Most promoted teams go straight back down due to the big jump in standard, but Bexhill have made an encouraging start with the vast majority of the squad which came second in Division Two last summer. First team manager Hamish Russell said: “I think there is a growing belief. We’re a quarter of the way through the season and we know we can compete if our availability stays good and we stay injury-free.” Bexhill lie sixth of the 10 clubs at present, albeit having played a game more than all bar one of the other nine. They’ve lost only one of their five games so far and that was against defending champions Hastings Priory. “We’ve got two of the best batters in the league,” continued Russell, referring to in-form duo Malcolm Johnson and Andrew Harriott. “And Callum Guest is as good a spinner as I’ve seen in the league.” Bexhill comfortably saw off fellow top flight new boys Worthing by five wickets on Saturday and were only denied another victory against the Sussex Development XI on Sunday by a dogged last wicket stand. “Realistically we had to win one of those two games and certainly pick up a lot of points in the second one,” Russell went on. “We wanted to stay undefeated. A win and a draw would be lovely, and that’s what we ended up with.” A big test awaits Bexhill tomorrow (Saturday), however, when they travel to Preston Nomads. The Fulking-based side is determined to win back the title it celebrated in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Bexhill expect to be at full strength. See today’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.