Marston’s, the UK’s leading independent brewing and pub retailing business, has named a village pub in West Sussex as the best food offer across its estate of more than 1,500 pubs at its 2019 Pub of the Year Awards.

The Gun Inn in Findon was judged on its food and the menu style over two rounds. Judges said The Gun Inn, in High Street, stood out for its ability to create traditional dishes with modern twists, where all flavours were well considered and delivered with quality.

Sally Harris, general manager, said: “I was so proud to receive the award on behalf of my fantastic team who make the Gun Inn what it is. To be recognised for our amazing food offer and the service we run alongside it was a real accolade to my head chef, George, his kitchen team and all of us out front.”

The awards celebrate the work of Marston’s pubs under tenanted and leased business agreements in six categories.

Each pub was visited by different head office departments then an internal panel judged the shortlisted pubs.

Jenny Nalborczyk, from the awards team, said: “Our annual Pub of the Year Awards allows us to really celebrate the work and effort put in by the licensees and their team over the year.

“It is important to us that we recognise the achievements of all our pubs, and we are tremendously proud of all the winners.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of recycling credits will no longer be paid to the district and borough councils in West Sussex.

Since 2006, the county has handed over the money to help the councils increase the amount of rubbish they send for recycling rather than to landfill.

A meeting of the cabinet was told that, even though more than £40m had changed hands since then, there had not been ‘any significant improvement in performance’.

Deborah Urquhart, cabinet member for environment, said: “We have been sharing the money on the understanding that it would be used on projects to increase the recycling rate.

“But, after eight years and £40m, the rate has stalled. The incentive is not working.”

A report to the committee showed there had been an increase in the amount of waste sent for recycling over the past two years.

Mrs Urquhart, though, said this was down to the recycling of street sweepings, which was paid for by the county, and the alternate weekly collections introduced by Horsham and Adur & Worthing councils.

She said those councils had made ‘considerable savings on their collection costs by doing so’.

Cutting the recycling credits would save the county council £4.1m.

The meeting was told that £2m would be put into a reserve to support recycling projects from the other councils, such as food waste collections.

The amounts paid each year to the various councils range from £400,000 for Crawley to £800,000 for Mid Sussex and Adur & Worthing.

Claims that they had been using the money to prop up their general budgets have been strenuously denied in the past.

In a report to the cabinet, the councils warned of the consequences of removing the credits.

A spokesman for Arun District Council said areas such as dog waste collection, the Waste Busters education programme and the use of recycling officers would bear the brunt of the loss.

They added: “Given that West Sussex County Council contend that the payments are intended to promote recycling, not to prop up council budgets, the reduction seems short sighted at a time when we all accept that increasing recycling rates across West Sussex is a priority.”

Chichester District Council warned that new projects such as textile recycling would stop and work to make sure recycling bins were not contaminated with general rubbish – meaning they had to go to landfill – would be reduced.

A spokesman said Chichester would ‘cease the separate collection of dog waste and promote the use of normal litter bins for dog waste’, adding that the service cost £42,000.

The recycling credits will be stopped from April 1.

Invicta leapfrogged the Hornets into top spot, earning a point against Kingstonian on Tuesday night, to drop Di Paola’s side down into second ahead of this weekend’s crunch league fixture.

It kick-starts a tough run of fixtures with Horsham facing three fellow promotion-hopefuls – East Thurrock United, Worthing and Hornchurch – in three of their next four league games.

Emerging through the run relatively unscathed could well define the rest of the season for Di Paola’s charges, but the Horsham boss isn’t setting his side a points tally to aim for.

He said: “You can pick up points against better sides and you can drop points against weaker sides. It hasn’t mattered so far, where we pick up our points, and it’s not going to matter for the next 24 games in the league.

“All we’ve got to do is focus on the game on Saturday. If you look at five games and go ‘oh we could pick up points here or drop points there’, you’re kidding yourself, I don’t think it’s that predictable.

"I’ve not really looked past the next couple now. We’re aware of East Thurrock after this week but we’ve not gone past that yet.

"We’ll jusst try to focus on Folkestone and do what we need to do to get a result against them.

"At 5pm on Saturday we’ll start thinking about the next one."

Di Paola admitted his side have created their own pressure following a home defeat to Margate last weekend and a narrow win against three-divisions-lower Littlehampton Town in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

READ MORE Horsham boss hails 'brilliant young keeper' Bentley | Horsham YMCA deliver ‘worst display’ in loss to Pagham | Tributes paid to Loxwood footballer with ‘cheeky smile’ after Brighton tragedy

He added: “The boys have put themselves under pressure because they want to do well. That was why there was a lot of disappointment.

