In a game between two play-off position hopefuls the pressure was on for both sides on Tuesday under the lights at the Seal Bay Stadium. With nerves of steel Higgins Pearce took the lead for the Blues when his deflected free kick found its way into the back of the net. And Fox rose to the occasion when he latched onto Evan Harris’ flick from Higgins-Pearce’s corner and guided the ball home with his head. The Blues kept their cool adding three points to their tally in the Southern Combination Football League everyone will be watching closely as we approach the last chapter of the season.

In what started as a quiet half saw very little chances at both ends. The biggest of them all started from the great work of Ryan Morey who found George Britton out wide and cut into the box as he did many times tormenting the visiting defence but saw his effort pushed impressively wide by Josh Bruford.

Selsey’s build up play throughout the opening 45 was on point. Although the half saw the Blues being inches away from an opener three times. Morey was just shy of heading home Jack North’s swinging cross from Higgins-Pearce’s quickly taken corner and had his leg been any longer he would have met Britton’s low cross with his sliding leg. Again the opener was within touching distance for the Blues when Britton found Fox who was within striking distance but could not meet the ball.

At the other end, Arundel did produce an end product, but it was nothing to the worries of Syd Davies in net. Matt Storm linked up well for a one-two with Tijan Sparks but his effort failed to cause any real test. Selsey may have been shaking when the pacey Carl Broway made his way through on goal chasing a ball over the top but was forced to slow down due to the bouncing ball before North produced a strong block with his trailing leg.

In the restart, Selsey still in search of an opener were aggressive. The ball fell to Ollie Hambleton on the edge of the box who saw his half volley strike the left post. This was the second time the Blues had hit the woodwork with Higgins-Pearce connecting with the cross bar from his first half corner.

Both sides realising the importance of the fixture fighting for play-off spots led to a change of pace in a sudden end-to-end game. Abandoning his defender, the quick run of Brodway put him one-on-one with Davies but wasted his chance with a weak strike. The home fans were surprised to see Britton miss the target with his first-time effort from close range when Morey’s cross was headed away with the winger just as surprised to see the ball fall in his path.

Selsey however were patient, and the goals finally came. The mood was lifted when Higgins-Pearce’s free kick snuck through the Arundel wall and found the back of the net 68 minutes in and the concern of an equaliser was put to sleep when Fox's header doubled the lead with only 5 minutes to go.

Looking to add to the tally Britton knocked the ball through to put Morey on a plate but misguided his effort. Still, the Blues battled till the end earning a well fought and hard earned victory.

Now they look to take their high spirits to Horsham where they face Copthorne at 3pm on Saturday as they continue to fight for a play off spot.