Two wins, 10 goals - and Chichester City are four clear at top

Kieran Hartley looks for control as Chi City get the better of Peacehaven / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Chichester City's flying start continued with a comfortable 6-1 victory over Peacehaven.

There was no Scott Jones as the striker served the first game of a suspension following a red card against East Preston.

City boss Miles Rutherford brought Lorenzo Dolcetti into midfield, sitting just behind George Way and Matt Axell, and gave the No9 shirt to Tiago Andrade.

Andrade earned the hosts a free-kick two minutes in and Way tested Peacehaven keeper Alieu Secka.

Ellis Martin put Chi ahead from a corner at the back post, latching on to a flick from Dave Herbert.

Referee Thomas Price waved away penalty appeals as Tyler Scrafton went down in the box under a strong challenge.

Mikey Lloyd almost equalised but his effort hit the post and Jordan Matthews gathered the loose ball.

Rob Hutchings came on for Way in the 35th minute after the midfielder picked up an injury and two minutes later Haven were level.

A cross from the left from Sid Adams was chested down by Lloyd and Scrafton beat Matthews with a crisp finish – the August player of the month conceding only his second goal of the campaign.

Hutchings was instrumental in a series of City moves. A nice touch from the substitute almost got Cody in and then a precision cross was flicked just wide.

Matthews denied Haven with an impressive double save on the stroke of half-time, palming away a fierce effort from Adams that moved in the air and getting his body behind Scrafton’s follow-up.

Hutchings put Chi ahead four minutes into the second half when his cracking shot caught out Secka.

A lovely touch from Andrade teed up Axell for his first goal for his new club a minute later to make it 3-1.

Hutchings almost got in again following a mistake by the keeper before Hartley rattled the woodwork once more and Secka reacted first to grab the ball on the line after it came down from the bar.

There was nothing the Haven keeper when Andrade and Herbert linked up and Herbert chipped the ball over him.

Axell got his second and Chi’s fifth in the 81st minute, drilling the ball home after Andrade pulled a shot wide following a good cross from Hutchings.

Rutherford introduced Kaleem Haitham for Terrell Lewis down the flank and Ryan Peake for Ben Pashley at the back.

Andrade scored the final goal from the penalty spot with seven minutes to go after Haitham had been fouled.

The win ensures City remain three points ahead of second-place Saltdean, who have a game in hand.

Chichester, the RUR Cup holders, travel to Oakwood for their first match in this competition on Saturday.

Chi City: Matthews, Lewis, Martin, Dolcetti, Cody, Pashley, Axell, Way, Andrade, D Herbert, Hartley. Subs: S Herbert, Peake, Hutchings, Ndlovu, Haitham.