“All we’ve got to do on Saturday is be together, be a unit, work really hard for each other and see what comes from it. That’s what’s made us a good team.”

Horsham have also boosted their ranks with the acquisition of former Crystal Palace forward Taurean Roberts from Southern League Premier Division South side Walton Casuals.

The 28-year-old, who has also played for the likes of Hampton & Richmond Borough, Kingstonian and Salisbury, made his full Hornets debut in Tuesday night's Senior Cup third round tie at Littlehampton Town.

Starting on the left wing, he was replaced by Jack Brivio on 75 minutes as Horsham won 4-2 on penalties after the game finished 1-1.

Roberts netted seven goals in 25 league games for Casuals last season.

Chichester City chairman Andy Bell spoke of his pride at the team’s effort at Prenton Park – but admitted he was quite relieved not to have to organise a replay.

In his green and white scarf and bobble hat, Bell watched on as City held Tranmere for an hour before losing 5-1.

He said: "Pride is the feeling. I’ve just watched lads who were playing county league last season play Tranmere Rovers. They did everyone proud and gave a great account of themselves. Their legs went a bit but that is to be expected – they were playing against professional footballers.

“Not many people can say they’ve played a team from five divisions higher and held them to 0-0 at half-time and that’s something the players will never forget.

“We took more fans than we get at home. I spoke to one of my friends - who was sober, by the way - and I said ‘what was it like in there?’ and he said ‘I’ve been to Wembley, Old Trafford and Fratton Park and that’s the best atmosphere I’ve ever seen at a football ground.’

“I’m over the moon for the fans. They’ve had a great day. But the day was about the manager and the players. They’ve tested themselves against a professional side. I looked at the shape of the team and it was superb.

“I don’t think Tranmere knew what to do because they’re probably used to people coming and chasing. But there was no way we were going to let them pick holes in us.

“The coaches and managers have had probably one of their toughest days because they had to break some hearts – people who didn’t get on the pitch, people who were dropped.

“They’ve almost pulled off a tactical masterpiece but they were up against players who play and train seven days a week. Tranmere were physically imposing, their centre-forward was superb. We made a couple of mistakes because people got tired.

“But our players - I’m so, so proud of them. I wouldn’t say I was nearly in tears but there were people alongside me in the directors’ box who were – when we got to half-time, when we scored, at the end of the game.

“Some of our committee have known these lads (players) since they were under-18s, or have known them through friends or family, and they deserve all the praise they get for what they did on the pitch, and on TV as well.

“They could have been over-awed but they played well. I couldn’t be any prouder of the players for what they’ve done last season and this season, to get to where we are now. It’s been a rollercoaster but we haven’t hit the down part part of it yet.”

Bell did start to think the club may need to organise an Oaklands Park replay while it was still 0-0.

He joked: “I started to write a letter of resignation. I said to Wayne Dalton, the secretary, we might have to get a safety inspection for the replay.

“We were dreaming at half-time and I was watching the clock saying ‘just get to half-time’. Mowy made some great saves and the centre-halves made some great blocks. And we chances as well - Scott Jones with a header, and I thought we should have had a penalty in the first half. But this level is a bit different and you get away with a bit more.”

Tropihies were awarded at the annual meeting of Midhurst Tennis Club, held at Cowdray Golf Club, as members celebrated another year of fun and competitive tennis at the four June Lane courts.

Following significant works being carried out at the club last January and February the club now offer two newly resurfaced courts with floodlights.

This year featured three internal trophy competitions. The men’s trophy had ten competitors, and three juniors got to the quarter finals: Edmund Legrave, Rory Marshall and Wills Althaus. The final was won by John Fawcett-Ellis in three sets against Wills Althaus.

The ladies’ doubles trophy had eight pairs competing and the final brought a straight-sets victory for Rowena Hill and Judy Errington over Sarah Field and Judith Macdonald Lawson.

The mixed doubles trophy had a record 13 pairs entered. The final went to a deciding third set as Shelagh Legrave and Edmund Legrave lost to Lizzie Court and Jeff Rawlins.

All three finals were very entertaining and were celebrated with prizes for the winners and amazing tea and cakes. It has been a

great year of tennis.

If you are interested in joining, see more at www.midhursttennis.co.uk

Albion manager Graham Potter wants another influential display from midfielder Aaron Mooy against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Amex Stadium tomorrow (Sunday, 4.30pm).

Mooy delivered a man of the match performance in the memorable 2-1 triumph at Arsenal last Thursday and set-up Neal Maupay for an excellent winning goal.

