Sussex manager John Suter hailed his makeshift squad after they overcame the odds to chalk up their first win in this season's South Western Counties Championship.

Suter had to make ten changes to his original pool but his new-look team did him proud when they sunk the Royal Navy 4-1 at Portsmouth.

Chichester striker Jamie Laidlaw, who was only drafted into the team on the morning of the match, took the plaudits by scoring all four goals including a spectacular 35-yard lob over a badly positioned goalkeeper.

But Suter was full of praise for his entire team as well as the County League managers who rallied round just to make sure the county were able to fulfill the fixture.

Injuries and unavailability accounted for the ten absentees, but Suter sensed he was up against it when two of the replacements he called in also pulled out. Even assistant Dave John was unable to travel to Hampshire because of illness.

Suter made ten phone calls on Tuesday morning to try and get Bognor's Matt Russell to play without success when he discovered he was on contract.

"It has been the most difficult time I've had trying to put together a team," said Suter.

"It was unbelievably busy in the two days leading up to the game, a logistical nightmare. But in the end we got a side out and had four substitutes as well."

Among those making their debuts were Selsey defenders Scott and Marc Hinshelwood, Arundel fullback Jon Tucker and Pagham's Selsey-bound midfielder Kevin Dewey while Laidlaw formed a new strike force with Arundel's Miles Scerri. Wick boss Carl Stabler stepped in to help Suter run the side.

"I couldn't say a bad word about any of them, they all did outstandingly well," added Suter.

"I think the efforts that people made showed that they still value playing for the county as an honour.

"Four managers in particular helped me out: Adie Girdler (Chichester), Mike Rowland (Arundel), Danny Hinshelwood (Selsey) and Andy Taylor (Littlehampton).

"Andy got me Russell Harwood at 4.15pm on Tuesday afternoon just to sit on the bench. I would just like to place on record my appreciation for the help they have given me."

Now some of the new boys have made it hard to be left out of Suter's next squad.

He said: "They did everything asked of them and have given me a few headaches for the next game."