Sussex Non-League podcast - episode 19 | with special guest Hassocks boss James Westlake

Name: Sussex Non-League podcast - episode 19 | with special guest Hassocks boss James Westlake
Uploaded: 2025-04-04T09:28:24+00:00
Duration: 31 min 44 s
Channel: SussexWorld

00:00Welcome to another episode of the Sussex Non-League Podcast, where we take a look at all the latest

00:05goings on at grassroots football across the county. I'm Matt Polk and on this edition

00:09I'm joined by Sussex Sport guru Steve Bone and our latest special guest, who today is

00:13no less than a title-winning manager. Today we are joined by James Westlake, who has just

00:17guided Hassett to the Southern Combination League Premier Division title. They've won

00:21it with five games to spare and on a zero playing budget to boot. James played for the

00:25Millwall Academy from age 9 to 15 before being released. He went on to play grassroots

00:30football with Oakwood before making his senior debut at 17 for Burgess Hill. James played

00:34for St Francis Rangers in the County League for a season before moving to Hassex in 2010-2011,

00:39making a total of 262 appearances for the Robins. He offered to take the manager's job

00:43at Hassex in May 2022 and first was player-manager. He hung up the boots at the start of the 23-24

00:49season to fully focus on managing the team and they reached the Southern Combination

00:53Premier Playoffs in 2023-24, breaking the club record for the number of points in one

00:58season. This season they have gone several steps better and won the Southern Combination

01:03again, breaking the club record points set the previous season and winning the club's

01:07first major trophy in its 123-year existence and in the process winning promotion to the

01:12Istvian League. So, welcome to the podcast, James. How are you doing today?

01:17Yeah, really good, thank you. Thanks for having me on.

01:19No, absolute pleasure and assuming you've been having a pretty good week. I've seen

01:22some quite interesting videos on Twitter of you and the boys celebrating the title.

01:27It's just almost been fantastic, all this culmination of your hard work.

01:30Yeah, it's been a brilliant weekend and a brilliant week. I was saying this morning,

01:36it's gone so quickly, like we're preparing for a game tomorrow already. Yeah, it was an amazing

01:42weekend and yeah, it's just been a brilliant week with everyone around the club. So, no,

01:49it's just been an incredible feeling, really.

01:52I suppose you need to make sure everybody enjoys it and sort of makes the most of this time,

01:57but at the same time, you've still got quite a few games to go, including a cup final. So,

02:02you want to stay sort of focused as well. So, is it a balance between enjoying it and

02:06concentrating on the job at hand?

02:09Yeah, definitely. I think that's the most important part of it. I think for the players

02:14and us and everyone around the club, we do want to really enjoy it and I think we're in quite a

02:18unique position, really. I'm sure there's not many teams that have won leagues and still have

02:22five league games to go. So, we've got a really good opportunity to win games of football and

02:28still really enjoy it. I think for the players and everyone involved, it took, yeah, it's not

02:35really sunk in like the WhatsApp groups and everything going, did we actually do this?

02:39But we got the lads in at training last night and it was a good laugh and we had a good session.

02:43Yeah, it's all systems go for tomorrow and five games and like you rightly pointed out,

02:49a cup final in May. So, yeah, still a lot to play for. We're setting ourselves some targets

02:55that we want to try and achieve between now and the end of the season and then we can take

02:59everything from there.

03:01James, what were the key victories in the title win, would you say? Any against your

03:05main rivals that particularly stand out for you?

03:08Yeah, we highlighted, we were reflecting on this actually this week. We sort of had a little look

03:14back at the fixtures and thought that was a big win. Obviously, we had a significant amount of

03:19home games at the start of the season, which it felt like that was an important part to tick off

03:23and the fact that we won those games I think was really important. Two games in that period were

03:29Midhurst at home, who were a really stubborn side and we scored late on to win that game.

