Hat-trick Hero Jones Helps City to Home Win

City Striker Scott Jones scores his third goal (Picture: Daniel Harker)

Reporter: Dan Andrade

A Scott Jones’ hat-trick, with Kaleem Haitham adding another late on, helped Chi overturn a rapid Lancing opener to take an important three points.

The Oaklands Park outfit, one of the top ten scoring sides in the country at Step 5, had bagged six in the midweek Peter Bentley Cup quarter final victory over Mile Oak but fell behind in the first minute for the second week running when Lucas Tredrea looped a header past the helpless Jordan Matthews.

City woke up immediately after this, with skipper Matt Axell delivering two killer balls, and George Way firing wide after good link up play between Connor Cody, Ben Pashley and Rob Hutchings.

Way and Hutchings were involved again moments later, setting up Jones who also saw his effort go wide.

Meanwhile down the other end Matthews denied the visitors’ No.9, Matt Daniel, tipping his shot over the bar.

In the 15th minute Josh Clack curled a ball through to Jones, who took it past Tyler D’Cruz and slotted calmly into an empty net.

Lancing then had a chance to regain the lead. Terrell Lewis was caught in possession on the halfway line, Mark Pulling spotted Matthews off his line and shot, only to see his effort go hopelessly wide.

Connor Cody, who shone throughout, set up Jones for his second, with the clinical striker dinking the ball over D’Cruz, much to the home fans’ relief.

City then pushed for a third, Hutchings and Pashley both having shots on goal, with Jones being denied by a last ditch tackle from Bradley Peters.

HT 2-1

Peters denied the home side again straight after the restart with another perfectly timed tackle on Axell, after Jones’ smart pass.

Pashley, who played well at left back, then forced D’Cruz into a save after a fireball of a shot, with the visiting keeper tipping the ball onto the top of the net.

Jones bagged his hat-trick – his 13th goal of the season in all competitions, in what was an otherwise quiet second half.

After great teamwork, with Hutchings closing down and winning the ball back, Way fed a pass through to Gicu Iordarche, who in return found Jones and the striker effortlessly stroked the ball home.

Cody tried to get on the score sheet, unleashing a shot from outside the box, and Lewis was there for the rebound, only to see his shot whistle wide.

There was still time for substitute Haitham to add a fourth, after Iordarche unselfishly squared it across to the tricky winger, who guided the ball into the open net with practically the last kick of the game.

The win keeps Chichester in second place in the SCFL premier division, two points behind front-runners Horsham YMCA.

City travel to Eastbourne United next weekend in the league.

Updated 09:00 - 30 Aug 2019 by Ian Worden