Potter hope the Aussie international can now hit those levels on a consistent basis in the Premier League - starting with Wolves tomorrow.

Mooy, 29, had to be patient for his opportunity at Albion having arrived late in the summer transfer window. He just started to play himself into form but received a red card at Aston Villa. The man on loan from Huddersfield Town is now back to his best and display in north London saw many fans calling for a permanent signing.

“He was really good both defensively and offensively, and he really influenced the game," said Potter.

“He plays for the team and is unselfish, he’s a great lad. He had a bit of a setback with his sending off against Aston Villa, but he’s reacted in a fantastic way.

“It’s nice to see him enjoying his football because when he does that, you can see his quality.”

Albion are 13th in the Premier League table and face a tough challenge against Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves They arrive at the Amex in fifth after an unbeaten November.

Potter said, "We’ve played five of the big six away already and that’s been a bit of a learning process. We have to start again now that Thursday has gone, because Wolves are having a wonderful season. They’re doing well in the league, are on a good run and into the knockout rounds in Europe, so they’ve done fantastically well and we’ll have to be ready again.

“I respect where they are now and what they’ve done, but we’re at home and we need to focus on ourselves. We want to carry on what we’ve been doing and hopefully use that to win a game of football.

“We’re in a group of sides in the division where the margins are fine, and we have to recognise that you can’t get too carried away with the league.

“You may feel nice and comfortable because you’re up at the top end of the division, but quickly things can change. Before the Manchester United game last month, I think we could have been something like fifth if we’d won.

“But then you don’t get some points for a few weeks and suddenly you’re looking over your shoulder. We just have to do as well as we can with our approach and remain level-headed no matter the result.”

The Hornets had a plethora of chances in the first half but couldn't put themselves in front at the break.

In an all-action second half, Bentley produced a super penalty save to deny Jerson Dos Santos. But the Hornets conceded another penalty moments later, and this time18-year-old couldn't keep out Ira Jackson's spot-kick.

A Joe Shelley own goal put Invicta 2-0 up before substitute Gary Charman halved the deficit. Horsham bombarded the Seasiders box with corners in the dying embers but couldn't snatch a point.

The result sees the Hornets drop to third. Local rivals Worthing leapfrogged the Hornets into second after a 2-1 home win over Margate.

Victory for Invicta sees them go three points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

Dominic Di Paola made two changes from Tuesday night's Sussex Senior Cup win at Littlehampton Town. Jack Brivio and Steve Metcalf replaced Alex Kelly and Taurean Roberts.

The Hornets were quick out the traps and bossed the opening ten minutes.

Kieron Pamment fired just past the post before Chris Smith spurned a gilt-edged chance.

Invicta keeper Henry Newcombe inexplicably gave the ball straight to the Horsham forward. Smith shimmied round Newcombe but somehow contrived to miss the target from a yard out.

And just five minutes later Newcombe's blushes were spared for a second time. The Seasiders stopper failed to catch the ball from a corner and the ball fell to Brivio in the box.

Brivio looked certain to score but a superb goal-line clearance from Alfie Paxman denied Horsham.

Folkestone had their first chance of the afternoon on 17 minutes. Jackson did well to fire off a shot but it was straight at Bentley.

Horsham did have the ball in the net just before the half-hour mark but the linesman ruled out Harvey Sparks' poked finish out for offside.

Jackson should have put Invicta ahead six minutes before the break. The Seasiders striker brilliantly broke the Hornets' offside trap.

The forward found himself one-one with Bentley but the young keeper made a terrific save to keep the game goalless at half-time.

And six minutes after the restart Bentley was Horsham's saviour once again. The hosts were awarded a spot-kick but Bentley repeated his Senior Cup shootout heroics to expertly save Dos Santos' penalty.

But Invicta were given a second opportunity to take the lead as they won another penalty on 65 minutes. This time Jackson took the spot-kick and he made no mistake from 12-yards.

The Seasiders began to control the game and came close to doubling their advantage. Josh Vincent produced a marvellous diving header but his attempt from a few yards out went wide.

Folkestone did make it 2-0 with 12 minutes to go after Shelley's own goal but the Hornets fought back.

Just two minutes after going two down substitute Charman powered a header into the net to cut the deficit.

Invicta almost restored their two goal lead with six minutes remaining. Kieron McCann's excellent effort took a deflection and crashed against the post.

Horsham won a succession of corners at the death but couldn't find that elusive equaliser as they suffered their second consecutive league defeat.

Horsham: Bentley, O'Sullivan, Sparks, Brivio, Shelley, Merchant (Dyett 66), Pamment (Goddard 80), Dawson, Smith (Charman 65), Harris, Metcalf. Unused: Karl.