03:35Then I think the week after we beat Shoreham, I say beat them, we pinched three points from them

03:40really scoring two goals in the last minute or so. Although obviously there was a long way to go,

03:47it felt like there might be something gone here and we sort of started to think actually we might

03:52be in the mix here. So, there was that period. Obviously, we had a little bit of a dodgy period

03:58over Christmas, but played two really tough teams through with Haverteeth and lost to a good

04:02Roffey side. But then went again and then we had all those away games and we had a two-week

04:07spell where we played Bexhill, we played Petersfield away, we played Horsham YM on the Tuesday and then

04:14we went to Peacehaven with their new pitch on the Saturday. We took maximum points from those four

04:20games and after that, especially that Peacehaven win, we sort of came away going we're in a serious

04:28position here and we're real contenders. We've sort of said to everyone that whilst we've been

04:34quite far ahead or it feels like we've been quite far ahead, certainly since Christmas time,

04:40it's never felt like that. We've felt like we've needed to go into every game winning that game

04:44of football because as soon as you lose, teams below you are putting pressure on you. So,

04:49yes, some real significant sort of points through the season where we've gone. No,

04:52they were big wins for us and they've sort of helped us to get to where we are today.

04:56So, and just talking about the run of games, I mean from Christmas onwards you had something like

05:0210 away games out of 11, sorry, 10 games out of 11 away from home, didn't you? Just a quirk of

05:07the fixture list. That must have been, you know, if you'd looked at that before you played them,

05:12you'd have thought well that is going to be a real test but actually the away form was very good in

05:18that time, wasn't it? Yeah, it was. Yeah, we knew it was coming and we were sort of listening to

05:23people and talking about Hassox and people were like, yeah, they're flying. But we knew we had

05:29this really tough period. We could see it coming. So, I think once we got going with it, I think we

05:35went to Wick away after we lost to Roffey and won down there. That set us up nicely and then we just

05:41got into a real habit of winning games and I think we knew week after week that we were going to

05:48really difficult places on a really difficult playing surface and it was just doing it again

05:52and doing it again and yeah, we got into some really good habits. The players were brilliant

05:58with us. We've got a really good group of lads who are a really rounded squad and they really allow

06:05us to pick and choose which players are suited for what game and they've been brilliant with that

06:10all season and that's really helped us as a management team because we knew we could go

06:14into games going that player suits that game and it really worked and yeah, we got a bit of

06:19momentum. I think we only lost one game up at Crawley Down and fully deserved to lose that game

06:24that day. But other than that, we went on an incredible run and yeah, it was nice to get

06:30them ticked off and out of the way, that was for sure. You mentioned the management team there,

06:34just tell us a little bit about who has helped you, you know, who is in your management team,

06:39who does what and how important have they been to you in bringing about this success?

06:44Yeah, it's been a massive team effort, a real team effort. So, Lewis, my brother,

06:50is coming as my assistant this year, suffered a bad knee injury a couple of years ago and

06:55has done amazing to get through that and then also has been really good in terms of the assistant

07:00role, helping me with some coaching and a really good sort of sounding board and supporting

07:05mechanism for me in terms of picking squads and teams and how we're trying to set up. So,

07:11Lew's been brilliant over the course of this season. He's been supported by Jordan Wilson,

07:17who's been excellent for us. I'm sure you see Jordan all around the county watching games for

07:22us, looking at other teams and yeah, he's brilliant with me and Lew. Lloyd joined us in Christmas from

07:30Hayward Seath, again, just another buddy that's been really helpful and just sort of those people

07:34that you need around the football club. Darren Budd obviously was a big one for us, buddy,

07:41we signed him in the summer. With Pat sort of moving into his role, we knew we needed an older

07:47head, someone with some experience, someone that we could just bounce some ideas off and buddy's

07:51been brilliant all season and has done really well to get through another full season. So,

07:56he's been excellent. And then we've had Tim Edwards, our goalkeeper coach, who again has

08:01just been really good and when it's Tim, certainly someone good that can keep you calm and keep you

08:06relaxed. So, yeah, no, the management team's blended really well and I think it's important

08:11to note, like when I came in three years ago, there's been people that have dipped in and out

08:17of that and really supported me and helping me along the way. So, whilst this management team

08:22this year has been excellent, there's been people certainly along the way that have helped us. So,

08:26it's been a real journey to get to where we are today.

08:29Sticking with a management team, James, next season is a way off yet, but have you as a

08:33management team or Hassex as a club, have you done much work on how you will cope with the

08:37step up to the Espion League? We've had Pat Harding on as a previous guest and there's a

08:41feeling around the club that you are ready to make that step.

