In-form Common eye top four

Common consolidated fifth place in Sussex County Football League Division Two with a fine 5-0 win at home to Saltdean United on Tuesday night.

That result moved Common to within four points of fourth-placed Haywards Heath Town with five games remaining.

Common player-manager Russell Eldridge said: “We just always try to finish as high as we can. If that can be fourth place, that’s what it will be. If not, then we definitely want to consolidate fifth place because there’s a few teams creeping up on us.

“It’s important that we just look after ourselves and not worry about the others too much. As long as we do that and if we play like we did in the second half (against Saltdean), we will win more points than we lose.”

Although on the face of it Common don’t have a great deal to play for, their recent form is very good. Common have scored seven goals without reply in winning their last two games and have picked up 13 points from a possible 18.

“All you can do is win your next game of football and that’s what we’ve done,” Eldridge continued. “We are in good form; it’s just a shame that we’ve been inconsistent throughout the season really rather than giving ourselves a chance of getting that third place, but we’re just behind Haywards Heath and if we win our games we will put pressure on them.”

Eldridge considered Common’s second half performance against Saltdean - which featured three goals in 15 minutes - the best they’ve produced for a while.