Bexhill must win to stay up

Malcolm Johnson’s side has to pick up a victory away to East Grinstead tomorrow (Saturday) and hope that results elsewhere are favourable.

Johnson said: “We’ve got a strong side this weekend and we’re looking forward to it. We’re just trying to focus on our job. If we win our game, that’s our job done and then we’re relying on other results.”

One of five teams battling to avoid finishing in the two relegation spots, second-bottom Bexhill are currently 18 points from safety with up to 30 available for a win and up to 15 for a draw or defeat.

If Bexhill do pick up maximum points against fourth-placed Grinstead, who they beat comprehensively in the reverse fixture at the end of June, they will probably stand a good chance of survival.

It would all come down to bonus points and could get fairly complicated, but basically third-bottom Chichester Priory Park and fourth-bottom Brighton & Hove would require reasonable points hauls to stay above Bexhill.

Chichester are at home to fifth-bottom Worthing, who still aren’t completely safe, while Brighton host second-placed Horsham. Rock-bottom Eastbourne, who are only a point behind Bexhill, entertain fifth-placed Roffey.

“It would be a fantastic achievement if we could stay up,” continued Johnson. “At the start of the season we just wanted to have a chance of staying up and we’ve done that. We’ve not given up and we’re enjoying our cricket.”

Bexhill, who have already accrued eight more points than their last top flight campaign in 2010, will welcome back Ian Ellis and Jack Richardson but are without Joe Cox. See today’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.