08:46Yeah, we'd be lying if we haven't been to a few games. We've been here and there looking at a few

08:50games thinking, would we fit? Would we be okay here? Could we compete? So, we've gone to a few

08:57games here and there and have a little look around. We were chatting at the club yesterday,

09:01I think the ground's good to go, everything's ready. I mean, I've always really been a strong

09:04believer that Hassex Football Club is probably one of the best in the county league. Its pitch,

09:10its facilities, it was a sleeping giant really, in my opinion, and that's why I took the job

09:16three years ago. So, I think we're all ready to go sort of off the pitch. Obviously, you mentioned

09:22at the start of the playing budget, that's something the club are really going to need

09:25to look into because if we are going to go and compete and try and stay up next season,

09:30that's something that we're going to need support from the football club with. So,

09:33certainly Pat and the guys behind the scenes are working around that for us.

09:38But yeah, we're certainly looking forward to the challenge. We've looked at the sort of journeys

09:42that we've got to be making next season, which is going to be interesting. That's for sure,

09:46got some interesting places to go to and some long old journeys, but we're really excited for it.

09:51We're really, really looking forward to it. So, yeah, I think we're set and a lot of work to do

09:56between now and sort of through the closed season and into pre-season, but yeah, a challenge that

10:01we're really looking forward to. Away from the first team, the under-23s haven't had a bad

10:07season either, have they? They're in a cup final, I think, next week against Horsham YMCA. Do you as

10:13first team manager get quite a good chance to keep an eye on them and obviously look at players who

10:18are coming through there? You must be pleased by their success, part of the whole sort of

10:22way the whole club is moving forward as well, isn't it?

10:25Yeah, we were chatting last night because we went to the 23s game to see them win the league title

10:31and Sean Fernley and the team there have done a brilliant job. We do it maybe slightly differently

10:38to other clubs, I don't know, but Sean is able to give the time to do both the 18s and 23s. So,

10:44he very much manages both sets of players, can see which players need the extra competitive

10:49edge in the 23s or what group he's got in the 18s and it's really worked, certainly not just

10:54this season but over the last couple of seasons. We've got some fantastic young players in our

11:00group and I think we're trying to get as many of you through. I think you may have seen against

11:04Heywood Teef, we gave a couple of opportunities to those young lads and they were in a winning

11:09team in a semi-final, so another great experience for them. But yeah, it already has been a fantastic

11:17season for the football club, not just the first team but everyone else. But yeah, we've got,

11:20we won the league with the 23s last night, cup final on Monday. I get lost with how many cup

11:26finals the 18s and 23s have actually got between now and the end of the season. So, that's credit

11:32to Sean and all the players. We've got some great young players coming through, which is great for

11:36us in terms of a first team. And like we said right at the start, we're just going to enjoy

11:41the rest of the season and it'll be really good to see them hopefully pick up a few more victories,

11:45a few more trophies. Hopefully we can win our final in May and have a real good celebration

11:50come the end of the season. Absolutely, and best of luck to you under-23s on Monday. Now we'll move

11:55on to looking at how Sussex's non-league club's been getting on and we'll start on the SCFL Premier

12:00where we have heard all about Hassox's great success, but the race is now on to confirm a

12:04place in the playoffs. What's the latest in the playoff race, Steve, and how does the relegation

12:09battle look at the other end of the table? Yeah, so at the moment, if the season finished now,

12:16we would have Kroger playing Crawley down Gatwick in one playoff and Haywards Heath playing

12:21Petersfield Town in the other one. But five games to go, those places are quite close. Kroger have

12:28got a four-point lead in second place, so they will be confident of going on to finish second

12:33and getting one of those home semi-finals. Roffey and Eastbourne United are the two sides outside

12:40the playoffs at the moment who probably could still get in there if they have a good end to

12:45the season and other results go their way. They're both three points behind Petersfield and Crawley

12:50down Gatwick who are fourth and fifth, so they've got the chance as well. So lots to play for there.

12:54At the bottom end, Saltdean at the bottom looking a little bit lost. They're five points adrift now

13:00with as I say not many games to go. Shoreham are now down in the bottom two because Littlecommon

13:06who have sort of gradually improved over the course of the season really picked up seven wins

13:10now whereas for ages they were stuck on just one win. So Shoreham and Littlecommon are tied on

13:15points but it's Shoreham in the bottom two at the moment. Loxwood not too far out of danger either,

13:21a little further up but you're probably looking at two from those bottom three.

