Rustington comfortably beat Steyning

Blues outclassed their relegation-haunted opponents and could easily have notched up double figures if it was not for some smart goalkeeping from Darren Ford, who was Steyning’s best player by some margin.

It was the home side who made all the early running. Matt Huckett and Chris Darwin had shots well saved by Ford in the opening 20 minutes, while Darwin blazed over from eight yards when it seemed easier to score, following the lively Ross Adams’ pass.

Steyning, without a win in 13 matches, lacked any killer threat in the opening half and, apart from the lively Diego Da Silva on the left, never looked likely to carve out an opening.

Rustington’s perseverance was rewarded on 38 minutes when Ryan Pratt felled Darwin in the penalty box and Adam Bibb crashed the spot-kick into the left-hand corner.

The second half continued to see the home side dominate with Dan Jones and Ryan Hudson bossing the midfield and Darwin and James Bennett posing problems on the flanks.

Darwin had an effort on 50 minutes well smothered by Ford, but moments later Rustington bagged their second. Bennett headed home from close range following an excellent Huckett free kick on the left.

Two soon became three when Darwin outpaced Craig Walsh on the hour, only to see his shot parried by Ford but Darwin reacted quickest to force in the rebound from five yards.

Steyning gave themselves a glimmer of hope on 69 minutes when Lewis Levoi’s miss-hit pass from all of 45 yards sailed over a stranded Andy McCarthy into the Rustington net.

Instead of a Steyning fight-back, Rustington once again stepped up a gear in the closing stages. Steve Kirkham, returning to the club after a spell with Lancing, made it 4-1 on 85 minutes when he beat the offside trap, rounded Ford and guided the ball into an empty net.

Blues boss Brett Torode said: “It was our best performance of the season and we’re starting to get it together.

“We haven’t turned the corner yet but I’d say we’re on the corner – although we have four tough away games coming up now.”

Rustington are at Seaford in the John O’Hara Cup on Saturday and travel to division-higher Sidley in the Sussex RUR Cup on Tuesday.

RUSTINGTON: McCarthy; Butcher, Bibb, Neal; Boxall, Jones, Hudson, Huckett, Bennett; Darwin, Adams. Subs: Sayers (Butcher 65), Kirkham (Adams 67) Matthews (Darwin 78), Withers, Gaskin.