Newhaven moved up to 9th in Sussex County Football League Division One after a goalless draw against Ringmer at Fort Road.

Despite the best efforts of both sides to break the deadlock, the pitch was the eventual winner and the second game under new management ended 0-0.

Jake Buss made two good early saves on his way to a second consecutive clean sheet, while Ringmer’s goalkeeper, Jack Lovick, earned his side a point with two decent stops late in the game.

The Dockers made two changes to the side that started the eight-goal thrashing of Worthing United the previous week.

Karly Akehurst was handed a debut in the centre of midfield and Jayson Sowter returned to the starting eleven at right back. Daniel Murray dropped to the bench alongside Jason Goddard, the returning James Rhodes and new signings Luke Gedling and player/coach Mark Pulling.

The pitch was borderline playable but hard work from the ground staff meant that Fort Road was able to stage one of only three games on in the division.

The home side took time to settle and Buss was the busier of the two keepers in the early exchanges.

First he had to get down low to beat away a Seb Saunders free-kick, and then somehow kept out a Shaun Lee effort from point blank range.

Up the other end Lee Robinson tested Lovick with a low drive, and Craig Bunch headed wide after getting on the end of a Sowter cross.

The sticky pitch wasn’t helping the game flow and there were a number of stoppages for free-kicks and bookings, not helped by the inconsistency of the referee.

The second half continued in the same fashion – with chances at a premium and both teams struggling to get any real flow in to their game.

Newhaven introduced Gedling, Pulling and Rhodes as they looked to push on for a winner but Ringmer had loud shouts for a penalty turned down, after they felt Conor Sidwell had handled inside the box.

It was the hosts that finished the game stronger and they had two good chances to win the three points.

First Robinson forced Lovick in to a good save, having been played in by Rhodes, and then Pulling drew an even better save out of the Ringmer goalkeeper, low down to his right.

Newhaven: Jake Buss, Jayson Sowter, Shane Collins, Sean Breach (c) (Luke Gedling), Ryan Knight, Conor Sidwell, Lee Robinson, Karly Akehurst, Craig Bunch (James Rhodes), Ryan Bradley (Mark Pulling), Tyler Goatcher. Unused subs: Daniel Murray, Jason Goddard.
Booked: Bradley, Buss, Collins, Goatcher

Attendance: 71
Referee: David Ellis