13:25A quick look at Division One as well, mustn't ignore Division One. Seaford Town, favourites to

13:31go on and win it now, four games left. They are five points ahead of Forest Row having played

13:37one game more so those two have been sort of head and head, neck and neck rather a lot of the season

13:43but you'd say Seaford are favourites to go on and win it now. Playoff race is very open, you've got

13:49Godalming, Chessington, Worthing, AFC Uckfield even, they're all looking for playoff places,

13:56even Arundel down as far as eighth place, not totally out of the playoff race. At the bottom,

14:05similar story to what we've had on the last few pods really, Montpelier Villa bottom,

14:09Old Fold just up from them look like finishing as the bottom two.

14:14James earlier you mentioned a few of the sides you played during that tough

14:17run in, which of the other sides in your league have you most been impressed by?

14:24We've looked at obviously played a lot of games against those teams in and around the playoffs

14:29and I think we've always looked at it like we wanted to win the league as quickly as we could

14:33because we knew if we dipped into that playoffs it was going to be extremely tough, it's really

14:37competitive in there. Crobra are very similar to ourselves, we think very robust, very efficient,

14:45very good at what they do and they beat us really well back in October I think it was,

14:52and we've always been certainly over the course of the last few months worried about Crobra

14:58thinking they could go and win all the rest of their games of the season, so that's why we knew

15:02we had to keep winning our games. Crobra for me are the favourites, I think Crawley Down are a

15:10good side, like I mentioned earlier we went to them and whilst we weren't great they were very

15:14good and they've not only had a really good VARs run but also been able to stay within touch and

15:20distance of that playoff hunt, so I think they deserve a lot of credit. Petersfield are a good

15:25side, they're a good footballing side, so yeah if you were asking me to pin it on one I would

15:31say Crobra are the favourites, I think they're the ones that could go on and win it, but how

15:35many times do you see the team just dip in at the bottom of the playoffs and they get through, so

15:41I'm really pleased that we can just sit back and watch from afar now and go and watch some of the

15:45games and good luck to all the teams in there because it's going to be very, very competitive.

15:50Well this week also saw Eastbourne United and Mark Dunford's Crobra Athletic meet in the RUR

15:55Cup Final, it was United's first Cup Final in 16 years but unfortunately there was no fairy

16:00tale ending for them. What happened Steve? Yeah it was as you say, it was a big night for both

16:07clubs getting to the RUR Final, great old competition. Eastbourne United were there for

16:13the first time since 2009, had high hopes but wasn't to be on the night. Eastbourne actually

16:20scored first and won up for a while but Crobra hit back, scored two in two minutes just before the

16:26hour and as Eastbourne pressed late on, Crobra got a third late on and we had a piece from Steve

16:33Huxley at Eastbourne United, he sent us a report and he said no complaints really, you know they

16:39ended up the sort of stronger team. Disappointing for Eastbourne to wait that long for another Cup

16:45Final and lose it but it's given them the taste to go on to those sort of occasions again and of

16:50course as we were just saying, the interesting thing is that Eastbourne United could still get

16:54in the playoffs and could actually end up playing Crobra in the playoffs if Eastbourne finish fifth

16:59and Crobra second, that's what will happen so that'll be a chance for a bit of revenge in their

17:03minds but yeah you know well done to both those teams and obviously still got the Peter Bentley

17:08Cup ahead of us involving Essex and YMCA so that'll be another good occasion as well I'm sure.

17:15Meanwhile in the Eastbourne South East, Burgess Hill Town confirmed a playoff spot with a 4-1 win

17:19at West Sussex Navy's East Grinstead Town on Wednesday but in less positive news, Stenning

17:24and Lansing could both be relegated to the SCFL Premier this weekend if results don't go their way.

17:30Great news for Hill, Steve, who could the Hillians potentially meet in the playoffs and

17:35what's the latest from the rest of our side in the division?