New head coach John Yems began his second spell in charge of Crawley Town with a goalless draw at Stevenage in League Two this (Saturday) afternoon.

In a game a few chances, Ashley Nadesan and Bez Lubala had the best opportunities to take the three points for the Reds as the spoils were shared.

The draw sees Crawley Twon move up to 16th in League Two.

Yems was forced into making one change to the side that lost to Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup on Sunday. Joe McNerney came in for the suspended Tom Dallison.

The opening minutes of the first period saw little in the way of goalmouth action but the game eventually sprung into life.

Nadesan capitalised on an error by Boro's Terence Vancooten on 27 minutes. The number ten was sent through on goal but his shot was straight at Stevenage keeper Paul Farman.

Lubala then had a couple of chances of his own. The 21-year-old turned his man inside out down the left before taking aim but his effort was deflected and the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Lubala did excellently to steal possession in midfield before unleashing a fizzing 25-yard shot the flew inches wide.

Reds keeper Glenn Morris was called upon for the first time on 38 minutes and made a tremendous save to keep the game goalless.

Jason Cowley did brilliantly to nutmeg a Crawley defender and get a shot away but Morris got a strong hand on Cowley's attempt to deny him.

The game had to wait until the hour mark for the next clear cut opportunity. Stevenage's Scott Cuthbert leapt highest from Charlie Lakin's corner but the defender's header went wide of the target.

Three minutes later Crawley should have taken the lead as Lubala broke through the Boro backline. The Reds forward rounded Farman but he agonisingly lost his footing and skewed his shot wide with the goal gaping.

With 15 minutes remaining Lubala cut inside on his right but his attempt was driven into the side netting.

Crawley Town: Morris, Young, Tunnicliffe, McNerney, Doherty, Bulman, Ferguson, Grego-Cox, Nadesan (Bloomfield 55), Lubala, Palmer. Unused: Luyambula, Francomb, Nathaniel-George, Sendles-White, Galach, Camara.

The star of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually made a guest appearance at the Langley Green Centre, where he was talking to Labour supporters ahead of the General Election.

Introduced by Crawley's Labour candidate Peter Lamb, Hugh outlined his views ahead of the election, before taking questions from the public and media.

He said: "I wish I could stand here and say I'm a Labour man and make you like me more but I'm not. I'm not anything. What I am is a bloke in a panic about the precipice we stand on in this country and I don't think this general election is like any other we've had in this country.

"The situation is grave. I have five children and I'm worried for them."

More to follow.

New head coach John Yems believes 'Crawley supporters have got to be happy' with the Reds' 0-0 draw at Stevenage in League Two this (Saturday) afternoon.

In a game a few chances, Ashley Nadesan and Bez Lubala had the best opportunities to take the win but Yems and the Reds had to settle for a point in his first game in charge.

Speaking to the Reds' official YouTube channel he said: "(It was a) tough game. In the first half I thought we were a little bit rocky.

"But I've told the boys that it's a good start and that's what you've got to do. You've got to work hard, you've got to stick in.

"It's easy to say it but I thought we had three or four good chances in the game.

"I think the Crawley supporters have got to be happy with what they've seen."

"The good thing is that they (the team) know and I know that there's another 20, 40, 50, 100 per cent in them.

"Some of them are good players, it's just belief and desire. There's a hell of a lot that you need to put in.

"Now we've got a week to work with the lads. You can't just turn things around."

The result also saw the Reds keep a clean sheet for the first time since their 1-0 home win over Mansfield on September 14.

On the clean sheet Yems added: "It's been drummed into me in the past that if you start with a point, try and finish with one and build from the back.

"I don't think you could fault the back four as defenders. Maybe we could improve a bit with what we do with the ball.

"We're learning about the players. I've seen them play a lot and we're learning what certain individuals are like.

"All I say to the lads is if you try and put in effort, everything else we can work on.

"If the shape's wrong, if this is wrong, it's our fault.

"To me, you're coming away here with a 0-0 and no goals. If it's the first clean sheet since September then good."

The top two sides in the Tyrrells Premier 15s both rumbled on in Round 8 as bonus-point wins maintained their perfect records.

Harlequins remain top of the pile with eight wins from eight and 40 points courtesy of a 39-19 victory away at Wasps – tries from Jess Breach, Heather Cowell, Anna Caplice, Leanne Riley, Sarah Beckett and Amy Cokayne doing the damage.

The match at Twyford Avenue saw a ferocious start but Quins broke the deadlock early on with prolific England speedster Breach getting over after just five minutes.

