Mussels beat Peacehaven for their third consecutive win

Mussels joint boss Mark Burt hailed a superb defensive display as they overcame sixth-placed Peacehaven 2-1, but he insisted there is still a long way to go.

Goals from Ollie Davis and Dean Smith had Mussels two up after just 18 minutes, but the home side came back strongly in the second half and ex-Middle Road man Ryan Bradley pulled one back in the second half.

Burt said: “Santa is bringing us loads of points for Christmas, so it’s all good.

“Three wins has been fantastic, but we are taking nothing for granted. It’s a hard place to go, Peacehaven, and we ground it out, as we were a little fortunate with our goals, to be honest.

“We got into the driving seat and controlled the first half up until the last 10 to 15 minutes where they came back into the game.

“After that, we had some top defending, Clay Lamont and Lee Eastman both put in outstanding blocks.

“They put their bodies on the line and the defending was excellent, that started up top with Owen Callaghan, in the middle and especially at the back and Clay was outstanding.

“Everyone has that belief now and hunger and wants to scrap, which we need to in the position we are in.

“But, at the end of the day, it’s only three wins, although they are three massive wins, we need to keep going. We need to put more of a run together and claw back in those teams just above us.”

The result leaves Shoreham three places and two points above the relegation zone, but they have played two more games more than the closest two teams behind them – fourth-from-bottom Ringmer and Arundel, who occupy the last relegation place.

On Monday, Davis turned in the opener from a free kick on 13 minutes, before Smith did the same five minutes later to put them in control.

Mussels keeper Ronan Callaghan pulled off a fine save to keep Mussels two ahead at the break, with a one-handed stop when Shoreham were certain they had conceded.

Bradley did pull one back for Peacehaven on 72 minutes although the goal had a hint of offside about it, as he followed up an effort to tap home a rebound from a yard.

But that was how it stayed, mainly thanks to Mussels’ persistent and courageous defending.