Following on from last weekends 500+ mile round trip to Norfolk, I undertook another similar lengthy trip this Saturday for a double opportunity in Sussex...
12.45pm Isthmian League Division One South
The Sports Park
Peacehaven & Telscombe 2-0 Guernsey
Attendance: 252
To accommodate Guernsey travelling to the mainland, kick off times for certain games have changed this season thus allowing opportunities for doubles for eager hoppers. Today was such an occasion and not only that, the game was 1st v 3rd in the race for promotion to the Isthmian Premier League.
Peacehaven & Telscombe FC were formed in 1923 as a result of a merger between Peacehaven Rangers and Telscombe Tye and having won the Sussex County League 7 times previously, they are currently enjoying another successful period in their history.
After winning the Sussex County League Championship for the 8th time last season, they are on course to make it back-to-back promotions, especially after taking all three points at The Sports Park this afternoon.
They sealed the win thanks to goals at either end of the second half when Tom Burton (47) raced through to score and Callum Saunders (89) converted a penalty kick.
The game was wide open with both teams intent on attacking. Guernsey had the better of the clear chances overall but could not find a way past The Magpies 'keeper Anthony Di Bernado who was in inspired form. With the score at 1-0 The Lions had a chance to equalise but Di Bernado saved Rory Allen's spot kick.
The victory leaves Peacehaven & Telscombe 10 points clear at the top of the table (with a game in hand) and virtually nailed on for the title and promotion.
A tale of two penalties: Rory Allen sees his effort saved (left) whilst
Callum Saunders scores his (right) to make it 2-0 to Peacehaven
3pm Conference South
The Enclosed Ground
Whitehawk 1-0 Tonbridge Angels
Attendance: 194
6 miles and 15 minutes along the South Coast road is East Brighton and the suburb of Whitehawk, from where the football club takes it's name. Whitehawk is overlooked by the White Hawk, a chalk carving in the hill at Sheepcote Valley, which you can see from the football ground (below right).
Having been in existence since 1945, the Hawks are enjoying their best spell in their history with 3 promotions in 4 seasons taking them from the Sussex County League to the Conference South.
However they are finding things tough at Step 2 and are struggling to avoid relegation. Today was a bottom of the table clash with fellow strugglers Tonbridge Angels.
On the sloping pitch, the game was not the greatest to watch, as you could probably of imagined, but Whitehawk managed to secure the victory thanks a great goal from Waide Fairhurst after 57 minutes. The win lifts The Hawks out of the relegation zone for now, but having played more games than the other teams around them, they are still in big trouble.
With the clubs rapid climb up the pyramid, the ground is still a work in progress, with a hotchpotch of stands. The Main Stand was there from the Sussex County days but the seats behind each goal are new to the ground, but were actually from the Withdean Stadium, sold after Brighton & Hove Albion had moved out. I enjoyed my visit to The Enclosed Ground and I doff my cap to half dozen home fans who kept the noise going throughout the game, backing their team all the way.
Redhill came out of the blocks the fastest and had Tonbridge on the back foot for most of the half. It was no surprise when Sam Butler gave the homesters the lead after 20 minutes with a free kick (pictured left) that, although struck well, the Tonbridge 'keeper perhaps should have done better.
The Angels surely couldn't play as worse in the second half and a vastly improved display saw them get a goal back when Billy Medlock (59) bundled home. 
