REALITY CHECK FOR ARROWS AS POPE RESCUES A POINT

HASTINGS United slipped from the top of the Isthmian South East Division as they drew 1-1 away to mid-table Haywards Heath Town.

And it could have been worse for Hastings, who remain unbeaten through nine games, but for Ben Pope’s equaliser with 20 minutes to go.

Pope was set away by Daniel Ajakaiye and took his chance early, firing past Luke Glover from close range.

Trevor McCreadie had opened the scoring for the hosts with a fierce effort after a half-cleared corner, but they were unable to hold on for the victory.

It wasn’t the best performance from Hastings, as Heath generated the majority of the chances and Louis Rogers was called into action a couple of times late on to salvage his side a point.

The result does neither side any favours as Hastings slipped behind Sevenoaks Town on goal difference, while Haywards Heath are five points away from the play-off spots.

Elsewhere, Phoenix Sports put four goals past a hapless

Three Bridges at Bridges’ Jubilee Field to move into the play-off spots, with Danny Young scoring twice.

Young opened the scoring, with Kehinde Aileru and Harry Harding also netting before the break, as defensive errors from Three Bridges were compounded by their own toothlessness, and Phoenix were not troubled on an easy afternoon for their defenders.

Things were more even after the break, but it was little more than damage control for the home side.

When Lee Hall was sent off with five minutes to go, Young capitalised on the one-man advantage to head home his second of the match.

The result leaves Bridges 17th in the league, still four points clear of the drop zone but with plenty of work to do to retain their status in the league next season.

That was because fellow strugglers, bottom of the table East Grinstead Town suffered a 3-0 home defeat to

Whitstable Town.

Marcus Elliott opened the scoring for the visitors just before the half-hour mark, despite East Grinstead carving out several clear opportunities to open the scoring without finding the back of the net.

But if the home side gave a good account of themselves before the break, they were unable to match Whitstable after it.

Tijan Jadama doubled Whitstable’s lead on the hour mark, and that was curtains for the side yet to secure a win this season - and not looking likely to, either.

Freddie Parker’s third ten minutes from time was the icing on the cake for Whitstable, who moved up to ninth in a congested league table.

East Grinstead have just three points from nine games and already face an uphill battle to stay in the division next season.

Another team on the move

was Cray Valley PM as Warren Mfula scored twice in the final 20 minutes to see off Faversham Town

and move the newly promoted side into the top three, continuing their fine form over the previous few weeks.

Cray Valley dominated the game, but it took the introduction of Mfula in the second half for them to break through.

Mfula rifled in off from the post from an acute angle across the goalkeeper seven minutes after his introduction to break Faversham’s stubborn resistance.

And after striking the crossbar, Mfula produced a left-footed drive in stoppage time to seal the win with not a little style.

The much anticipated bottom of the table clash between

Burgess Hill Town and Ramsgate was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, leaving both sides rooted in the mire.