Football preview - Rye United

Scott Price has urged his Rye United players to believe as they seek to wrap up the title today (Saturday).

The Quarterboys need a draw away to third-placed Worthing United in their final game of the season to make sure of topping Division Two in the Sussex County Football League.

Rye manager Price said: "As long as the players believe they can get a result, we will get one. I've done my job. I've got them promoted, now it's down to those 15 or 16 players on Saturday to win the league."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Worthing are the only team who could deny Rye the title, but they would need to win today and at home to Littlehampton Town on Monday, and pull off an eight-goal swing in the goal difference.

Rye are set to be boosted by the return from suspension of captain Shaun Loft and the availability of Paul Watson, although Duncan McArthur, who scored a hat-trick in September's reverse fixture which Rye won 3-2, is still banned.

This time last week Rye appeared to be cruising to the title having made certain of finishing in one of the three promotion places via an outstanding run of 16 wins in 17 league games with 13 clean sheets.

But out of nowhere they have suffered back-to-back defeats at Rustington on Saturday and Oakwood on Tuesday night, rather spoiling their remarkable record of 13 wins from their opening 14 away league matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It seems to me at the moment we've not looked like we actually believed we could win both games, we've gone out there with a fear. I understand they're nervous, I've been in the same situation. And apart from Jimmy (Watson) and Tupps (Paul Tuppenney) we've been a very young side," continued Price.

"I don't think it's complacency, we're not good enough to be complacent. There might have been a hint of 'job done' at Rustington knowing that they've always got another game, but Saturday's a cup final, a one-off. We're lucky enough to be able to draw, but we wouldn't know how to go there looking for a draw.

"On the positive side, if you said to me at the beginning of the season the league will be decided at Worthing on the last day I would've snatched your hand off. There will be changes for Saturday and probably a change in formation as well."

Worthing have drawn their last two games at Little Common on Saturday and Seaford Town on Tuesday. They possess the division's best defensive record, while Rye boast the division's most prolific attack.