Crosstown rivals to battle it out

Three Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two points and local pride will be on the line at The Polegrove. Kick-off is 3pm.

“I’m hoping it’s going to be a cracker,” said Bexhill manager Marc Munday. “We’re all looking forward to it and what’s nice is there’s a lot of local players in both sides. Hopefully we can come away with three points this time.”

The crosstown rivals have already met twice this season in cup matches at Little Common Recreation Ground and Common came out on top on both occasions.

“I said before those cup matches if I could give them the wins in the cup and take the points in the league, I would rather that,” continued Munday.

“It’s going to be a hard game, they’re a good side, but I want to go out and beat them, and we need to beat them. Third time lucky let’s hope so because that keeps us really in contention.”

Going into what is remarkably their penultimate home league game of the season, Bexhill are in second place having won six and drawn four of their last 10 league matches. Common are five places and 10 points worse off.

“They’re the form team, they’re doing well,” said Common player-manager Russell Eldridge. “But sometimes form doesn’t mean much in derbies, sometimes you have to take the game as it is. You would probably say they’ll start the game as favourites, but it’s a derby game and who knows what can happen.”

Meetings between the crosstown rivals have been dominated by whoever happens to be at home in recent years. Common were spanked 6-0 and 5-1 at The Polegrove last season.

“Notoriously we’ve not done very well at The Polegrove,” added Eldridge. “They’re doing well in the league, but I guess there’s uncertainty with ground grading whether they’ll be able to get promoted should they finish in the top three. Will they find themselves in a similar position we did three years ago?”

Bexhill should be close to full strength. Sam Brown will come back into Common’s squad after suspension, as may Charlie Bachellier following his return from university, but Paul Feakins is still out with shin splints and Alex Carey is away.

TODAY’S FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(Kick-off 3pm unless stated)

Ryman League, Division 1 South: Hastings Utd v Ramsgate.

Macron Store Sussex County League, Division 2: Bexhill Utd v Little Common; Westfield v AFC Uckfield Town 2.