Another Great Cup Win Sends Chi Through To Semi Finals

Chi goal scorer Kaleem Haitham in action against Lancing (Picture: Tommy McMillan)

Goals from talented young players Sam Ndlovu and Kaleem Haitham helped Chichester City progress to the semi finals of the Sussex RUR Cup.

Miles Rutherford made a number of changes to the team that made history in the FA Vase last time out when Chi beat Horley Town to advance to the last sixteen of that competition.

Scott Jones, Ellis Martin and Lorenzo Dolcetti were rested. Harry Williams and Kieran Hartley dropped to the bench and the City boss gave starts to Ndlovu, Haitham, David Borges, Tafadzwa Kanjanda and new signing Charlie Williamson in a Chi side that featured other U18 players in the squad.

In a scrappy first 15 minutes it was end to end stuff but with neither team creating clear cut chances.

Kanjanda whipped in a good cross for the visitors that was claimed by the keeper and then there was an awkward moment at the other end for Ant Ender in the City goal when he failed to hold a shot, but luckily the ball spun off him and onto the roof of the net.

Nine minutes in and Ndlovu had a good opportunity after he collected a poor goal kick only to put his effort wide.

For YM, Dave Brown almost got in but Ender did well to get out and down to the ball as Ben Pashley worked to hold Brown off.

Chi took the lead in the 16th minute after nice play from Josh Clack set up Ndlovu for a crisp finish.

The pace of Ndlovu, Haitham and Kanjanda troubled the home side all evening and for five minutes or so after the goal Chi might have run riot.

Haitham had a couple of decent chances in this spell, the second one just wide of the left hand post.

For YM, Guy Harding could have done better when he had a free header from a corner before Borges hit the post after Clack and Ndlovu were involved in a well-worked move.

City might have added to their lead just before the break. Luke Killner went close after a clever flick from Haitham teed him up and then Clack spurned two really good chances.

HT 0-1

YMCA had a go in the second half.

Ender got a glove to a fierce shot on 60 minutes and then had to punch a cross away.

Brown lifted his shot over before Ender turned a drive from Sam Schaaf round the post.

Phil Johnson blazed over as well from distance.

Chi always looked dangerous on the break though thanks to that blistering pace and with ten minutes to go Haitham, who was joint top scorer last month, made it 2-0 after a super run from Charlie Williamson opened up things.

Rutherford's side will face Broadbridge Heath in the semis.

Chichester – Ender, Williamson, Pashley, French, Kanjanda, Mendes-Borges, Hegarty, Killner, Haitham, Ndlovu, Clack. Subs (Williams, Hartley, Ahmed, Turnbull, Murage)

Updated 21:30 - 31 Aug 2019 by Ian Worden