Peacehaven finally came home on Saturday afternoon, but it was a better day off than on the pitch for them. In front of a crowd of nearly 550 they rarely troubled a ruthlessly efficient Hassocks side who are clearly going to run away with the title.

Apart from a brief spell at the start of the second half the home side barely troubled a team who have surprised everyone with astonishing levels of consistency. This was the first time I’ve seen them and though there is nothing particularly spectacular about them, and they certainly aren’t filled with “big name” players, it’s obvious that everyone knows exactly what their job is, and their style of play is ruthlessly efficient.

I don’t remember seeing many sideways or backwards passes, and most of their play was very direct, but it clearly works. Historically the way for managers to win this league has been either to have so much more money than your opponents that you just have better players and it makes no difference whether you are a good coach or not, or to play a very simple and effective style which plays to the strengths of your players and reduces the chances of weaknesses being exposed.

I suspect Westlake could coach in a different style with better players, but making the most of what you have got is what counts, and he is certainly doing that.

The obvious comparison is Broadbridge Heath, who won the league two years ago with a similar approach, although they were nowhere near as dominant at this stage of the season.

For Peacehaven the big win was the fact that they were finally at home again. Ten months away has been a tremendous strain on the club and its supporters, and it was clear from the bumper crowd that they have been much missed. So much of football at this level is about routine and familiarity, which has been impossible to replicate at grounds miles distant from the town.

Hassocks got off to a strong start, with Charlie Pitcher and Jamie Wilkes both having chances. Pitcher played for ‘Haven over ten years ago in an ill fated and thankless attempt to replace 60 goal Charlie Walker, but his renaissance has been one of the biggest surprises of the season.

He put his side ahead in the twentieth minute and soon added a second, as the home defence struggled to cope with the pace and directness of the Robins. The introduction of Max Misquita at half time livened up an anaemic home attack, and when he headed in two minutes into the half it appeared that a comeback might be on.

Hassocks though showed their organisation by taking the sting out of the match and when Wilkes capitalised on more indecisive defending to head in a third the match was over as a contest.

Hassocks will undoubtedly be champions and will need to consider how they retain what is working so well for them while adding enough to survive in a higher league.

Peacehaven now need to look to make the most of the new energy their renovated ground has given the club and become contenders again – With the potential to attract crowds bigger than Saturday’s Step 3 clash between Whitehawk and Horsham the club have to keep looking forward even if they don’t make the play offs.