THREE Bridges became Sussex County League champions for the first time in their 111-year history this afternoon when they beat Rye Utd 1-0 at Jubilee Field.
Williams Peauroux scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute driven in from 20 yards which proved enough to decide the title and completed a superb double following on from their League Cup triumph three weeks ago.
Rye looked more likely to score in the first half hour as former Eastbourne Borough player Scott Ramsay twice went close with efforts which flew over the bar and edged narrowly wide.
Rye’s Wes Tate also set-up Liam Upton to fire a good chance over the crossbar.
Although Bridges had played some good passing football they had made little impact in front of goal in the first 45 minutes.
Bridges stepped it up in the second half after Rye had all the main chances in the first half in what was a great final game of the season.
Second-placed Rye needed to win the match to secure the title while Bridges had to either win or draw the match.
Bridges continued to go in search of a crucial second goal after the break and although they created all the best chances, were not able to increase their lead.
Ellis Hooper hit a post from a 25-yard piledriver and struck the crossbar in another effort while Elliott Romain was pulled down near goal.
Although it looked like it may have been a penalty from the crowd’s view, the referee ruled the foul happened outside the area.
The action got frought a times as both sides battled hard with the trophy standing on the sidelines waiting an outcome.
Dean Carden was shown a yellow card for his part in a melee when several players gathered around and a few pushes and shoves were exchanged.
Joel O’Hara was also roughly grounded in another incident but managed to avoid retaliating and therefore remained on the pitch to see out the vital final stages.
Bridges winger Joel O’Hara played a dangerous cross which forced a headed clearance on the goalline by Rye’s Phil Rhodes.
Finally Rye forced Bridges back with two successive corner-kicks which they successfully defended as a nailbiting seven minutes of added time was played out.
The final whistle eventually blew and at last Bridges could start their celebrations which were expected to go well into the night.
BRIDGES: Simon Lehkyj, Dean Carden, Nigel Brake, Andy Howard, Ellis Hooper, James Grant, Joel O’Hara, Marlon Maxwell, Callum Donaghey (Blackwood 90), Williams Peauroux (Charlie Cooke 88), Abu Touray (Elliott Romain 60). Unused subs: Scott Faber, Dan Bates, Tim Rivers
MAN OF THE MATCH: Nigel Brake