Footballers enjoy good start to 2012

Rye United and Sidley United both won in Division One, while Westfield and Little Common drew 2-2 with each other in a Division Two derby.

Table-topping Rye bounced straight back from their New Year’s Eve defeat at Hassocks with a 1-0 victory at home to Peacehaven & Telscombe which puts them four points clear of second-placed Pagham, who lost to Arundel.

Sidley ended their barren run with a very welcome 1-0 victory at home to Ringmer. Casey Ham scored the all-important goal - and a good one at that - during the second half.

Little Common opened up a two-goal lead lead in the first 24 minutes away to Westfield, but the hosts pulled one back through David Pugh just before the break and levelled through an Andy Hales beauty in the 55th minute.

Full reports on each of these matches will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Just a reminder that Bexhill United’s match at home to Hailsham Town in Division Two tonight (Tuesday) has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Standings (played-points) - Division 1: 1 RYE UNITED 25-56, 2 Pagham 23-52, 3 Lancing 24-47, 4 Hassocks 25-47, 5 Three Bridges 20-44, 6 Lingfield 23-41, 7 Peacehaven & Telscombe 25-39, 8 AFC Uckfield 26-39, 9 Redhill 21-37, 10 SIDLEY UNITED 26-36, 11 East Grinstead Town 29-36, 12 Crowborough Athletic 28-34, 13 Horsham YMCA 26-29, 14 Selsey 22-28, 15 Arundel 24-26, 16 Shoreham 25-24, 17 Worthing United 24-24, 18 Ringmer 24-22, 19 St Francis Rangers 28-15, 20 Chichester City 20-8.

Division 2: 1 East Preston 22-59, 2 Hailsham Town 19-44, 3 Dorking Wanderers 20-42, 4 Littlehampton Town 21-35, 5 Storrington 24-35, 6 Southwick 23-35, 7 Eastbourne United AFC 23-34, 8 Mile Oak 25-33, 9 Wick 21-29, 10 BEXHILL UNITED 21-27, 11 Rustington 23-26, 12 Steyning Town 24-26, 13 Loxwood 21-25, 14 LITTLE COMMON 22-23, 15 WESTFIELD 20-20, 16 Oakwood 22-20, 17 Seaford Town 19-16, 18 Midhurst & Easebourne 20-13.