Sam Denly is always urging his fringe players to take their chance when it comes and
two-goal substitute Danny Williams responded in perfect fashion in the 3-0 win at Peacehaven on Saturday.

The Bay striker, behind the likes of Sam Hasler and Mark Lovell in the Winch’s Field pecking order, started on the bench again, before replacing Jamie Turner with 20 minutes left.

He scored twice in three minutes as Bay collected their 11th Ryman League, Division 1 South away win of the season. Only leaders Folkestone (12) have a better record on the road.

Denly said: “Danny has been excellent for us. He has had a difficult time with a lot of family things going on but did exactly what I want.

“He is pacy, direct and offers a different dimension to the likes of Sam, who is in a league of his own in terms of quality. He creates chances and scores his goals.”

He added: “It was a professional performance in a game played in a gale-force wind, on a bobbly pitch.

“The conditions were a little bit of a leveller, with Peacehaven getting men behind the ball and working hard.”

Hythe won by the same score there on Tuesday to move into fifth, a point behind Bay, with two games in hand.

Denly said: “It is tight. I still think Hastings and Hythe are favourites to finish in the top five.

“The ideal thing would be for us all to get closer to the likes of Dorking Wanderers and Worthing and mean there are four places up for grabs instead of two.”

Bay host Walton & Hersham on Saturday, while Dorking are at Hythe.