Eastbourne United 'won't dwell' on Peter Bentley Cup postponement

Matt Crabb ‘won’t dwell’ on the postponement of Eastbourne United’s home Peter Bentley Cup quarter-final tie with AFC Uckfield Town on Tuesday night, admitting it was something he could not ‘control’.
Eastbourne United manager Matt Crabb. Picture by Jon RigbyEastbourne United manager Matt Crabb. Picture by Jon Rigby
Eastbourne United manager Matt Crabb. Picture by Jon Rigby

The recent wretched weather saw The Oval pitch fail an afternoon inspection due to standing water on the playing surface.

The last-eight tie will be rearranged in due course.

But, despite the disappointment of the game not going ahead, Crabb used the cancellation to scout out one of United’s future opponents.

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He said: “It is disappointing but it’s not like it’s something that we are in control of. I won’t dwell on it.

“Hopefully, what it will do for us is give us the hunger and desire to go again and get results.

“My assistant Ray (Collier) went to watch Broadbridge Heath on Tuesday night (who United will host on February 8) so it’s not all lost.

“We try and do the right things and prepare as best as possible for future fixtures.”

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The postponement of Tuesday’s cup tie has left Eastbourne United kicking their heels.

United last completed 90 minutes on January 18 – a 1-0 home win over Saltdean United.

The Oval outfit then saw their game at Newhaven on January 21 abandoned due to floodlight failure after 62 minutes, with Crabb’s side leading 1-0.

United did not have a scheduled league fixture this weekend. They will hope to return to the pitch on Saturday when they visit Little Common.

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Although Eastbourne United haven’t completed a full game in a fortnight, Crabb was pleased that the rest has given his injured players a chance to recover.

And the United boss revealed that one of those injured charges has been offered a trial on the continent.

Crabb added: “The rest allows injured players Nathan Crabb (hamstring) and Kane Penn (ankle ligaments) time to recover so hopefully one of these might be available for Saturday.

“We will have to access them in training on Thursday.

“Kane is due to go on trial to a club in Finland at the end of the month so we probably won’t risk him.

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“I don’t won’t to hinder his chances of bettering himself in football.”

Saturday’s opponents Little Common have also endured a lengthy spell without match action.

Common have not played a competitive fixture since their 1-0 league loss at home to Lingfield on January 11 – leaving them without a game in three weeks.

But Crabb was still wary of 13th-placed Little Common.

Common took a point off one of the Premier Division title contenders at the beginning of the month and Crabb stressed that his side will have to ‘preform and produce’ to get the win.

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He said: “Little Common will be tough. It is a game that we cannot take for granted.

“They are the only team recently to take points off Newhaven so we will again have to perform and produce to come away with three points.”

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