal always looking enough to settle things.

Mussels started brighter and struck the bar in just the fourth minute through Rob Boddy,before Josh Clayman saw his follow-up effort saved by Andy McCarthy.

Shoreham edged ahead four minutes later. Sam Blundell cut in from the right and his cross was glanced home by the onrushing Ryan Bradley.

Cameron Johnson then flashed a shot wide before Rustington, who battled hard throughout, gradually imposed themselves on the game and almost notched an equaliser in the 22nd minute, but Jim Smith's header clipped the post.

Bradley went close again just before half-time when his drive was saved by McCarthy, but Mussels had to be content with just the one-goal lead at the break.

They took their foot off the gas in the second half and allowed Rustington to gain the upper hand, but the best chances still fell to Shoreham.

Boddy and substitute Owen Callaghan both went close, but this failure to kill the game off almost cost Mussels, and goalkeeper Michael Hunter had to be alert to deny Andy Smart. That was the last action of the game and Shoreham held on to secure their place in the next round.

Blues boss Kevin Short said: "It was a good run-out and having a hard, tough game was nice for the squad.

"We showed signs of rustiness and you could tell we've not played for five weeks, but they were in the same situation. The league is our priority and the squad is where it should be."

Mussels joint manager Darren Donnelly said: "We should have been out of sight by half-time and I think we showed our rustiness. It's always nice to win, but we just wanted to get back playing again."

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 12th December 2009
STORRINGTON 0 V 2 RUSTINGTON
RUSTINGTON Football Club gave their County League Division 2 survival hopes a major boost on Saturday with a 2-0 win at inconsistent Storrington.

Joint manager Kev Short was extremely pleased with the results, and said: "We were much better than in previous weeks and I'd like to think that this is a springboard for us.

"It's our first clean sheet since August and the boys worked hard and had more about them. We've got new players in and everyone has worked hard to turn things around. Andy McCarthy has re-signed and Rob Butcher played his first game this season for the first team."

James Bennett and Andy Boxall both went close before Chris Kirkham put Blues ahead on the half-hour mark. Chris Matthews combined with Bennett and Boxall, who saw his shot saved but the rebound fell to Kirkham, who knocked it in.

James Butt added the second 11 minutes after the interval after good link-up play between Bennett and Boxall and from then on Blues were comfortable and never looked like relinquishing their lead.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 28th November 2009
MIDHURST 2 V 0 RUSTINGTON
Midhurst had lost all 15 of their matches this season but they beat Blues 2-0 in Division 2 and Rustington joint boss Kev Short had no complaints about the result.

He said: "Collectively, we were terrible, I can't put my finger on why and i'll be looking for a response because that was not good enough and Midhurst fully deserved the points.

"It's a setback because things were looking up but we need to work hard and back ourselves to get out of this."

Ashley Holloway gave Midhurst a seventh-minute lead and Blues then missed several chances to equalise.

Chris Kirkham fired wide, James Butt saw his effort cleared off the line and Ryan Hudson's shot was saved. Blues then had a penalty appeal waved away when Mike Hatch went down and, with Blues pushing for the equaliser, Holloway added Midhurst's second in the 86th minute.

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Saturday 21st November 2009
RUSTINGTON 2 V 2 STEYNING
An 85th-minute Steyning Town equaliser denied Rustington victory in Division 2 on Saturday as the game finished 2-2.

Pat Rose had put Steyning ahead in the 55th minute, but Rustington responded and equalised through Andy Boxall, who knocked home a Brett Neal cross.

Neal himself made it 2-1 on 75 minutes after Jim Smith hit the bar but Greg Hearne levelled for Steyning late on.

Blues joint boss Kev Short said: "The attitude has changed since Terry Withers and I came in. The players seem to believe in themselves a lot more.

"We've got key players coming back. Andy Boxall returning is a boost and Andy Smart will give us something extra. It was frustrating that we couldn't kill the game off but things are improving."

Report taken from Littlehampton Gazette

Tuesday 17th November 2009
EAST PRESTON 2 v 3 RUSTINGTON
Rustington won a thrilling derby against local neighbours East Preston on Tuesday night. In a fairly even start the game both sides created a few chances and Matt Clark in the blues goal made a crucial early save. Rustington then took the lead as Chris Kirkham latched onto a through ball, rounded the keeper and then from a very tight angle slotted the ball into an empty net. East preston then battled back and equalised after a cross deflected of an EP player in the six yard box and sailed in. Rustington composed themselves and fought back however they were undone again late in the half when EP scored with a delightful curling shot from the edge of the box which flew into the top left hand corner. The second half started at a quick tempo and with the wind behind them this half Rustington began to dominate proceedings. The blues created numerous chances with Steve Kirkham hitting the post and several shots were well saved by the EP keeper before Lee Gibbs jinxed his way into the box and hit a powerful shot which took a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom left hand corner of the goal. With the game now level Rustington pushed for the winner and with around 12 mins to go a superb ball across the face of the EP goal found Chris Kirkham steaming in at the back post to fire in from close range. EP then pushed forward and this gave a great chance for Rustington's Andy Boxall to run through and find himself with a one on one but the EP keeper stayed big and produced a good save. For the remainder of the game Rustington dug in and defended superbly throughout the team with the whole side working their socks off to close down the EP players and in truth Rustington Goalkeeper Clark did not have a meaningful save to make before the ref blew the final whistle and Rustington had won for the first time in 12 games.