Five-star Common sink Swans

Common scored three goals in the final 10 minutes and kept their first clean sheet of the season in Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two.

Player-manager Russell Eldridge made two changes to his starting line-up. Jerome Smith and Paul Feakins came in with Charlie Bachellier advancing into a midfield role.

It was Common who set the tone for the match early on and some neat play saw chances created for Martin Denny, who fired over the crossbar, and Lewis Hole, who lifted an effort just past the post.

Despite playing into a strong breeze, it was Common who continued to dominate possession and the visitors were restricted to two long range attempts which failed to test Matt Cruttwell in the home goal.

Denny went close once again for Common when he rounded the goalkeeper but his ball across the area was just met by a Swans defender ahead of the lurking Hole.

It was no surprise when Common finally broke the deadlock in the 26th minute following a good move down the left which saw Denny cross to Hole, who clinically finished past the unsighted goalkeeper.

Common continued to push for a second, but chances remained at a premium and the half ended with a nasty shoulder injury for Jared Lusted, who was replaced by Steve Morris.

It was Morris who had the first effort of the second period when his thunderous free kick rebounded off the post before a shot from the edge of the area just drifted wide, to the relief of the visiting goalkeeper as he scrambled across the goal.

The second goal did not take long to arrive, though, and it was Hole who finished off a delightful move following a defence-splitting pass from Eldridge.

Despite Common’s superiority, the third goal did not arrive until 10 minutes from time when Hole’s shot following a driving run and cross from Bachellier rebounded into the path of substitute Casey Ham, who curled an effort into the far corner of the net.

Another superb team move saw Hole set up Eldridge and when his flick over the goalkeeper bounced off the crossbar, Morris was on hand to volley the ball into the net.

Common added the fifth in the 90th minute when Conner Burton’s cross was met by Morris at the far post and he made no mistake as he rose to head home. Cruttwell was forced into a late save low to his left.

Common: Cruttwell, Sherwood, Mote, Eldridge, McEniry, Smith, Lusted (Morris), Bachellier, Hole, Denny (Burton), Feakins (Ham).