Wasps kicked a penalty in response but that only revved the away side up with Caplice and Riley firing back – Hannah West getting Wasps’ solitary try before the break.

With the lead at 17-13 at the interval the second half was all Quins - Beckett, a penalty try, Cokayne and Cowell all building the bonus-point result.

Harlequins host Saracens at the Stoop next Saturday in a mouth-watering fixture, with the north Londoners trouncing Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 69-12 to grab their eighth win.

Georgie Lingham registered a first-half hat-trick and skipper Lotte Clapp a double with Saracens up to 39 points.

Loughborough Lightning also won big, 50-26 at home to Worcester Warriors with doubles for Sarah Hunter, Jenny Maxwell and Rhona Lloyd – Lydia Thompson with two of her own for Worcester.

But it’s Gloucester-Hartpury who remain third with a half-century of their own, Susie Appleby’s side always had too much in the locker against a dogged Bristol Bears with full-time at 53-24.

Nine different scorers got on the board for Gloucester-Hartpury who led 31-10 at half-time, Bethan Lewis, Lleucu George, Zoe Aldcroft and Mo Hunt all dotting down in the second half.

Perhaps the biggest result of the day though came in the north west where Firwood Waterloo claimed their first win of the season with a hard-fought 20-10 victory over fellow strugglers Richmond.

Ellie Boatman’s Richmond opener was cancelled out by Laura Perrin for a 13-5 lead at the turnaround for Firwood, and after a series of second-half penalties Perrin completed her double to render Boatman’s late second a consolation.

Kieran Rowe's solitary goal was enough to see Haywards Heath Town beat Ashford United at Hanbury.

Photographer Grahame Lehkyj was at the game - here are his pictures.

Bognor could have come away with a point and will be disappointed to have tasted defeat in the league for the first time since October 12.

The Rocks were still without Bradley Lethbridge and with Mason Walsh also missing, Tommy Scutt got a start in the side. They welcomed back Ross Edwards to the bench after he was missing against Enfield Town in midweek with a bruised toe.

Tommy Leigh's early free-kick was hit forward to Ashton Leigh who knocked it square into the area for Scutt but he couldn’t get a shot away. Christie Pattisson hit one from outside the box but struck the right post with his strike, then it bounced across the goalmouth before diverting off the left post and into Amadou Tangara's grateful arms.

Tommy Bradford did well to find Kershaney Samuels, who hit it early but it was always rising over the bar. A James Crane ball into the box was well saved by Kleton Perntreou on seven minutes.

Jeremiah Amoo beat the Bognor defence with pace but instead of driving the ball low into the area he chipped the ball over the bar. Doug Tuck and Harvey Whyte set up Ashton Leigh who headed it at goal but it forced a good save from Perntreou on ten minutes.

Dan Smith did well to win the ball before playing it to Ashton Leigh, who curled it into the area for Tuck but he failed it to make good enough contact on his header.

Pattisson ran across Tangara before going to ground but the referee awarded a goal kick rather than a penalty, to the bemusement of the home crowd.

Bognor fell behind through some poor defending on 24 minutes. Bradford played a simple ball square to Samuels, who diverted the ball low into the net.

Crane swung at a Whyte pass and Smith couldn’t force it in at the back post after a deflection. Tommy Leigh combined with Tuck and Crane before hitting it with a curling effort from outside the area but it was blocked by a defender's head.

A long ball in from Ashton Leigh saw Perntreou miscue his catch. Crane picked up the loose ball and smashed it on the turn and off the frame of goal on 37 minutes. Bobby Price headed just over the crossbar on 42 minutes.

A corner kick from Tommy Leigh saw the ball bounce to Smith, who hammered it towards goal and off the face of Daniel Pappoe who went to ground. HT 1-0

Peter Adeniyi found Pattisson with a pass but his cross was too far ahead of Bradford, before Amoo belted it high and wide on the follow-up. Crane won a corner but the cross was cleared with Joe Cook lurking.

Adeniyi did well to find the ball at the back post before belting it off a Bognor defender and wide. Then Samuels picked out Amoo in the middle but after beating his man and running square he smashed it wide. Keaton Wood went into the book on 55 minutes for a shirt pull on Samuels.

Cook was booked for a tackle on the halfway line before Price cut inside the box and blasted it at goal - Tangara’s fingertips denied him, pushing it over the bar on 61 minutes. Scutt did the hard work but made the pass instead of shooting as Perntreou denied him on 63 minutes.

Scutt was replaced by Arron Hopkinson on 64 minutes. Perntreou was given a yellow card for time-wasting. Harry Ottaway replaced Lennart Hein for the hosts moments later.

