Sussex steam on towards glory
YM FORWARD Ali Russell was on the scoresheet as Sussex left it late to beat Devon 3-1 at Lancing in the South-West Counties Championship.
With the game level at 1-1 with just four minutes to go, Russell drove home a free-kick from outside the box to give the hosts the edge.
Ringmer forward Dominic Shepherd made sure with an 88th minute goal, mopping up after Pat Harding's shot had been saved.
"We made hard work of it," said Sussex manager John Suter, who included YM favourites Ian Chatfield, Matt Duffield, Joel O'Hara, James Grant and Ellis Hooper in the squad alongside Russell.
"It was not easy playing conditions with the wind, but we played better in the second half," he added.
Sussex started brightly and had two excellent opportunities to score, the first falling to O'Hara.
However, the YM winger headed Darren Pearce's cross straight at Steve Johns.
Hassocks forward Hording then squandered an equally inviting opening when he ballooned a shot over the bar after his initial effort had been saved.
But it was Devon who took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute when YM keeper Chatfield felled Tom Harwell in the area and Robert Guppy converted from the spot.
Sussex drew level on 32 minutes, Harding poking home a rebound after Johns failed to hold Russell's low shot from outside the box.
The game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw after Chatfield saved from Kevin Squire and Stuart Garrod headed Whitehawk teammate Stuart Gunn's cross wide from close range. But Sussex went ahead through Russell in the 86th minute and Shepherd wrapped it up minutes later.
Suter's men fly to unbeaten Cornwall next weekend knowing a win will book their place in the South-West Counties Championship final.