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Page last updated at 16:12 GMT, Monday, 27 April 2009 17:12 UK

Blue Square Premier season review

Blue Square Premier

Crawley Town fell short of Blue Square Premier play-offs, eleven points below the top five in ninth after a 3-3 draw with Histon on the final day.

Eastbourne can be proud of their maiden season at this level, ending in 13th with a 2-0 defeat to Barrow.

Woking are set for new owners and will play in the Blue Square South next season after being relegated for the first time in 17 years.

Lewes finished bottom of the pile despite a 1-1 draw with York City.

After leading the division in the early part of the season, Crawley will be frustrated to miss out on a place in the play-offs.

BBC Sussex's John Barnett said defeats to teams in lower reaches of the league cost Town their chance of promotion.

"It seems a harsh position for the one-time leaders of this division," said Barnett.

"The great early wins will live long in the memory but the home defeats to lowly sides won't.

"There was uncertainty from a points deduction but they lost momentum.

"It'll be interesting to see how Steve Evans recruits over the summer, at times it seemed this team looked like it couldn't be improved on."

Crawley club captain Chris Giles added: "We'll be watching the play-offs and thinking we gave the teams who made it a good game, but it's a good platform to build on.

"Every time we got in a good position, we let it slip. It's been very inconsistent, we've had good days and bad days too."

"Over the whole season our league position is a fair reflection. To be honest we should have been near Oxford but we just haven't been consistent enough.

Eastbourne ended their first season in non-league football's top tier in a creditable mid-table position.

BBC Sussex's Kevin Anderson said that Borough can be satisfied with their efforts.

"Just 12 months ago they were riding on triumph and trepidation.

"They may have been resigned to the odd defeat on occasion but slowly convinced themselves they belonged in the top-flight.

"The signing of Dan Smith and Ashley Barnes from Plymouth was the turning point."

Eastbourne manager Gary Wilson added: "I can't be down about the last game. We must keep ourselves up, because its been a fantastic season.

"It's not just about the last game, there are 46 in all and there's been more highs than lows this season.

"It's taken its toll. They had their targets set for them but we knew we weren't going to be relegated a few weeks ago.

"We have slightly lost our sharpness but we squeezed all the energy out of them to get where we are."

Woking will have new owners ahead of life in the Blue Square South.

The BBC's Gavin Denison said that it was a season blighted by off-the-field problems.

"Any season where two managers are sacked and a chairman steps down would start alarm bells ringing.

"Kim Grant was shown the exit just three weeks into the campaign. Hope was briefly re-kindled with four wins in five but the clouds of relegation soon swooped over the stadium."

Woking defender Paul Lorraine added: "Only a few younger lads know if they will be kept on next season.

"They haven't said anything to me so I'll wait for them to speak to me and go from there.

"It's a good local club for me and has a good tradition, but it should be a big non-league club.

Lewes finished bottom of the table, with their fate sealed long before the end of the season.

BBC Sussex's Andrew Raeburn said that their relegation will not surprise many people.

"The bookies put Lewes down as firm favourites and the fans briefed themselves for the unknown.

"The signing of Danny Culip though was a real coup and the early signs were promising."

"It proved a false dawn as they failed to record a win before the depths of autumn."



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