Common gunning for promotion place

Dominic Cruttenden gets to the ball just before an opponent during Little Common's 1-1 draw against Oakwood on Tuesday. Picture by Simon Newstead

Common will finish third in Sussex County Football League Division Two if they win at home to champions Littlehampton Town today (Saturday). Kick-off at the Recreation Ground is 3pm.

Anything less than three points, however, and Common will have to rely on Eastbourne United AFC dropping points at home to a Rustington side which must win to stand a chance of avoiding relegation.

Common player-manager Russell Eldridge said: “It’s still in our hands. We know what we need to do and we’re 100 per cent confident. You’ve got to be confident because if you’re going out there with any fears you probably won’t do it. We’ll be going out there to win a game of football like we have done all season.”

Common dropped two potentially precious points with a 1-1 draw at home to third-bottom Oakwood on Tuesday night, ending a run of four successive victories. A win there would have left them needing only a draw tomorrow.

Littlehampton are 12 points clear at the top of the table and have scored seven goals in two matches against Common over the past 10 weeks. You can get updates on the game by following @SimonNewstead on Twitter.

Elsewhere today, Rye United and Sidley United will conclude their seasons in Sussex Division One, while Bexhill United and Westfield will wrap up their Division Two programmes.

A Rye side which has scored six goals in each of its last two games will travel to East Grinstead Town. Sidley will be eager to atone for the 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Rye on Thursday night as they head to Arundel (kick-off 2pm).

Westfield will secure a top five finish if they avoid defeat at home to mid-table Steyning Town, while Bexhill will go to runners-up Newhaven buoyed by an encouraging draw at Rustington last weekend.