Price hit one off the right post after beating Tangara with a fierce shot on 69 minutes. Then Hopkinson was denied with an ambitious low shot in response.

Whyte went into the book for an incident before being replaced by Ben Mendoza on 73 minutes as Samuels was helped off. Whyte looked displeased with the yellow card as he felt he won the ball fairly.

Neat passing play saw Ashton Leigh do well to find space before he cut inside forcing a fingertip save from Perntreou who pushed it on to the bar and away on 77 minutes. Amoo teed up Pattisson but he belted it high and wide.

Bognor were on the attack again as Crane bounced a cross wide before a mix-up at the back saw Wood almost set up Amoo but he struck it wide with Tangara out of his goal. Wood smashed one high and wide soon after.

Hopkinson did well to win the ball before passing it back to Tommy Leigh and he hit it at goal forcing Perntreou into a parried save on 86 minutes - but that was Bognor's final chance.

They take on Horsham YMCA next at Nyewood Lane in the Sussex Senior Cup at 7.45pm on Tuesday, then host Cray in the league next Saturday.

Rocks: Tangara, Dandy, Crane, Tuck, Cook, Wood, Whyte (Mendoza 73), T Leigh, Smith, Scutt (Hopkinson 64), A Leigh (Edwards 78)
Subs not used: Wakley, Hensel.

Attendance - 411

Webster, 24, recalls playing against Wolves when they were in the Championship and now tomorrow's visitors arrive to the Amex Stadium in seventh place in the Premier League and are also playing European football.

It's a route the former Bristol City defender would like to follow.

“I remember playing them in the Championship and they were by far the best team, and I always thought they would do well when they came up to the Premier League," said Webster who scored his second goal of the season during the 2-1 triumph at Arsenal last Thursday.

“They’re in the Europa League too now after having a good couple of years, and it will be a tough test for us on Sunday. They had a bit of a slow start, but they’ve picked up since and are right up there at the minute.

“You’ve got to set targets and finish as high up the league as you can. It’s so tight, and if you go on a good run then you never know what could happen. For us, it’s just about trying to build on the Arsenal win.

“We’ve got to enjoy it and everyone feels we can achieve something this season.”

Webster has impressed at Brighton following his £24m summer arrival. He made his first start of the season at Manchester City and has maintained his place in Graham Potter's team ahead of Shane Duffy.

Webster's play suits Potter's style of building attacks from the back and it's clear to see why Brighton were prepared to pay a large sum to bring him to the Amex. He's proved to be a reliable defender but crucially he is comfortable on the ball and is also a goal threat at set-pieces.

Webster has adapted to the top level with minimal fuss but he also believes the management team at Brighton have helped with the smooth transition.

“The preparation that goes into every game is so thorough," said Webster. "The staff here do an amazing job to prepare us as well as they can for what we’re going to face. We're always prepared going into every game.

“It’s important to have an identity or structure in every team, and you want to feel confident going into any game. Having that structure is how you win games.

“We work all week on the opposition and how we want to play. That definitely helps leading up to the game, and when it comes to the actual match, we’re ready for it.”

Albion moved up to 12th in the league after Arsenal but Webster insists the motivation to improve remains high. The table is desperately tight this season and despite their position Brighton are just three above the drop zone - but equally a win today against Wolves could move them up to ninth.

“It’s (Arsenal) still only three points, so even though it’s a massive win for us, we can’t get carried away. We’re very pleased that we won and believed we could get three points.

“It was a bit special and the spirits were high. You want to enjoy every win that you get in this league, but we have another game on Sunday and if you get too carried away, then it might come back to bite you.”

The cash boost will be used to purchase new waterproof jackets for the four teams to keep the players looking smart when training and playing away games.

The club, based close to the homebuilder’s Hedgerows development, provide football training for young people aged seven to 21 in Barnham and its surrounding communities.

Matt Terry, Barnham Trojans FC team manager, said: “We’re incredibly thankful to have received such a sizeable donation from Taylor Wimpey.

“We’re continually striving to raise the funds to ensure all of the players have access to training and matches and this donation enables us to do exactly that.

“The new jackets look fantastic and all of the players are excited to travel far and wide wearing them – we’re set for success and very excited for the current season!”

Roz Wells, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties, said: “We’re passionate about supporting the communities in which we build and we’re incredibly proud to be associated with Barnham Trojans FC as they play such an important role in the community.

“We want to wish the Barnham Trojans under-eights lots of luck for the season ahead – we will be following the league and cheering you on all the way.”

