Bexhill United target winning finish in battle for promotion places

The Pirates are third in Southern Combination League Division One - five points behind leaders Alfold and second-placed Steyning Town.

The champions will be promoted to the Premier Division and the runners-up may also go up (depending on points per game averages and complying with FA ground grading criteria).

See also: * Bexhill United ace suffers painful injury* Bexhill United make free admission offer* Little Common set for ‘six-game season’ in quest to beat the drop* Gillingham pair join Hastings UnitedLight said: “It’s now laid out in front of us. We do still have to rely on a result elsewhere, but it’s not out of the realms of possibility that Steyning could pick up a draw because they’ve got some tough fixtures.

“Alfold on paper have got the more straightforward run-in because they don’t meet any of the top five. Steyning versus Varndeanians is a big game this Saturday.

“As much as we hope a point will be dropped here and there, we’ve really got to concentrate on our form. There would be nothing worse than the others slipping up and we don’t do what we’ve got to do. My focus is on getting six wins and there’s no reason why we can’t beat anybody.”

Bexhill are the division’s leading scorers with 78 goals in 26 league games and their +55 goal difference is also the best of anybody in the division.

“Our consistency has been phenomenal,” continued Light. “We haven’t dropped a point against anyone outside the top five and our biggest league defeat has been 1-0.”

After playing just twice since February 9 due to a stop-start fixture schedule, the games will now come more regularly for Bexhill over the coming five weeks.

Light is hoping the lack of recent activity won’t knock Bexhill out of their stride and they contested a friendly against Division Two neighbours Westfield on Tuesday night to get some more minutes into the players’ legs.

Drew Greenall sat the game out to rest his Achilles, which he has been feeling slightly of late, but should be back for the league match away to eighth-placed Wick today (Saturday).

Nathan Lopez isn’t expected to be fit, however, after dislocating his knee in the friendly.

“Last year Wick away was probably up there with our best wins and performances of the season,” Light went on. We’re looking forward to going back there.

“We’re expecting a really tough game. They don’t lose by many when they do get beaten, they’re a nice, solid outfit and we know we’re going to have to be at our best to bring back three points.”

Five of Bexhill’s remaining matches are away from home, but they’ve picked up 24 points from a possible 33 on their travels so far, scoring 37 goals and conceding just eight.

“Although our home record is good, it’s hard to get away from teams at The Polegrove,” added Light. “The Polegrove’s a bit of a leveller. Our bigger scores have all been away from home and we really enjoy being on the road.”

Remaining fixtures - Bexhill United: March 23 Wick (a), March 30 Littlehampton Town (h), April 6 Midhurst & Easebourne (a), April 20 Steyning Town (a), April 22 Hailsham Town (a), April 27 Mile Oak (a).

Alfold: March 23 Mile Oak (h), March 30 Southwick (a), April 6 Sidlesham (h), April 20 Seaford Town (a), April 22 Billingshurst (h), April 27 Storrington (a).

Steyning Town: March 23 AFC Varndeanians (h), March 30 Hailsham Town (a), April 6 Southwick (h), April 20 Bexhill United (h), April 22 Worthing United (a), April 27 Littlehampton Town (a).

Southern Combination League Division One top half standings (played-points): 1 Alfold 26-64 (+46 goal difference), 2 Steyning Town 26-64 (+43), 3 BEXHILL UNITED 26-59 (+55), 4 AFC Varndeanians 25-52 (+30), 5 Selsey 27-51 (+27), 6 Hailsham Town 27-39 (+8), 7 Littlehampton Town 26-38 (+3), 8 Wick 26-36 (-7), 9 Seaford Town 26-33 (-7).