Huge test for managerless U’s

Action from last week's meeting between Hastings United and Burgess Hill Town in the Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

United will host a second-placed Burgess Hill Town side which has won 18 and drawn five of its 23 Ryman Football League Division One South matches so far.

As well as being United’s first home game of 2015, it will also be the club’s first match since the resignation of Dom Di Paola and the rest of his management team on New Year’s Day.

Mark Stapley and John Masters will be looking after first team affairs today, and the club has said it will make further announcements in due course.

United were beaten 1-0 at home to the Hillians in a Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup third round tie on Monday, last week, having gone down 4-1 in August’s reverse fixture.

Hill have lost just once in all competitions so far this season - away to Dartford in the FA Cup - and they pulled off a huge upset by winning away to Vanarama Conference Premier club Aldershot Town in the FA Trophy last month.

United are in 20th place having picked up just six points from their last eight league games, the latest of which was a 2-0 loss away to Hythe Town on New Year’s Day.

Bexhill United and Little Common are also due to be in action today, but with rain forecast for much of the day, games could be in doubt. Return to this website later today for news of any postponements.

TODAY’S FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(Kick-off 3pm)

Ryman League, Division 1 South: Hastings Utd v Burgess Hill Town.

Macron Store Sussex County League, Division 2: Saltdean Utd v Bexhill Utd; Storrington v Little Common.