17:38Yeah well again looking at the playoff situation we'll do another you know if the season finished

17:43now, Burgess Hill will be looking at a home playoff semi-final against Margate,

17:49the other playoff semi-final will be Sittingbourne against Merstam but still five games to go,

17:55the gap between second and third and third and fourth is pretty big so you'd expect Sittingbourne

18:00to finish second, Burgess Hill third and actually they're quite well strung out down from there so

18:07it's unlikely to change very much, Beckenham are still in with the chance of getting into fifth,

18:14Three Bridges who last time we did a podcast I completely forgot to mention them so I'm going

18:19to make sure I mention them this time, still in with the chance of the playoffs, they've got six

18:23points to make up on fifth with five games left so that's going to be hard for them, they'll need to

18:28win at least four of their last five but not without a chance there. At the other end though

18:34as you say looking very bleak for Stenning and Lansing, could both go tomorrow if they don't win

18:42or if other results go against them, Littlehampton Town who have been down sort of hovering around

18:47that relegation zone for much of the season have given themselves a chance actually, a couple of

18:54wins, I think they've won two of their last three, they're now five points clear of the bottom four

18:59so not there yet but a couple more wins needed, they're at home tomorrow,

19:03they're home this weekend so they'll be looking to get another win and take another step towards

19:08safety. We've got a few teams up in the sort of mid-table, lower mid-table area, Broadbridge

19:12Heath, Eastbourne Town, East Grinstead, all well clear of relegation and they'll be looking to

19:18finish as high as they can before the season ends. James, do you ever get a chance to get back and

19:24have a look at Burgess Hill, I mean it probably doesn't take up much of your time or Hassock,

19:29sorry Hassock probably takes up a lot of your time but they've been going great guns this

19:32season haven't they Hill? Yeah really good, really, really good. I've got a good relationship with Gary

19:38and Jay and you've probably seen throughout the season they've given us a couple of really

19:41brilliant young players that have done a really good job for us. But yeah I've been to watch

19:46Burgess Hill quite a few times, obviously going really, really well this season, play some really

19:50good football, got a really nice balance in the squad I would say. They've got some really,

19:57really good young talent, they've also got some experienced lads in there that know the level

20:02and know what's required. So yeah, Gary and Jay have done a really good job in terms of

20:08how they play and yeah I'm really wishing them all the best in the play-offs and it's nice to

20:13have it all secured that I guess now they can really plan ahead and think about what that

20:17play-off is going to look like. I'm sure they'll be trying to make sure that they get the home tie

20:21that they need and yeah fingers crossed because I think it's really good. I try and follow the

20:27league as much as we can and look at all of those Sussex sides and always wanting them to do really

20:32well. We're keen to stay standing and hopefully try and stay in the league even getting out of

20:37the county league. But yeah I think for us, Eastbourne Town and Broadway Chief are the

20:44models that we're looking at. I think what Jude does at Eastbourne Town and what Simone does at

20:50Broadway Chief is brilliant to get mid-table, be nicely set for the rest of the season. They've

20:57done fantastic jobs and I think in our own little way we need to look at how they've done it and

21:02try and replicate what they've done. Fingers crossed we can do so. It's good to see Sussex

21:10sides doing reasonably well in that league. In the Eastbourne Premier, Horsham's promotion

21:15push marches on while Chester City, who themselves are having some season, find themselves in a great

21:20position to challenge the play-offs. But at the bottom of the division, Hastings and Bognor look

21:24almost certain to be relegated to the Eastbourne South East. What's been happening in the Eastbourne

21:29Premier since our last pod Steve? Yeah so Horsham are of course still third. I think they've been

21:35third on almost every podcast we've had for the past six months. Five games to go there as well

21:42and they're four points behind Dartford. You'd probably say they probably won't win the title

21:48but they still could couldn't they? Dartford and Villa Ricci ahead of them have been inconsistent.

21:53I know you obviously speak to Dom every week. They've not quite been at their best have they

21:59but they're still getting results even when they're not playing that well.

22:03The interesting prospect is that we could end up with Horsham v Chichester in the play-offs

22:09because Chichester are sixth, two points behind Dover who are in the final play-off place.

22:16If they can just keep that sort of gap there, the final day of the season Chester City v Dover.

22:22So that could be a sort of winner takes all sort of game on that day that we want to look forward

22:28to. But yeah Horsham and Chive have both been very consistent all season so well done to them.

