Bennett’s so proud of Golds as they finish in third place

Golds even had an outside chance of finishing second going into the final day on Saturday, in what was their first year back in the league’s top flight.

A late David Gaskin goal gave Littlehampton a 1-0 win at Newhaven in their final fixture at the weekend, but East Grinstead’s 3-0 victory at Ringmer meant they pipped Golds to runners-up spot.

Bennett admitted he would have been delighted with a place in the top three or four at the start of the campaign but, as a result of his young side over achieving, there a twinge of disappointment as well.

He said: “It’s like I said to the players before kick-off on Saturday, whatever the result I am proud of what they have done and they can be very proud of themselves – especially for a young team in their first year back up in Division 1 again.

“There are some very good teams in the league and I don’t think – apart from a couple of rubbish results – that anyone has out-played us.

“If someone said to me we would finish in the top three or four, I’d have been delighted. As it transpires though, at the end, there is a little bit of disappointment.

“I think we have over-achieved and when it came to the crunch, we have had too many players out at key times, but you live and learn.”

Full story in this week’s paper.