League leaders tackle key weekend

The Sussex County Football League leaders will travel to fourth-placed Hassocks tomorrow (Saturday) before hosting sixth-placed Peacehaven & Telscombe on Monday.

Price said: “It’s going to be massive and if we come out with four points, I think it’s game on. I would like six, but Hassocks are flying at the moment.”

Rye moved two points clear at the Division One summit courtesy of a 2-0 win away to Sidley United on Boxing Day, while second-placed Pagham, who have two games in hand, were held to a 2-2 draw by Selsey.

Although Price finds it “ridiculous” that Rye should have to journey to mid-Sussex on New Year’s Eve, the trip to Hassocks promises to be a cracking way to bring the curtain down on 2011.

Rye have won all of their seven matches since losing to Three Bridges in the FA Vase on November 19, and Hassocks have won 11 and drawn three of their last 14 games in all competitions.

Hassocks have done the double over Pagham during that sequence and they also won 3-2 in the reverse fixture against Rye at The Salts on October 1 when the home side had two players sent-off.

Price is hoping to have Ben Radley back in the squad, but fellow defender Kevin Rose is expected to be sidelined for a while after having eight stitches in his knee.

See today’s Rye Observer for the full article.