22:33Not so for Bognor and Hastings. Bognor will be down tomorrow if they don't win their game or if

22:41I think if Dalic and Canvey both win, even if Bognor win they'll be down. So it could well

22:47happen tomorrow. Hastings are three points better off than Bognor but you know need sort of snookers

22:55really to stay up. It's a shame for both that you still can't quite believe that both of those sides

23:02are down there really. I think when we did our pre-season one they were both among the sides we

23:06tipped to possibly have a good go at the play-offs. You've then got another two sides in between.

23:13Lewis have been a little bit inconsistent of late but they have picked up. So they're 13th,

23:17they're well clear of well clear of the bottom four. Whitehawk similarly not in relegation

23:24trouble anymore. 16th in the table, 14 clear of the bottom four. So they'll be happy with

23:31how things have worked out for them after a shaky start. James you must be relishing the

23:36prospect of potentially taking on Hastings and Bognor next season in Eastman South East. They're

23:41both big names. Yeah huge huge. I was saying that the other day. I think we were chatting at the

23:48club like whilst like Steve said it's a real shame that they've had both had you know difficult

23:52seasons this year. Yeah it's crazy that you know next year Hastings could be welcoming Bognor and

23:59Hastings to the to the beacon. Jamie Howell gave me my debut at 17 at Burgess Hill and he's

24:05managing Bognor Ede just now. So we could be coming up against each other in the dugout which is

24:10crazy and be amazing for the club to have both of those teams there. I mean some of the

24:15teams you're reeling off there and I remember playing against in the county league your

24:19Horsham's, your Chichester City's, your Whitehawk. So it's brilliant that those clubs

24:26have been able to progress up a couple of leagues and Chichester City in particular competing so well

24:31considering how quickly like they've gone up and yeah it's it'll be brilliant for us whilst

24:37it's a real shame for those football clubs getting relegated. I think for us next season

24:42playing the likes of Bognor and Hastings is just going to be an unbelievable experience.

24:46So one we're looking forward to. Absolutely. We'll quickly stay in the Eastman Premier.

24:51This week saw Hastings Park Company with their manager for the third time this season. Danny

24:55Sale has paid the price for a poor run of results which have left the U's on the brink of relegation

24:59to the Eastman South East division. What do you make of this decision Steve? I must admit it kind

25:04of surprised me that they relieved him of his duties so close to the end of the season. What did

25:08you make of it and who will take interim charge of Hastings? Yeah normally when a club has a change

25:15of manager sort of towards the end of a season it's because they think they've got time to make

25:22a change and stay up but I don't think that is really the case in Hastings. In the case of

25:28Hastings they're almost down. I think when Danny Sale took over, he only took over in November,

25:35you know Danny Blore was there obviously for the first section of the season. He was then dispensed

25:40with. Danny Sale took over a little bit before Christmas. He had some okay results but there's

25:48no consistency there. They haven't really strung out the sort of two or three wins in a row that

25:52they've needed to get out of trouble. So I think the Hastings and I think it's a mutual decision,

26:00you know he's gone by mutual consent I think. I think the Hastings bosses down there have

26:06probably thought right we're going down, let's start to sort of plan for next season.

26:12Dean White who is one of the owners, he's the chairman and he obviously has a good football

26:18background himself. He played and coached and managed at a different level and you know he's

26:22scouted for some top clubs as well. So he's taken over the first team for the rest of the season.

26:28That's probably seen as a safe pair of hands. It'll be interesting to see how he does.

26:34They've announced that Lee Carey, a former Hastings player, has come back to help him.

26:40He's going to assist him I think for the rest of the season and then we'll see what

26:44happens from there. They've released a few players this week. I think they've released

26:46a total of six players. So they're obviously just starting to look at what sort of squad

26:51they're going to need if they are in step four next season. The interesting thing is that

26:59Hastings and Bogner are both going to start the season with a lot of people expecting them to

27:03come straight back up. They won't both automatically come straight back up because there's only one

27:07automatic place. So that could be quite a battle between those two. Equally they might find that

27:14actually it's not as easy as they think down there and it could be that either or both struggle to

27:21come back up at the first opportunity. A lot of changes at Hastings. It's been a difficult season

27:27for them from the start really, from the time that Chris Haggart's left to go to Worthing.

27:32They'll be hoping for a more settled one next time around.

