Just one game beats weather

A waterlogged football pitch at Tilekiln in St Leonards on Saturday (SUS-150221-210859002)

And that was on the artificial 3G pitch at Eastbourne Sports Park as the prolonged rain of Thursday night and throughout Friday, plus some more on Saturday morning, decimated the scheduled programme.

Division Two champions-elect Eastbourne Rangers booked their place in the Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup final with a 4-0 victory over Division One high-flyers Bexhill AAC.

Jamie Strong’s penalty separated the sides at half time, although AAC goalkeeper Lee Martin pulled off two splendid saves and another shot was cleared off the line.

Connor Sullivan put Rangers 2-0 ahead before Strong bagged his second and Jamie Baker Beale completed the scoring. Rangers will face Wadhurst United or Old Hastonians in the final.

It will now almost certainly be necessary for some league games to be scheduled for Easter Monday and ‘double header’ fixtures on other dates might also be required.

Little Chelsea, from Division One, and Division Three side Bexhill-On-Sea have withdrawn from the league.