Punnetts Town and Rye Town put pressure on East Sussex League leaders

Punnetts Town moved up to second in the Premier Division with a 2-1 victory at home to Rock-a-Nore and fourth-placed Rye Town prevailed by the same score away to Sidley United.

Liam Beckett and Mark Phillips were the goal heroes for Punnetts, who are now eight points adrift of pacesetters Bexhill Town with two games in hand.

First-half strikes by Jules Phillips and Georges Gouet left Rye nine points off the pace having played five fewer matches than Bexhill. A late Will Witham goal wasn't quite enough for sixth-placed Sidley.

SC Pass+Move Arrows edged closer to the top two in Division One on the back of a 7-2 success at home to Battle Town II.

Frazer Discala and Joshua Paige netted twice each, while Callum Brand, Curtis Coombes and Ross Williams were also on target as the third-placed Arrows closed within eight points of second-placed Sandhurst having played twice less. Tyler Smith and Giorgio Wingrove replied.

Ninfield triumphed 3-0 against Peche Hill Select in the battle of Division Two's top two via second-half goals from Danny Austin, Mark Franks and Jason Taylor.

It means Sussex Bluefin Junior Challenge Cup semi-finalists Ninfield, who are still unbeaten in the league, are now just three points back of their victims with three games in hand.

Third-placed Hollington United II are three points adrift of Ninfield, albeit having played once more, following their 4-1 win away to Victoria Baptists.

Alan Foster, Nathan Russell, Joshua Gray and Bradley Najair all found the net as Hollington hit four for the third Saturday in a row.

Sedlescombe Rangers II continued their remarkable ascent of the table by moving into the top four in light of a 3-2 victory at home to Hooe.

The goals of Conor Loake and Callum Holt-Burgess twice put Hooe ahead, yet Zak Boutwood twice brought Sedlescombe level and Joseph Hanny won it for them late on.

Oscar Garcia-Cruz and Stephen Housago were among the scorers as Northiam 75 leapfrogged SC Pass+Move Arrows II into the top half after beating them 3-0.

Division Three top dogs Herstmonceux dropped points for only the third time in 13 league matches this term, drawing 1-1 away to Mountfield United.

Rory Collins notched for the leaders, but Matt Tidmarsh's goal earned ninth-placed Mountfield a very good point.

Second-placed Parkfield failed to take advantage of Herstmonceux's draw as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Orington - their third consecutive defeat.

Both goals came during the first half and Sam Saunders got the first of them as Orington moved up a position into the top five.

It was 13th time lucky for Westfield III as they finally celebrated their first league win of the season with a 4-3 victory at home to Sovereign Saints II, despite finishing with 10 men.

Matt Connon, Kevin Allman, Lewis Barrett and Alfie Apps struck for Westfield, who are now only a point adrift of second-bottom Hastings Comets, albeit having played three more times. Chris Williams bagged a brace and Shayan Sharifi was also on target for Saints.

In Division Four, Westfield IV suffered a setback in what has effectively become a battle for second place as they lost 2-0 away to Robertsbridge United II.

Dan Goodsall's double ensured Robertsbridge ended a run of three straight defeats across all competitions, yet they dropped a position to seventh despite beating the 10-man Westies.

Sedlescombe Rangers Development II jumped above Burwash into third spot after beating them 5-2 away from home.

Tom Ackerley's hat-trick, and one each from Ashley Russell and Jake Warner put Sedlescombe level on points with Westfield having played a game fewer. Alex Underdown and Henry Underdown were on the mark for Burwash.