Billingshurst promoted as final-day heartache is short lived

The Jubilee Fields side will play at their highest-ever level next season despite finishing below the promotion places as a result of Tuesday night’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Roffey.

Hurst’s 2-1 lead with a few minutes to go gave them cause to think they were going to win the big game to decide the divisional runner-up.

But two late goals by Roffey’s Patrick O’Sullivan condemned Hurst to a fifth-placed finish, just two points behind as Roffey clinched runners-up spot.

The disappointment, however, was short lived as 24 hours later, Adie Konieczny’s side were told they would be promoted along with champions AFC Vardeanians.

Konieczny said: “We are not going to gloat now we have achieved senior status.

“But we’ve got all the ingredients for senior football. We have ten youth teams, a thriving youth section with qualified coaches and a cricket team which plays in the top division of the Sussex League.

“We want to show everyone we are good enough to be in the division by finishing in the top half.

“Then after we have consolidated ourselves we can look to try to get into the top five or six in future years.”

Full story in next Thursday’s West Sussex County Times.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!