We already knew that any three of Ramsgate or Cray Valley PM, Sittingbourne and Chichester City would compete in our Pitching In Isthmian South East Play Offs, but now we know that Three Bridges will join them, victory for the Crawley side at Erith and Belvedere yesterday finally ending the play off hopes of sixth place Lancing.
Bridges undoubtedly deserve their place in the end of season shootout. For much of the first half of the campaign they fought for top spot with Ramsgate, and after a mid season blip saw them drop as low as eighth their resurgence has been remarkable. Yesterday’s result was their twelfth unbeaten match in a row, and that includes nine wins- including the last six. It also includes that remarkable five-four win at Cray Valley PM which made them the only side to defeat the Millers in the League this season, a three-nil win over third place Sittingbourne, and last Tuesday night’s eight goal haul against Hythe Town. If they can end the campaign in similar fashion, everyone will want to avoid them in the Semi-Final.
For both parties, Bridges’ visit to Erith and Belvedere yesterday was essential. With just four games remaining, the hosts were eight points from safety and desperately needed a win. Unfortunately for the home crowd, their team was tied after just eight minutes when Noel Leighton, who has been on a roll all season, headed his team’s thirty-fifth goal to put the visitors ahead. Twelve minutes from time, Ibrahim Jalloh scored his twenty-second goal of the game to make it two goals to zero, ending the Deres’ aspirations.
Only league leaders Ramsgate have scored more goals than Bridges, who has already scored 94. With just three games remaining, the Deres are eight points from safety. To avoid further damage, they must win at Littlehampton Town and Sheppey United, then triumph at home against Merstham. They also need to hope that Littlehampton and East Grinstead Town, who both have a much higher goal differential, do not pick up another point. Naturally, Beckenham Town is still in the running; all they need to do is win their next two games and hope that mistakes are made by the Golds and Wasps.
A Bridges Under 18 team was winning Mid Sussex Division One, and their Under 12 team was winning the Mid Sussex League Cup Final, all while the senior team was winning. Seems like everyone is having a good day at Jubilee Field.
