Teams should have played 28 games by now but only four teams have managed this and so this was a weekend for catching up on fixtures. The one match we have not played so far is our home game against Loxwood which was postponed last weekend and with Loxwood already playing we had nobody we could play. So a friendly was played at East Preston to give a mixture of First Teamers, U23s and some trialists a game. After a good first half and a second goal added early in the second half, the home side stepped their game up to level the score at 2-2 for a fair result. Our next game is against Haywards Heath Town at Whyteleafe on Friday. Before this weekend's games there was only one team unbeaten in their last six matches and it began with the letter 'L'. Yes, us! Joining us now are Eastbourne United and going into our next match we are seventh in the form table with Haywards Heath Town in sixth.

Of the teams in the bottom seven, Pagham, Wick and ourselves did not play and we have all played 27 games. One outcome of the weekend is that Shoreham and Saltdean United have used up their game in hand and both sides lost with Shoreham seeing their goal difference decline by three. Loxwood and Little Common have a game in hand on the rest of us but both lost by single goals with Loxwood losing 3-2 at Haywards Heath. A future win for Loxwood could see them overhaul us but Little Common would remain bottom even with a win in midweek against Haywards Heath. Wick are playing an additional game midweek at home to Midhurst & Easebourne before hosting Horsham YMCA on Saturday. A loss by two or more goals midweek will see them drop below us as it is so tight at the moment. On Saturday Little Common host Newhaven, Saltdean United visit Crawley Down Gatwick and Loxwood host Pagham.

Tight is not a word to describe the battle for top spot in our division as Hassocks are on their own fifteen points clear with ten games to play. It was looking like Haywards Heath Town were cruising back to the Isthmian League up until changes at the club saw them go two months without a win and pick up just four points. It is testament to how well they started the season that they are still in second place and leading the battle for the play offs. Crowborough Athletic and Roffey are just a point behind them, with all three on 27 games. Three points further back are Petersfield Town and Eastbourne United on 28 games but just a point behind in seventh and with two games in hand are Crawley Down Gatwick. We will have something to say in the play off battle as we have to play all these sides in our remaining eleven games.

Looking down a step to our Division 1, Seaford Town are top of the table from a Dorking Wanderers side who are ineligible for promotion. Their six point lead over Forest Row could be closed as they have played two more games. Godalming Town look well placed for a play off place but the battle for the final two play off places is muddled by a lot of games in hand but includes a Billinghurst side we faced in the FA Vase. There is not necessarily any relegation from Division 1 as there is no automatic promotion up from the County League level of the SCFL Division 2 and even then relegation at many levels can be subject a reprieve based on points per game looking across the leagues at that Step Level.

However, as with Storrington taking a step up last season and sitting comfortably mid-table, the FA have confirmed that applications for promotion have been received by the cut off date of 31 December 2024 from Hailsham Town, Jarvis Brook, Rustington and Southwater. At the moment Rustington lead the table from Jarvis Brook and it looks between them assuming they make the grading. Southwater and Hailsham Town are third and fourth. It is worth noting that two other clubs have applied to be considered for promotion from the Mid Sussex League in Ringmer AFC and Westfield. Ringmer were once in the SCFL so could be heading back as they are in third place and I believe finishing in the top five is required. What nobody can account for is teams being shuffled across the leagues when the committee release their decisions in mid May – Petersfield Town joining our division was a surprise to everyone.