They were third-bottom last year but saved because Westfield could not come up and replace them.

This time they finished fourth bottom after Oakwood drew 2-2 at home to Shoreham on Saturday and thus failed to leapfrog over them. However, Oakwood themselves avoid relegation in third-bottom place because Rustington, although finishing third in Division 2, are not geared up with the facilities for promotion.

Second division runners-up Lingfield still have to fulfil certain requirements this summer or they will stay down, too, thus reprieving Rye United, whose supreme effort on the last Saturday of the season was to win 3-2 at Arundel, who could finish no higher than third, and jump off the bottom.

Rye finish second-bottom for a third successive year (after two seasons as league runners-up). Will it be third time unlucky and they are finally relegated? If Lingfield don't get their act together, basement boys Sidley United will be the only club to drop and it will be a hat-trick of Rye escapes.

Ironically, as Sidley decline, neighbouring Bexhill United are due for promotion as Division 3 runners-up. Not only will the pair meet next season in Division 2, but Bexhill's arrival will mean another long-haul across the county for Storrington and Lancing.

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