Rye Town FC stamped their mark on East Sussex Football League Division One following a convincing victory against last-placed Northiam 75. Only three changes from the winning side of the previous week occurred, injured player/manager Shane Ridgers, sunset bound Luke Willis and Robert Wilson being replaced by Alfie Weller, Kevin Earl and Barnaby Osbourn.
From the start it was clear that away side Northiam would struggle to contain the pace of Charlie Stevens and the intelligence of Dom Cruttenden, the duo spearing the Rye attacks, and within seven minutes the pair combined before Stevens ferociously drilled the ball home. Northiam were guilty of poor decision making in the final third, which kept the score 1-0 in Rye’s favour, the confidence to shoot or the need to pass dampened the away side’s chances.
Stevens finished off another fine worked goal within 27 minutes, putting Rye 2-0 ahead, a goal from front to back involving key players across the pitch, coolly tucked into the net. It was his 9th of the season. A 2-0 score is always an odd position to be in and, the next goal being vital, the home side had goalkeeper Weller to thank for a tremendous save, making himself large to prevent a possible Northiam reprieve. Chris Gould, playing a deeper role allowing the younger, fitter midfielders to demonstrate their stamina, produced a fine lesson in striking the ball, smashing it into the top of the net from 15 yards. It was 3-0 at half time with Rye fully in control.
With five decent substitutes all keen and eager to enter the field of play, Ridgers and Kelvin Wall waited 10 minutes in before replacing Sammy Foulkes with Adam “big time” Hurley, Hurley managed only 30 minutes last time against Northiam before being dismissed.
In a scrappy second half, the only real chance was missed by Stevens firing high and wide, George Ball the energetic, tireless midfielder being replaced by debutant Martin Brain and Osbourn injured leaving the field for Frank Walker.
Northiam gave themselves a lifeline on 63 minutes. Rye showed some shambolic defending and an apparently clear Northiam handball led to the visitors’ only goal of the game to make the score 3-1.
Cruttenden – scoring every time a Rye shirt sits on his back – continued racking up the statistics dead on 70 minutes. Four soon became five three minutes later, with Rye being awarded a penalty. Under strict instructions Stevens had the chance to score Rye Town’s first-ever hat trick and there were no doubts as he calmly rolled the ball into the net. His third, Rye’s fifth.
Northiam filtered away the fitness levels. A distance apart, the game already won at 5-1 was made 6 courtesy of a fine display of strength from Cruttenden, holding off two players and turning to strike high, taking his tally to 5 in 4 games.
Pikes Cleaning Man of the Match, Gould, dropping deeper assisting the cramped Earl, started the play resulting in a tap in for debutant Brain at the far post, rounding up the scoring. Alex Cooke played well and was unlucky not to get the Man of the Match as were Cruttenden and Skinner. So the oldest player for Rye grabbed the Pikes Cleaning Man of the Match, Gould nominated by the referee.
The final tally was: Rye 7 Northiam 1. With the hat trick, Stevens leads the division’s goal charts with 10. Rye are 7 points ahead, yet Bexhill could equal the points tally if they win the games in hand.
The match was sponsored by Tony Hailey Country Services.
This Saturday November 12, Rye face Crowhurst at the Salts – the same day as the town’s bonfire night – with Ridgers expecting a selection problem.
Rye Team: Weller, Earl, Henham(c), Osbourn (Walker), Foulkes (Hurley), Skinner, Gould, Cooke, Ball (Brain), Stevens, Cruttenden. Subs not used: Hanny and Fraser
Photo: David Evans