Ham ankle badly sprained

Ham was in agony following a tackle during the first half of Bexhill’s game away to Steyning Town in the Sussex County Football League Division Two Challenge Cup on Saturday.

An ambulance was called and arrived after around 40 minutes. Ham, who celebrated his birthday yesterday (Monday), was given some gas and air, and put on a stretcher to be taken to hospital.

No breaks or fractures were found on an x-ray, although the hospital said Ham’s swollen right ankle was very badly sprained. The match was abandoned with Steyning leading 2-0 through a brace of Craig Knowles goals.

Elsewhere, Westfield considered themselves unfortunate to lose 1-0 away to fellow Sussex Division Two outfit Littlehampton Town in round one of the Sussex Senior Cup.

The only goal came in the 89th minute when a corner was delivered at the pace to the near post and glanced off the top of Lawrence Brand’s head, defeating Matt Cruttwell in the away goal.

Joint manager Tony Harris was again pleased with the performance and felt that Westfield were the better side during the first 30 minutes of the second half.

Westfield were knocked out of the John O’Hara League Challenge Cup by the same opposition at the end of last month. See Friday’s Observers for more on both matches.