BAFTA and Golden Globe winning actor Hugh Grant made an appearance in Crawley yesterday, as he continued his General Election campaign.

The star of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually made a guest appearance at the Langley Green Centre, where he spoke to Labour supporters ahead of the General Election, before talking to the media. Here’s his visit in pictures:

If Crawley Town fans are expecting things to change with the appointment of John Yems they will have to wait at least until Saturday when Port Vale are the visitors.

At Stevenage all of the existing problems remained plainly evident. If the new man was expected install enthusiasm in his charges all we learnt was that “he ain’t no Duncan Ferguson”.

It was unfortunate that struggling Stevenage were the opposition as teams in their situation are Crawley’s bête noir. We simply don’t perform in matches we should win and I can’t remember when we did. The opportunity was there to show the Reds had turned the corner but it was not taken and we need to hope the goalless draw was a false start and not indicative of what is to follow.

The match was dour in the extreme and it was midway through the first half before there was a goal attempt and then it was from the home side. Maybe the board’s cautious appointment was reflected by the approach on the pitch.

The attacking intent picked up with the arrival of substitute Mason Bloomfield although he didn’t personally threaten anything. Bez Lubala came more to the fore but he played inconsistently and he was not alone. By the end the teams had each managed to get just a single shot on target such was the mediocre standard of the play.

Of course it is unreasonable to expect Crawley to look like world beaters overnight but an improvement (any improvement) would have been welcome. If Yems did not know the extent of the task facing him beforehand he surely does now.

On the contrary Edu Rubio couldn’t have asked for more as he marked his brief spell as interim head coach with a sparkling 7-0 defeat of Southern Combination League highflyers Lancing in the Sussex Senior Cup. The visitors gave a good account of themselves against a fiery young Reds line up but were overwhelmed in the later stages.

At times it seemed like a training ground exercise as is often the case when the players make more noise than the crowd which numbered a mere 152 at Horsham. But this was a full blooded cup tie with no quarter asked or given which was really appreciated by the chilled Crawley fans.

In a rewarding evening for the temporary boss Bryan Galach and Paolo Okoye both hit doubles for their first goals for the club and Denzeil Boadu also got off the mark. Gyliano van Velzen and Mason Bloomfield scored the others and, but for some superlative work by Lancing keeper Taylor Seymour, the rampant Reds attack would have hit double figures.

With no disrespect to plucky Lancing we shouldn’t read too much into a result like this but Rubio showed that the club had a number of attacking options to consider before the next League Two game at Stevenage.

This, for Pagham, was easily the cruellest of the season. Playing by far the best they have, away from home, for almost 12 months, two simple crazy moments cost them two points.

This was a game dominated by the away side who could have been out of sight before the fatal last few minutes that were to evolve.

On five minutes, Tigers keeper Billy Collings dropped the ball from a cross from Toby Funnell, but just managed to grab it at the feet of the onrushing Jamie Carroll.

Saltdean forced a good save out of Pagham keeper Jordan Matthews on 13 minutes, before Collings managed to get a lovely chip by Marco Giambelardini over the bar at full stretch.

The Lions kept piling forward and they got their reward when Lindon Miller knocked home a rebound from a Giambelardini close-in shot on 32 minutes.

Matthews pulled off a stunning one-on-one save as the Tigers broke through, but it was Pagham back on attack before half-time and almost grabbed a second, but nobody could force the ball home from a scramble in the Saltdean six-yard box.

Jack Barnes hit the first effort of the second half just past the post and the game carried on in much the same way, with Pagham in the ascendancy.

However, despite several half-chances, they could not force a second goal. Cian Tilley replaced Giambelardini just before the half-hour mark and it seemed to be working, especially when Funnell was brought down inside the box for a penalty after 67 minutes. Captain Barnes took the responsibility and promptly skied the ball well over the bar.

Pagham made two more substitutions and seemed to be playing out the remaining minutes quite comfortably – until – with 90 seconds left in normal time, the referee, who by then was blowing his whistle every time two players came into contact with each other, gave Saltdean a free-kick just over the halfway line. James Waters, attempting to drop a cross into the centre of the area, over-hit the ball so much, it managed to float gently over the hands of Matthews and into the net for an undeserved equaliser.

The last few minutes ended in chaos as one Saltdean player was sent to the sin-bin and one from each side was sent off (including sub Jack Hands for Pagham). How a game without a really bad tackle in it can result in two red cards and six bookings is hard to fathom.

Nevertheless it's seven points out of nine now since Kerry Hardwell and his new coaching team took over.

