I decided to drive 45 minutes East, in bright Autumn sunshine, on the A27 to reach the home of Infinity FC, south of Chichester, to watch their Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) Division 1 tie against Ringmer AFC.

Sidlesham Recreation Ground, located off Selsey Road on the Manhood Peninsula, is a community hub home to Infinity Football Club being sited alongside the adjacent Sidlesham Memorial Hall. The venue boasts a total ground capacity of 1,000 spectators, with a basic matchday setup that features a covered stand accommodating 90 people, floodlighting, and hard standing on three sides of the perimeter. Matchday and event visitors can also access refreshments via an on-site snack bar and the indoor Villagers Bar.

The 2026–27 season has seen Infinity FC in remarkable form as they compete in the Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) Division One. Under the tactical guidance of manager Declan Seiden, the Phoenixes have enjoyed a highly successful campaign, highlighted by an impressive run of 10 wins out of their first 11 league matches, including a dominant 6-0 victory in early October.

The team’s lethal attack continues to be spearheaded by consistent goalscorers like Tommy Tierney, who carried his top-scoring momentum from the previous campaign, alongside the machine-like goals of Zack Willet, who had 16 already this season coming into the match. There have also been crucial offensive contributions from players, like Ashton Leigh and Jamie Harris, solidifying Infinity FC as one of the most formidable squads in the division this year and ensuring they came into today’s game top of the league by eight points from AFC Walcountians.

Ringmer AFC have found the second season at Step 6, one of challenge and growth in equal measure. Manager Dan Barnett has worked well with a young squad to guide them through the challenges of playing in a very strong SCFL Division One this season. On the pitch, midfielder Dylan Vince has stood out as a crucial catalyst for the team’s attack, leading the squad’s offensive output as their top goalscorer. Alongside Vince’s fine form, forward Jack Craig has stepped up significantly in the final third, notably delivering a clinical brace in a strong 3–1 away victory against Clanfield.

Though the newly molded side has faced expected consistency hurdles, their hard-working approach continues to earn points as Rongmer AFC look to solidify their position in the league table and escape the relegation places. Today’s fixture away at runaway leaders, Infinity FC, represented possibly the toughest test of the season.

The first half saw a confident Infinity FC side push to break down the well organised Ringmer AFC defence. However very few opportunities presented themselves and when a chance was created, Ringmer’s keeper, Will Moger, was more than capable as a final line of defence.

On 31 minutes, a quick pass from Ashton Leigh and a clinical finish by Zach Willet, gave Infinity FC the opening goal and a 1-0 lead.

With three minutes remaining to half time Willet broke free and rounded the keeper to finish with finesse, making it 2-0 for his brace and putting a nail in Ringmer AFC’s hearts just as the break came, shortly afterwards.

The second half saw Ringmer making it hard for Infinity to extend their lead, finding the answers to block the routes on the right hand side that Infinity had exploited in the first half. The introduction of 17 year-old substitute Mo Hartnell brought some pace and space for the visitors, which seemed to reignite their forward momentum. In the seventy sixth minute Ashton Leigh made it 3-0, drilling the ball home from the right side of the penalty area, to close down the match and secure the three points.

At fulltime the 31 fans in attendance went away having seen what I am sure, barring a huge drop off in form, will be the next SCFL Division 1 champions secure a confident win against a Ringmer AFC team that will bloody the noses of some good sides this season.