After a week of torrential rain, a warm and bright Mid November day encouraged me to travel up to Storrington, home of the Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) Division 2 side, Storrington FC. Today’s visitors were Chichester City B side and both sides would have been glad to play as many local fixtures were called off after the deluge of rain the local area had received this week.

The Storrington Recreation ground boasts a decent grass pitch and clubhouse and a small covered stand, with modern floodlighting. Storrington FC were relegated from the SCFL First Division in 2024-25 and this season the Swans, as Storrington are known, have started the season inconsistently, with three wins, three draws and four defeats from their opening ten games. Manager David Ray, has seen his side struggle for goals this season and their eighteen league goals have come largely from Adam Lamport (4 goals), Jordan Suter and Declan Partridge (both 3 goals).

Chichester City B have started the season in a clear run of form that has brought them securely into the top four of the league. They have seven wins, two draws and just one defeat from their opening ten games and manager, James Gilchrist, has been able to rely on the goals of Josh Hall (10 goals), Joshua Castle (7 goals) and Kieron Dowell (4 goals), to secure some valuable points with his side securing 31 goals in the opening ten games.

The first twenty five minutes of the game saw both sides battling to establish control on a very sticky and heavy surface. Then on twenty five minutes a free kick by Captain, Jordan Suter, for Storrington was hit skilfully along the ground, skidding beyond Connor Millar in the Chichester City goal and into the net.

The remainder of the half saw both sides create and squander, clear cut chances. Despite their best efforts, the heavy pitch clearly hindered play and at the break the sides went in with Storrington FC holding onto their 1-0 lead.

On 51 minutes Chichester City found their way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty for a somewhat reckless shove in the area by a Storrington defender.

Liam Connolly stepped up to slot the ball home, tying the game level at 1-1.

Then on 63 minutes an accurate cross from Chichester City’s James Atkinson was hit brilliantly home by Ben Mepham, to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the game, sending the Storrington FC’s heads down as the frustration of playing on such a heavy and unforgiving surface today, began to take its toll.

Ten minutes later it was 1-3 when some heavy Chichester City B pressure led to a fine finish by their Captain, Matt Noble, from close range.

At full time it was Chichester who took the three points to cement their journey to the top. Storrington FC will have been frustrated as they had led for much of the game, but on the second half performance alone, Chichester City B deserved the victory.