Leaders Hastings heading this way... and Chichester City say: Bring it on

Chichester City can look up not down after back-to-back away wins – and are out to show they can compete with the best when leaders Hastings come to town.
Gicu Iordache makes it 2-0 to Chichester in Guernsey / Picture: Neil HolmesGicu Iordache makes it 2-0 to Chichester in Guernsey / Picture: Neil Holmes
Gicu Iordache makes it 2-0 to Chichester in Guernsey / Picture: Neil Holmes

It wasn’t too many weeks ago that Chichester were looking nervously over their shoulders at the sides below them after struggling for league wins and falling into the bottom half of the Isthmian south-east division.

UPDATE: Chi City v Hastings postponed - waterlogged pitch

But a fine run of form, capped by wins in the past ten days away to Three Bridges and Guernsey, has propelled them up to seventh spot.

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Although Miles Rutherford’s side are nine points off fifth place, which is the final play-off spot, they have four games in hand over every side in that top five.

That means that although they face a hectic fixture schedule, pushing their way into the play-offs in their first season at step four is well within their capabilities.

And in a season when they have already made FA Cup history by getting through seven rounds to set up a tie at Tranmere, nothing achieved by the men from Oaklands Park would be much of a surprise.

Their credentials face one of their toughest tests this Saturday – weather permitting – when leaders Hastings, who beat Chi 5-1 at the Pilot Field in December, visit Oaklands Park for the return fixture.

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Hastings are under a little pressure after losing at home to their title rivals Ashford last week and Chi coach Danny Potter says City are ready for the big challenge United will bring.

“I think there’s a feeling that we owe them one,” Potter said.

“We probably deserved to lose 5-1 at their place but it was immediately after the Cup run ended and we want to show that we’re a better team than that. Largely, our results since then have been good. We’re in good form at the moment and are pleased with where we are in the table.”

Until now, the league season has been all about survival for Chichester. Their stated aim at the start of the campaign was to make sure their first year at step four of the non-league pyramid was not their only one.

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But Potter said the position they had got themselves into meant there was no reason not to start talking about a chance of a play-off place.

“It’s no good playing without any incentive and right now our incentive should be to try to get into that top five,” he said.

“We will have to be consistent to do that.

“Although we have a lot of games still to play, if we can get into a flow of regular games I think that will suit us.

“It’s when it’s stop-start, with games being called off, that it’s difficult to keep your momentum going.”

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City will be without winger Josh Clack for the next three games as he serves a suspension.

Striker Scott Jones may return but Potter said: “We never really know until Friday night if he’ll be available!”

City hope for a big crowd to see them take on the leaders, who are likely to bring a fair few fans with them.

Chi crowds picked up during and just after the FA Cup run but have dropped off since, but the club are appealing to local people to get behind them.