Pagham: Matthews, da Costa, Hallett, Jenkins, Searle, Clark, Carroll (Lyne), Barnes, Miller (Hands), Giambelardini (C Tilley), Funnell. Subs not used: J Henton, Heryet.

Those were the words of Hugh Grant, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning actor, who continued his General Election campaign in Crawley yesterday (Saturday, December 7).

These are the candidates standing to be Crawley’s MP at the 2019 General Election

The star of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually made a guest appearance at the Langley Green Centre, where he was talking to Labour supporters ahead of the General Election.

In an interview with the Observer, Hugh said: "In previous years, I haven't taken very much of an active part but I think this one is very different. It is an emergency.”

Hugh is campaigning for a party he believes has the best chance to stop the Tories remaining in power and raised fears about the country leaving the EU and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

He lent his support to Crawley Labour candidate Peter Lamb as the constituency has long been a Tory Labour marginal. He praised councillor Lamb as an ‘excellent candidate’ and suggested it would only take a small share of voters to switch from Lib Dems to oust Conservative incumbent Henry Smith, who has represented the area since 2010.

He added: "If that happens all over the country. If people are prepared to lend their normal vote, hold their nose and vote for a party they wouldn't normally vote for, you can save the country from catastrophe.

"Everyone has been very nice and receptive to the idea. There have been huge contrasts.

"Campaigning for independent councillor Dominic Grieve in Beaconsfield at a coffee morning was a bit different than campaigning for Faiza Shaheen, Labour candidate in Chingford but I have kind of enjoyed it.

"It is good to get out there and meet people. Maybe the whole thing is completely useless but I just think that on Thursday, whatever the result is, I will feel better for having tried."

On his experience in Sussex, the film star added: "My family on my mother's side are Sussex people so I am very comfortable down here."

Having spoken first to members of the public, Hugh explained that he does not have a preferred political party. He continued: "I'm not anything. What I am is a bloke in a panic about the precipice we stand on in this country and I don't think this general election is like any other we've had in this country.

"The situation is grave. I have five children and I'm worried for them.

"I think I have to do everything I possibly can to stop the country from falling over the edge of that precipice.

"That is the message of this election. It is not about political purity, it is about saving the country from a catastrophe.

"We've got to get the young out [voting]."

Meanwhile, in the past week, councillor Smith, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Crawley, said accusations that the party will sell off the NHS are 'fundamentally untrue'.

He said: "Conservative governments have been successfully running our NHS for 44 of its 71 years, and absolutely believe it must be there for everyone in the country to rely on free at the point of use.

“By keeping our economy strong, we’ve been able to support our NHS since 2010, with services returning to Crawley after Labour’s cuts.

“As well as getting Brexit done a majority Conservative government will get on with bringing the change people voted for, including giving the NHS its biggest cash boost in history of an extra £33.9 billion, and making sure this funding gets to our hospitals as well as increased GP appointments capacity.”

In Crawley, Iain Dickson is standing for the Green Party, whilst Khalil Yousuf is standing for the Lib Dems.

See also: Hugh Grant visits Crawley - In pictures

Arsenal made it five league wins in a row as a Vivianne Miedema brace and neat Kim Little finish earned the visitors a 3-0 victory over Reading at Adams Park.

Miedema continued her rich goalscoring form to take her tally to 12 for the season while Little scored a sublime goal of the season contender to keep Arsenal at the top of the Barclays FA Women's Super League table.

The Royals were gifted an early chance when Fara Williams intercepted a backpass but Manuela Zinsberger was equal to her shot. Soon after, Brooke Chaplen's shot flashed wide from the right.

It wasn't until Reading lost possession on the 28th minute that Arsenal broke the deadlock. Miedema was slipped through as Arsenal broke forward and managed to show her clinical nature by chipping Grace Moloney in the Royals goal.

The visitors turned on the style having opened the scoring and doubled their advantage through Little in sublime fashion. The Scottish international exchanged passes with Jordan Nobbs before lofting the ball over Moloney from a tight angle on 37 minutes.

The Gunners were looking to add a third before half-time but Miedema could only lash her effort high and wide from the right-side of the penalty area.

Early in the second half Lisa-Marie Utland met a Williams delivery from the right but the Norwegian's header sailed over the crossbar.

The Royals continued to seek a way back into the game and Arsenal needed to put their bodies on the line to block shots from Utland and Williams.

Williams almost scored a sublime goal to half the deficit but her audacious volley dropped just wide of the post 15 minutes from time.

Arsenal took control of the game again late on and added a third in stoppage time as Miedema lobbed Moloney to secure the three points.

To follow the action, buy tickets and sign-up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com