The Easter weekend finished with another two games bringing the total to five for me over the Bank Holiday, not a bad haul if I do say so myself! As per my calling this time of the season both games had something riding on it for both sides.
Luckily down here in Sussex Step 5 and 6 level always kick off at 11am on any Bank Holiday fixture so that gave me the opportunity to head on to a second one after the early kick off.
The fixture on Monday morning was in the calendar for a few months, billed as a title decider but before that point there was a fair bit of distance between the two sides in first and second spot.
Haywards Heath Town have seen that distance diminish in the last few weeks and Steyning Town have taken full advantage in the Southern Combination Premier Division. Two defeats in less than a week for Heath saw the Barrowmen go into the game with a six point advantage and with only three games remaining after this one, the margins are getting slimmer.
With the glorious weather keeping itself in Sussex through the weekend, another feast of football on the cards between two sides who both hope to be in Step 4 next season.
Steyning were first to show in front after 8 mins with a Dion Jarvis tap in, but didn’t capitalise on the early start, Heath though not equalising until the 31st minute when Cam Lawson headed home at the far post from a fine Jack Barnes cross.
Just before half time the home side were in front as a Conrad Honore own goal, headed in from a corner, put Heath in the ascendancy, the perfect time to score.
When Mark Goldson added a third for Heath within five minutes of the re-start it certainly took the wind out of the sails of the Barrowmen and despite a very strong bench to call upon they couldn’t find a way back into the match, although they did score the best goal of the match in stoppage time, great technique from Ryan Worrell to fire home from 20 yards out but way too little too late.
Heath needed to win to keep the dream of the title alive and they duly did although it is still of course in the hands of Steyning. Had the Barrowmen won then a single point would have been needed from three games but not to be.
A superb 917 in attendance, just a couple of weeks after 1,000 in the HSEnergy Stadium for Non League Day, it wasn’t a classic for watching but with a patched up Heath side doing what they needed, the title race continues.
Following up from here, it was a trip up the A23 to Three Bridges for the second time this season to face the side I saw win on Good Friday, Hassocks. Contrasting fortunes for both, Bridges on the cusp of the title and the Robins desperate for points to beat the drop.
With both sides having picked up wins on that Friday, we were set for a classic showdown. Bridges have been relentless this season and are drawing plaudits from all corners whilst Hassocks have found the going tough in this their first ever season at Step 4.
Bridges though set about the Robins from the off and their custom built pass and move style with heavy possession should have yielded goals before they did actually score through Charlie Bennett with a superb header on 30 minutes.
That was how it stayed until the interval, the Robins providing one or two nervy moments in the penalty area but some stout defending kept the sheet clean.
However, the second half was just a completely different story. Bridges motored through the gears as they showed why they are the best team in this division.
Only three minutes into the half, Noel Leighton had the easiest tap in to double the lead. Seven minutes later Kevin Rivera’s effort was adjudged by the assistant referee to have crossed the line for Bridges’ third of the afternoon.
They saved the best for last on the hour mark, a well-rehearsed corner kick routine found Ade Adeyinka 20 yards and his sweetly struck shot went up and over but down, curled into the far bottom corner and the game out of sight within 15 minutes.
Hassocks struggled all half to get out as Bridges were fully on their game and had the luxury of taking off three of their goal scorers with the match won and the Robins just unable to fashion anything.
Bridges can win the league this weekend if results go their way and a win themselves but face a difficult away trip to AFC Whyteleafe who have already confirmed their play-off place.
Hassocks meanwhile have a tough run-in themselves and must claw back three points minimum on Erith Town to be able to survive, that would also drag Hastings Utd and Sheppey Utd into trouble, the next three weekends are not for the faint hearted.
