Make or break day for Bexhill hopes

Second-bottom Bexhill will host third-bottom Chichester Priory Park at The Polegrove tomorrow (Saturday) in a match they desperately need to win.

Bexhill captain Malcolm Johnson said: “It’s a winnable game against Chichester. We’re playing at home and we play well at home. They don’t have their overseas leg-spinner and that will be a big miss for them.”

Although Bexhill lost at home to leaders Horsham last weekend, they still picked up more points than Chichester did for drawing at home to third-placed Hastings Priory.

The gap between the two has come down from 24 to 20 points with two matches remaining. So if Bexhill win tomorrow, they could well be outside the two relegation places going into the final weekend.

Bottom-of-the-table Eastbourne are three points behind Bexhill after beating Worthing on Saturday, but only picking up four points from a draw against the Sussex Development XI in their game in hand on Sunday.

Eastbourne are away to title-chasing Preston Nomads tomorrow, while Worthing and Brighton & Hove - both of whom aren’t out of the woods yet - are at home to Hastings and away to Roffey respectively.

With the bottom five separated by just 29 points and up to 30 available each game, it’s all likely to come down to the final day of the season next weekend when Bexhill travel to East Grinstead.

Bexhill are likely to bring in Tom Powell for the holidaying Jack Richardson. As much support as possible for the young Bexhill side will be much appreciated. Play is due to get under way from the earlier time of 11.30am.

See today’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.