Relief! Selsey win at last

The Blues followed up the creditable 0-0 draw at East Preston a week earlier with an ultimately-comfortable 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Crawley Down Gatwick.

It lifted Selsey off the bottom for the first time all season and gave their hope that they can at least have a positive end to a long, hard season.

After a nervy first half from both teams, James Parsons opened the scoring with a 58th-minute penalty after Mark Thompson had been fouled.

A nice team move set up David Rough for the second eight minutes later and the victory was never in doubt after that.

“I’m delighted for the players and everyone connected to the club,” said Bailey. “It’s been tough this season but those players have been loyal and committed and have never given up. They deserved that win, and it would be nice if we can go on from here.”

A home clash with Dorking this Saturday will be a much tougher test.

Chairman David Lee was delighted to see his side win and said it was fully deserved.

“It’s a great relief to be off the bottom of the league and the managers and players deserve it as they have stuck together throughout it all,” he said.

“Hopefully we can pick up a few more points in our last eight games – albeit we still have Dorking Wanderers, Littlehampton, Pagham and Loxwood to play.”

Pagham kept up their challenge near the top of division one with their second away win and clean sheet in a week, a 2-0 success at Broadbridge Heath.

Rob Wimble gave the Lions a 29th-minute lead and Howard Neighbour – who has returned to the club with Joe Briggs – wrapped it up late on.

Pagham go to Horsham YMCA on Saturday.