FIFTH is the minimum for Crawley, according to head coach Keith Frimley, as they look to build on a competitive first half of the season in Kent & Sussex Regional Division One.

The Hazelwick School-based team won promotion to the league last season as Division Two champions and have enjoyed a successful start, and currently sit ninth at the halfway point.

But Frimley has not given up hope of achieving his target of third place and believes "at least" fifth is possible.

"I could be happier with the first half of the season," he said. "Really, we would have got some points out of all but one of our league games so far.

"Blackheath are really the team to beat in the division and we were 2-0 up against them, only to lose 7-3 but the rest of the games we could have easily got something out of.

"It's our first season in this league for a number of years, but I think we were all still a little disappointed not to have picked up more points.

"In our game against Old Bordenians we came back from 3-1 down to 3-3 but then lost in the last play of the game.

"Generally, I think people have been quite surprised at how we are doing, but of our 11 games we have only won five and I think should have won eight.

"Our aim at the start of the season was to finish third or fourth in the league, in our first season.

"It's still very tight, so I'm still optimistic of achieving that. Sevenoaks were runners-up to us last year, and they are currently third.

"We are hoping to climb the table in the second half of the season and finish at least fifth."

But first of all, Frimley is keen to sort out Crawley's home form, which has seen them lose four and win only two of their six games at Hazelwick so far.

"I think we need to improve our home performances," he explained.

"Last season we had the same thing – our away form is a lot better.

"I think at home we tend to take the game to the opposition, which leaves us open at the back. We have conceded too many goals at home."

Crawley are back in league action on January 16, at home to Canterbury Pilgrims, but first they have the small matter of a Sussex Cup semi-final at Eastbourne on Saturday.

"Eastbourne are two leagues above us and we have never reached the Sussex Cup final before, so it will be a good test for us," Frimley said.

"Unfortunately, we have a couple of injuries and also our captain, Alex Watson, is on his honeymoon in South Africa.

"We have nothing to lose though and if we do win it would represent a major achievement for the club."

Credit: Crawley News