Lavant beat West Chiltington two-nil to win the Malcolm Simmonds Memorial Cup at Arundel on May Bank Holiday, 1st May.

A goal in each half from James Sandford and a workman like performance from the whole Lavant team, which gave West Chiltington little opportunity to get back into the game, secured the trophy.

This is a great end to the season with Lavant also winning the Walter Rossiter Memorial Shield and coming runners up in the Premier League, for the third successive season.

Bank Holiday Monday, 1st May, Lavant take on West Chiltington in the Malcolm Simmonds Cup Final.

Kick-off 3.00pm at Arundel Football Club

Hunston 3 Lavant 2

Lavant travelled to fellow Chichester side Hunston this weekend in what was the hosts’ first fixture since the tragic passing of their manager Stuart Hazelgrove. A minute’s applause preceded the game, one which Hunston were clearly going to be highly motivated for.

Hunston pressed Lavant from the very first whistle affording the visitors no time on the football. Their game plan was clear, win the football and launch it towards their big, quick, centre forward, it was effective.

Lavant persevered with trying to play football with both James Sandford and Dan Baker picking the ball up in some good positions but foiled by the tenacity of the Hunston central defenders.

20 minutes it Hunston took a deserved lead, a quality ball into the Lavant area headed on target and forcing a top save from Ash Court only for the second ball to be smartly tucked away.

It didn’t take long for Lavant to level; Baker broke into the area where he was fouled. It could have been anyone of 1, 2, 3 infringements but the referee finally blew. Richard Gabb stepped up to convert.

Hunston continued with their direct approach in the second half and it was this that led to their 2^nd goal, Lavant caught over committed up the field, one ball cleared the entire back line and the Hunston no.9 ran through and slotted past the hapless Court.

Minutes later Lavant again were level, a well delivered free kick from the flank which Matt Lyttle guided with his head beyond the outstretched keeper.

With Hunston clearly tiring and Lavant now in the ascendancy it looked like there would be only one winner but again the home side dug deep to find the winner. Again it was a set play with the Lavant back lines starting position too deep allowing the Hunston hitman to head home from a yard.

Lavant: Ash Court, Matt Grace, Richard Gabb, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, Charles Mclaren, Matt Stevens, James Sandford, Aaron Hancock, Ash Hawkes, Dan Baker Subs – Will Cieszynski, Pete Caveney, James Brooks

Lavant 2 Predators 0

Lavant swept aside the disappointments of last weekend’s cup exit with an assured 2-0 win against Bognor side Predators with a goal in each half.

It was Dan Baker the opened the scoring on 15 minutes after some great work by Ash Hawkes down the left hand side having been restored to the starting line up. After turning his fullback inside out, showed the presence of mind to pick out Baker on the edge of the area who curled in at the far post.

Lavant continued to pass the ball well, the performance of Matt Stevens and Charles Mclaren in the centre of the park was impressive. But with halftime approaching, the 1-0 lead remained a precarious one.

The second half started as the first finished but as time went on the home sides shape became more fractured lending opportunities to their visitors. The 2^nd was clearly a must and came on 70 minutes; a Mclaren free kick was beautifully flighted into the path of Jon Wright who thumped his header home.

The second goal settled Lavant and could have added to their tally with further chances falling to Hawkes and substitute Pete Caveney but the score remained 2-0.

Team: Ash Court, Matt Grace, Simon Augustus, Matt Lyttle, Jon Wright, Charles Mclaren, Matt Stevens, James Sandford, Aaron Hancock, Ash Hawkes, Dan Baker.  Subs: Will Cieszynski, Pete Caveney

Lavant Reserves 2 Ewhurst 2 AET 4-3 on penalties
Chichester Charity Cup

Lavant Reserves had to endure a long hard battle against Division II North side Ewhurst in the cold drizzly rain, which in the end went to extra time and penalties.

Lavant took an early two-nil lead in the first half with goals from Louis Weller and Gary Rowlands. before letting the visitors back into the game just before half time.

The second saw Ewhurst draw level, after a short back pass from captain John Price left keeper Ash Rochester stranded with the striker taking full advantage and drawing level 2-2.

After riding the next ten minutes pressure from Ewhurst, Lavant again took control of the game and forged many chances to win the match but the final touch just eluded them.

That was much the same for the fifteen minutes each way of extra time as Lavant just could not take advantage of the continuous pressure.

For the first time for many a season a Lavant side were facing a penalty shoot out.

It was tight at the start as both sides put there initial penalties away, before Gary Rowlands had the chance to win it for the home side. He stepped up but his spot kick went high over the bar.  Lavant however did not have to wait long for another chance as man of the match Ash Rochester saved again, leaving captain John Price the opportunity to make up for his error earlier in the game and he made no mistake scoring the winner and putting Lavant into the quarter finals, where they will be away to Barns Green on the 4th February.

Team: Ash Rochester, James Hockin, Joe Newton, Neil Latham, John Price (c), Dave Maclean, Greg Ayling, Louis Weller, Adam Yaxley, Barry McCoy, Gary Rowlands,  Subs: Alex Holmes, Micky Earle, Ben Price, Pete Caveney.