27:35Finally, in the National League South, which is quite possibly the most exciting division in the

27:39country at present, the race for the title continues to ebb and flow. Worthing remain

27:43top of the table, while Eastbourne Borough remain well placed in fifth. But it hasn't been easy for

27:48us, has it Steve, in recent weeks. What's the latest from this thrilling race for promotion?

27:52Yeah, so Worthing had a bad week last week, lost at Welling and then lost at Horne Church.

27:59Whenever we thought all the wheels have come off, they've blown it at the wrong time. But then they

28:04bounced back with a good win, a home win on Saturday over Hampton and Richmond. And at the

28:10same time, Truro, who were right on their heels, were one point behind them, dropped two points

28:14last Saturday. So, Worthing are now back to being three points clear. They're actually three points

28:19clear of the next three teams down. Dorking, Truro and Torquay are all three points behind.

28:25Eastbourne Borough are another two points behind. Eastbourne Borough are a little bit frustrating

28:29as well. I think we've been saying it all season. They've been very good at home, but they have

28:33dropped some points away from home that they wouldn't have wanted to. Lost at Dorking. There's

28:37no disgrace losing at Dorking, obviously, but that's where they lost last Saturday, where they

28:43didn't play that well, I don't think. It was just a little bit below par. So it leaves us with five

28:47games to go. Quite a few teams have still got to play each other. Worthing, for example, play Truro

28:54tomorrow, Eastbourne Borough on Good Friday and Dorking on Easter Monday. And Worthing's record

29:01against the other teams at the top is pretty good. So they're confident. They think they're in the

29:05driving seat. It's in their hands, and it very much is. But plenty of teams there waiting to

29:11pounce if they do drop points, including Eastbourne Borough. Eastbourne are home again tomorrow,

29:18and they're home to Weymouth, who are almost relegated. So they'll be confident of three

29:23points there. If you try to predict it, you know, you're probably going to come across that because

29:28it's impossible to work out how that's going to end. But definitely Worthing's to lose, I think.

29:34And it brings us quite nicely to our games of the weekend, Steve. What have you gone for?

29:40It's got to be Worthing-Truro, hasn't it? It's first against third. If Worthing were to beat

29:46Truro, that almost knocks Truro out of the title race because it would leave Worthing six points

29:51ahead of them, with only four to play. A draw wouldn't actually be a disaster for Worthing.

29:58Chris Agata probably would think it would be a disaster. He probably wouldn't be happy

30:02to settle for a draw. But it would mean Worthing were still top with four games to go.

30:10Truro will, I'm sure, come down and think, right, we've got to give this a go. If we win here,

30:15gives us the edge over Worthing going into the final few weeks. So there'll be a crowd of more

30:20than 2,000 there tomorrow. It'll be a cracking atmosphere. Truro will bring a few. They're

30:24quite well supported. So it should be a great occasion.

30:28Yeah, it should be. I've gone for three Bridges v Deal in the Eastman South East. A win for seven

30:32place Bridges would boost their playoff hopes. And I think a lot of credit should be given to

30:36Jamie Crellin. They've been excellent since their return to Jubilee Field after starting the season

30:41at Chatham. And they've had a very, very young squad, from what I've heard. So best of luck to

30:45Bridges at the weekend. And for those who don't know, James Hill has six up against East weekend.

30:50Presumably the aim is to keep on winning for a few more weeks.

30:53Yeah, that's the aim. Yeah, we're at home to Pagham tomorrow. We've got a couple of home

30:58games coming up, which is good. We mentioned those away games. So we've got some home games,

31:01which is good. Yeah, we play Pagham tomorrow and then we're locked with the following week. And

31:06yeah, very much just getting the players back into it. And yeah, we want to try and get as

31:11many points as we can between now and the end of the season. So yeah, if you fancy a game,

31:16Pagham at home at the Beacon, it'd be great to have you along.

31:19Excellent stuff. Well, best of luck for the rest of the season and best of luck for you in your

31:23cup final as well, James. It's been an absolute pleasure. Well, that's all for this episode.

31:27Our thanks to James for joining us. And don't forget to keep checking out

31:30sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport for the best coverage of local football plus

31:34your local Sussex weekly papers. Join us again soon for another look at

31:37all things non-league in Sussex and we'll see you soon.

Sussex Non-League podcast - episode 19 | with special guest Hassocks boss James Westlake

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